Many Don't Know I Was Born On A Movie Location – Actor Young Boss

•The Fast-Rising Star, IBRAHIM MORUFF Reveals

 

Ibrahim Moruff is one of the fast-rising actors in the movie industry. His versatility and flexibility in adapting to various roles have shot him to the limelight and he appears not ready to rest on his oars.

He recently spoke with City People’s reporter, Oluwadamilola Akinsanya, on his journey into the movie industry and how veteran actor, Ibrahim Chatta, influenced his career. Excerpts.

 

Tells us about your journey into the movie industry. My mum and my dad are actors. They met on location in Ogun State, Ijebu to be precise. My dad was not just an actor, he was also a magician. He acted in many stage plays, My mum is a good actress as well. She is a member of the Mushin caucus. She is one of the first set in Agege when it comes to ANTP.

And I happened to have been born on location.

Tell us the names of dad and mum?

My mum is Oluwatoyin Moruff, while my dad was Fasasi Moruff And his stage name was Amunajo.

How were you born on location?

It was during the preparation for Ojude-Oba Festival. My mum was heavily pregnant and my dad insisted that my mum should stay back at Agege, owing to her condition. My mum, however, changed her mind because she happened to be part of my dad’s co-character just like Sango and Oya. My mum risked everything just to be at the show. She even came across Oro people on her way to the location. Then, there was no phone to communicate with, but luckily for my mum, my dad came to her rescue because she had been apprehended. My dad had to sacrifice his life for her. The incident led to the death of my dad and that was how I was born. I was born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and my mum later came back to Lagos where I started my primary school in Oniwaya Central Primary School, Agege.

I stayed with my dad’s relation at Ajegunle, Apapa. When I finished my secondary education, I didn’t do any other stuff. I just wanted an opportunity to talk in front of people, to steal some voices and some characters and every form of entertainment just to enjoy myself. I didn’t actually choose to be an actor, while I was growing up, I just saw it as modern slavery whereby you have a theatre boss, and you have to do everything to please him or her.

My mum insisted that acting is a family thing, so I decided to do things my own way. I went to school probably to get a job and make some money, so that in the industry, I would not be a slave to anybody. I think it was 10 years ago, during my mum’s birthday, I asked her what she wanted from me and she replied: I should find my way back to the movie industry. She said she was yet to reap the fruit of her labour in the industry. I listened to my mum and I started my team and luckily, I met my mentor, Abiodun Ibrahim Chatta, so I had a close relationship with him for a short period of time.

We met at a location in Lagos State. When I saw him, the first thing that came to my mind was I wanted to pick up my phone to snap him, but he said: “Moruff drop that phone because we are going to spend a lot of time together” and I said please let me take the photograph sir, he said No. And as we were leaving that location, he insisted I must follow him and from there, we spent a couple of days together and I learnt many things through him and I gained my confidence for acting through him.

You have a new project you are working on at the moment, tell us about it?

My first project is: “Olori Oko”. It is a comedy film The second project is partially part of my story: “Ilara Ogo”, I stylishly touched on part of my dad’s story because my dad was an entertainer and one situation led to another. I narrated how he was betrayed. I also went into my dream of becoming a musician as well as an actor in the movie “Ilara Ogo”. It is a bit emotional.

When is it coming out?

The project has already been shot, edited and right now, it is still on Youtube for distribution. At the moment, it is going through some screening.

I understand you do Skits as well, how did that start for you?

It is hard, but for you to produce a movie in Nigeria, it costs a fortune, to buy a car, or build a house. Equipment are all costly, so for the passion, I decided to shoot some short films like 2 mins skits, like the one I did in “Ipo Ola” a movie which preaches that you cannot be worst than your present position.

What is the story attached to your nickname, “Young Boss”?

The name Young Boss was given to me in 2013, while I was working as an electrician. I was working with a particular company in Surulere where I have to supervise its construction job. In my department then, they were all white men (Indonesians) and I was the only small black boy there. While working there, the boys there do call me Young Boss and when I got to the industry, I tried to change it, but it was not easy, I had to stick to the name because I can’t change it anymore.

What should your fans be looking forward to after “Ilara Ogo”?

To my fans, I must say thank you, because with the response I got from my first movie production “Olori Oko” it was huge and massive. There have been times I was walking on the street and children in a certain area will be shouting: “oni bread yen yen yen”, screaming at the top of their voices, saying my slogan in the movie. It was a good thing and a nice experience. A TV series is coming up soon on the “Ilara Ogo” movie.