‘I’m not one of those that have midnight meetings with movie directors for roles-Evaezi Ogoro, musician cum actress

Evaezi Ogoro is a singer, a song writer and an actress. She does these three without much problems because according to her they are intertwined. Eva, as she is fondly called by her friends and fans says she is considering settling down someday but that she wouldn’t want to depend solely on her hubby for everything she needs. This English graduate of University of Lagos tells Adaeze Amos in this interview about the heart break she had lately and how she handled it.

What actually inspires your songs?

I’m a rebel in thinking. I don’t like thinking the way everybody does. So, before I write a song, I would think of what has not been written before because I always like to stand out. Even if a particular song has been written before, I would like to approach it from a different point of view. For instance, I have a particular song that is all about breaking up. I didn’t write the song based on someone having heartbreak. I wrote mine from a very comical point of view. If you listen to it, you would laugh while you are still getting the point. So, I like coming at things from another point of view because it makes no meaning hearing same messages just the same way, over and over again.

Do you believe in passing messages through songs?

Yes, exactly. Music is a way of reaching out to the society. For example when you go to church and you hear the pastor preach, sometimes it is motivational, it is uninspiring but then sometimes it is overdone. It is like eating rice without stew or eating pounded yam without soup (laughs).But there is something about music that just makes it go down. That carries the message well and not just to talk and talk. There is something about music that is like a best friend that you can relate to. If the wordings don’t catch you, the melody would surely catch you and warms you up before the wordings are reeled out.

Evaezi Ogoro

You are not wearing dreadlocks, no weird hairstyle, no tattoo, no weird dressing as an artiste, what then is your style signature?

I’m a very traditional person. I don’t believe in displaying weirdness. You will only see that in my songs. I’m a girl next door. I wear my normal jeans and tee shirts. I’m simple.

When you are down, what do you do to be inspired?

I watch films. I watch movies a lot. I watch Nigerian movies once in a while also because I’m into acting. So, I watch to find out what is the latest, what are the trends and all that. But mostly, I watch operas, Hollywood movies and musicals.

Before you ventured into acting weren’t you scared about sexual harassment that is common in Nollywood?

I’m the kind of a person who believes in working for your pay. I don’t believe in favours. My uncle Kinsley Ogoro is one of the godfathers in Nollywood but I chose not to go through him. Initially before I got into the whole acting thing, I was going for auditions like everyone else. I never told any of them my surname for the fear of not being given movie roles based on the fact that my uncle is a top shot in Nollywood. I prefer to be given roles based on my performance. I’m not one of those acts who have midnight meetings with movie directors because I want a role in a movie. I believe that nobody would harass you if there is no provision for harassment. I won’t be a chasing producer around and showing some desperation that I need a movie role. And then the man now says meet me somewhere.

Are you planning to get married soon?

Of course, why not? But I don’t believe in needing a man to make myself complete. I believe that what a man can do, I can also do. I believe so much in myself. You don’t need a man to dictate your path in life. I’m not one of those who believe that when you get married, they now sit at home. Whoever I marry has to understand that we are both separate individuals, it’s just that we are treading one path together. So, it doesn’t stop me from doing what I have to do or stop me from achieving my goals in life.

What then are the qualities of your ideal man?

I will want someone who fears God. I’m not saying he has to be spritcoco like those people that float in the air spiritually but he should fear and love God. He should also love his fellow human being and not love women. When he loves his fellow human being, let it just end there. I like a man who is much grounded, who believes in integrity of work. I don’t like men who cut corners to get what they want. I like a man who takes pride in work. I like generous men but not ridiculously generous that you give out all you have. Good looks may not be in my top list because you may be a fine man with an evil heart.

When you had heartbreak, what did you do to wriggle out of the pain?

First and foremost, there are two types of heartbreak. There is one where the man dumps you and there is one where you walk out of the relationship, not because you want to but because you are forced to. So, it is that second one I have been in a number of times where I just had to leave because the situation was funny and during that time, what I just had to do was to focus more on my work because no man likes a liability. I wouldn’t want to be asking my hubby money for everything when I finally get married. So, I concentrated on becoming a stronger role model for females. I concentrated on my music, acting and writing of my songs. I also did things that make me happy like watching comedy movies that would make me laugh because when you laugh you are healed. So, I watched a lot of comedies, sometimes romantic comedies and when I watch some nice ones, it rekindled my hope of meeting a better person. Then of course I also prayed. Prayers helped me but not those kinds of Mountain of Fire prayers (laughs).