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I need help! Yoruba movie star, Abija

His fame cuts across local and international boundaries. Tajudeen Oyewole aka Abija is an actor but eight years ago he almost lost his life in an auto crash. Since then, he tells Taiwo Abiodun, in this interview that he has been living from hand to mouth

You probably do not know, but Chief Tajudeen
Oyewole, popularly known as Abija in the Yoruba
movies genre now limps. This much The Nation
found out during a chance encounter with the
renowned actor recently. Also, you almost wouldn’t
recognise him, as the usually vibrant defender of the
oppressed, who is always quick to take the battle to
the witches and wizards and other negative spirit
forces in the movies, now cuts a pitiable sight no
thanks to a ghastly auto-crash he was involved in
sometimes in 2007.

But like a leopard who can never change its spots, the
actor’s countenance changed right after the initial
introduction, and with raised voice and eyes bulging,
he began chanting incantations and gesticulating, as if
in a trance or on stage, acting.


How he got the stage name- Abija

Oyewole said he derived his stage name, Abija from
an engineer. “There was a construction company
called Abija Construction in Oshogbo; the company
was owned by a respectable old man and when we
wanted to do a13-week play, we deliberated on what
they should call me and the name of the construction
company came to my mind, and I said ‘Abija’. We had
25 episodes in the play and I was asked to use the
name – Abijawara Bi Ekun. Later, we simply called it
Abija.

“Before that time, I had been using other stage
names, but none earned me popularity as when we
used the name ‘Abija ‘ in the series ‘Opa Aje’. The
name also became my trademark and shot me into
limelight. Today, only a few people know my real
name.”


Opa Aje, facts behind the story

Said Abija, ‘Opa Aje’ was shot long time before it
debuted on TV and it was a surprise to the entire crew that it became so popular. He said “the story line is about three villages and the ‘Opa Aje’ (prosperity staff). The mysterious staff was owned by Lasigun Village (his mother’s village) and it was agreed that it should be rotated round the other two villages: Bilagun and Telude, but Lasigun refused until Bilagun took it by trick and it resulted into a war; Telude also had to resort to force by waging war against Bilagun, to collect the staff from her. Abija a powerful juju man and warrior was asked to rescue it, thus it rotated among the three villages.”

Interestingly, he said it wasn’t until recently that they
found out that the story was indirectly referring to
the Nigerian nation’s battle for power and resource
control.


How rich is Abija?

Despite all his fame, Abija revealed that it hasn’t
translated to money. “I am not rich; I don’t have a
roof over my head, which is part of measuring one’s
wealth in this part of the world; I don’t even have a
land. And it’s not because I am not serious or that I’m
a prodigal son; the money realised from acting is just
not much, or even enough, as people out there or
our fans think. I am prudent and I have only one wife. But having said that, I cannot say that I am not a rich man, because I have children higher institutions,
although I may not be rich in cash.”

The auto crash

Abija who is still limping as a result of the ghastly
motor accident back in 2007, says he is just lucky to
be alive. He said it happened on his way back from a
film location: “I went with my crew to shoot my new
film ‘Ibinu Abija’ and on our way back late in the
evening; I hit a big brick road divider along Canaan
Land, which position had been changed by the road
constructors, without any sign. I ran into it with my
Toyota Camry. But thank God, I was not speeding. My
hip dislocated, while the lady, an artiste sitting by the
driver’s side died immediately. Another woman sitting behind me was seriously injured. I also thank God for Otunba Ajawesola Ayinde Busari, who assisted me, and stood by me. That film will hit the market soon, and believe me; you will learn a lot from it.

I need help

“I want Nigerians to help me in my career. I need
sponsors. I am not a greedy person. I believe in Allah.
People interestingly call me Alhaji, although I am yet
to visit Mecca. The only car I own was condemned in
that accident. As I speak, it probably would have been
towed away by government agencies. I will appreciate every help that comes my way.

I pray u get help

lalasticlala

Nice

My favorite when I was young. You would enjoy his fight with artists like Fadeyi, Ogunjimi, Lalude, Alapini, Sokoti etc. Hmm gone are those days.

Artistes don't help themselves, I wonder how some will be having millions while your colleagues will be feeding from hand ri mouth.

I thought this hip hop artist guys Skuki are his son

Realdeals:
I thought this hip hop artist guys Skuki are his son

my thoughts too