Jim Iyke is definitely one Nollywood actor that has paid his dues . What sets him apart from other actors is his attitude—which makes some people like or hate him. He has no doubt carved a niche for himself in the make believe world, a fact that made him a Globacom ambassador. He spoke to SEUN APARA on his challenges and why some people misunderstand him

Jim Iyke is one of the popular faces in the Nollywood industry today. He has also come a long way, garnering accolades and fame along the path. Last Tuesday evening, Iyke who had just come in from overseas the other day did not show any sign of jetlag. He bubbled with energy and was ready to speak with THISDAY about his carrier and lifestyle, which some people have come to like or dislike. But he would rather want to talk about his carrier first. What is Iyke working on now? “I’m a very spontaneous person.

I just started my music career and we all know that music takes a lot from people. I’m trying to be an entrepreneur in that industry and my main focus right now is to build my record label- Untamed Records into a brand. We are also planning on signing new artistes because it is actually not about Jim Iyke alone. “What I think I lack in music, I have upped the ante in entrepreneurship. We are currently considering two or three acts to be signed on the label. Aside the music business, there is Untamed Oil and Untamed Cars. Untamed is into oil transportation.

We are also trying to build the business to great heights. At the same time, we are currently looking for a suitable site in Abuja for the Untamed Lounge. There is also Untamed Productions, which is the film arm of the Untamed Franchise. We actually shot a movie last year,” he said.
“I don’t think I would want to reveal the title now. We are still keeping it low. We are organising a tour of different cities like New York, Houston, Texas and so many other places. What we are trying to do is to show the film across the states.  There is so much on the plate right now and I know the year is bubbling with lots of promises and intrigues, which have to be carefully applied.

The movie star is also dabbling into establishing a foundation. “You know the foundation is basically about fund raising. We look for an organisation that needs help or probably an orphanage and we raise funds for them. I think another area in charity spectrum that we need to broaden our scope of operation in lending our services to people that needs them.

“We have come to be known as an event management/charity company and we can lend our support both personnel and intellectually to people that need to organise different types of charity events in as much as it will be beneficial to the authentic people. That is what the foundation is all about. We are not here for gratification or glorification.  We are not in competition with other charity organisations.

“Absolutely, to dream is one thing and to bring it to realisation is another. Lots of people thought that there was an ulterior motive. I meant well when I said I wanted to build a house. The resources have to come from the initiatives that you set up. That was the essence of the fund raising last year. I did my part by spending some of my money to actualise the dream, but as I speak, none of those that made pledges that day have redeemed their pledges.

“In all, we were able to raise a total sum of N15M, but we have not seen a Kobo. The only person that has kept in touch with us is Samson Siesta. He said there is a long company process that needs to work before he can redeem his pledges. He pledged N3M through his company and also promised to train two of our children up to the university level. These are documented facts and there is nothing we could do to influence the payment.

“If only some people can just stop witch-hunting Jim Iyke for once and see the positive side of his initiative, I think it will be good for the society. Our budget for the building is N7M and we were able to raise NI5M. Let assume that those that made pledges delivered, we have more than enough to build the house and cater more for the less privileged. That is the greatest challenge,” he emphasised.

Many of his fans that have watched his musical video on television are wondering why they cannot get the CD to buy in the market. Is it deliberate? He said the album launch last year got lots of responses and it aided, unbelievably, the record sales. “I will talk to the marketer and find out what the problem is why people cannot get it to buy. Apart from going into music, Iyke said a lot has changed about him as an actor. “I’m more grown up now (laughs).

“I started acting when I was extremely young. I was barely 21 years old then and in show business you feel double your age because you grow fast. I have changed a lot by looking inward and correcting some of the terrible judgments I made in the past. For example, let’s assume that what happened to my car on my to this interview happened about four years ago, trust me, I won’t be here now. I would have caused serious trouble and even badge the guy’s car more. All these changes didn’t actually come because of age, but because of a broader perspective about life.

“Whatever is your founding belief or philosophy and you found out it is not getting you anywhere you will begin to retract and seek other options. At a point, I worked out the equation and I realised that I have to change so many things. First, I changed my location to isolate myself. Secondly, I stopped partying and lost some few friends I don’t need. I focused on per income revenue capital to lessen the pressure of producers.

“I think you can’t effect change in a larger perspective of life if you can’t effect change within yourself. I can’t ask you to change when I can’t change my shortcomings. My greatest problem was being in the crowd. There was a point I completely convinced myself that people hated me and I went about the business of hating people as much I could. All you need is to give me a bad eye and I will hit you back. So, for me it was the Law of Moses and nothing more (laughs). I’m busy trying to put people into two stages, those that love me and those that hate me and I was losing out on the true principles of life, which are joy, kindness and happiness.

“Madonna said the moment you begin to think what the society thinks about you, you begin to lose the very essence of existence. People will speak if you are good or bad. I look at some people and see so much love and the reverse others. But I have come to a point in my life where I have taken different emotions of people in one stride. I now try to make humour out of everything. That is my greatest mental achievements so far. Before, if you hit my car, I will hit yours back. I’m now a changed person. Before, I found it very difficult to say sorry but now it is the easiest thing to say even if you are the one at fault. It takes nothing out of me,” Iyke told THISDAY.

He said that everyday is a challenge for him, the greatest being when people try to steal your roles (laughs). “I call them career haters, but I love challenges.”
He further let THISDAY know that the “dictate of my career didn’t depend on any awards. The fact that I have not won AMAA, doesn’t have any effect on my career. I still shoot the highest number of movies every year. I don’t measure my life with awards. Some of the people that attend didn’t most of the times have the interest of the awards at heart, but to show the new cloth they just bought (laughs).”

What does Iyke think sets him apart from other actors? He is quick to say “my individuality and flair. The fact that I’m also not afraid of experimenting is another good asset. I’m completely fearless. When there is camera and action, I come alive. I rule that world (Nollywood). You have to feel like you rule your world to make a meaning. Controversy is synonymous with show business. Sometimes it is good and another time its bad, but it does not stop me from being what I am. I like being rebellious but for good causes. I grew up in this industry. It was where I earned my first money. So by now, I’m used to controversy.

“It’s just that there are lots of misconceptions and wrong information. I have sat with some women and they said I’m boring. I have lots of books in my house that most times make me keep to myself. There was a time I was in America and the papers in Nigeria wrote that I fought and beat up my girlfriend in Lagos. There was also a story about me at a time too that they put a gun on my head in Ghana to complete my roles in a movie. This thing is psychological for God’s sake.

“How can you deliver well at gunpoint? I also read that I was beaten up in Akure for same cause and during all this period I was in Texas shooting a movie. The movie is coming out soon. If you check the date of the tabloid that published the story and when the movie was shot, it will reveal clearly that I was not in the country. Sometimes they just pick a story that they feel will match your personality and go ahead to publish because they feel you would not do anything about it.

“They are selling their papers and at the same time damaging your image. I was in South Africa recently shooting a Globacom commercial and a soft sell magazine published a story that I fought somewhere. When I got in and read the story, I felt very bad. I have sued them to court and we are asking for good money. The money is not actually my interest but I felt enough is enough.
“They can’t continue denting our image. Too much junk journalism has stolen the professionalism of the people that are in the profession for the truthfulness and worthiness of it. They have really stolen it. I refused to grant interviews for some time now because of these malicious and unpleasant write-ups,” he said looking disturbed now. 

The actor told THISDAY that he does not have a friend in his field, agreed that there are “people that don’t agree with me, but I don’t have to hate them. Competition is good but I dislike it when it gets dangerous. I have leant that the fact that you and some people don’t agree on certain issues, is not enough to hate them. Some time it’s not good to carry your professional conviction into your personal life. We should learn to dissect them. I may not agree with your profession, but I can like you in person. You shouldn’t forget at times that you need haters to remind yourself that you must never fail. Even Jesus was hated.”

For Iyke, Nollywood has always been what it is. The leadership is the greatest problem right now, but “I don’t align myself with leadership of Nollywood and the reason is simple. I don’t play politics. A leader pitched his tent somewhere accusing leader B of lack of credibility. Leader B will do the same thing. It’s not going to help the industry. I will support anybody that has the intellectual capacity to understand what is going on.

“Ejike Asiegbu understands it but he was frustrated. There is this individualistic approach in the industry. Everybody is after what they can get for themselves and as quickly as possible because they know they will soon be embattled. So when they get there, it is always an October rush to get what they can and get out quickly. How will the industry grow?” he queried.

Iyke who who said he doesn’t like to be predicted and challenged said he would soon get married. “Hopefully this year by the special grace of God. People will definitely not hear about it. They will get to know about it a year or two years later probably when my child is calling me daddy (laughs). Who is the woman? “I have learnt not to do that again. I came to realise that my relationships are more celebrated in the papers even more than the two of us involved.

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