Patrick Adeleke Oluwaseyi Adetutu popularly known as ‘’SEYI CROWN’’ was born in Abeokuta Ogun State. He’s early education began in Anglican primary school, Oke Ago-Owu Abeokuta. He later attended St Peters College, Olomore in Abeokuta crown it with a higher education at Ogun State Polytechnic where he studied Sectariat Administration. He had a brief career with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. SECURITY MONITOR’s Arts and Photo Editor, SHOLA AKINYELE have a brief chat with him in Abeokuta recently where he traced how he began his career to his upcoming film.

WHEN DID YOU START ACTING?

I started acting as an apprentice immediately after FESTAC 1977 in Lagos; I was an apprentice with Lion House Theater- Arts group founded by Olarenwaju Ali, popularly known as ‘’Lion Power’’ that was between 1975 to 1977 in Ijora Oloye Badia. I have some living witnesses’ actors and actresses, people like- Baba Ajirebi, Abeje, Shola Baba Elediye and others. We all started together at the same place.

In 1978 I came back to Abeokuta to meet my old school mates such as Adedimeji Ijaduade, Tajudeen Oyesile , Hammed Alasari – MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE and many the host of others. We all went to the same Primary School in Abeokuta Ogun State. When I came back to my Town, we formed a group namely ‘’Youth Drama Organization’’ at that time there was nothing like home video. Before OGTV and NTA were established, we used to performed in various schools for the student’s, especially   in Olumo High School Sabo Abeokuta, because one of our friends, Jare Adeniregun was the Senior Prefect in the School and he used to assist us to sell tickets to the student. But in 1979 there was a friend by name Oyetoro of St Louis High school onikoko, he was the Angel that introduced me to Ebun Oloyede a comedian known as ‘’Baba Congo’’ although then I was also acting as a comedian, because I was be able to speak different language like Hausa, English and my own dialect fluently, it helped me a lot to carry my fans away at any time when performing live on stage. So when he took me there he say’s since you are a comedian and Ebun Oloyede is also a comedian that means both of you can work together as team. We then collapsed our group, ’’Youth Drama Organization’’ into ‘’Oloyede Theater Group’’ and we became one as Oloyede Theater Group, after that we started production and produced Okun-Ife and many more. Moreover, in 1982 that was when Ebun Oloyede got his name as ‘’Olaiya’’ in the story which was produced by OGTV titled as ‘’GOROSO’’, a TV series drama which was shown on OGTV and NTA; before the production of the drama I was asked to barb my hair, because I have a very grown hair which made people to call me ’old skool’, and the producer have cast me as GOROSO, so when he told me to barb my hair, i refused to do that he then said for me to act as GOROSO i must barb my hair. One of my elders in the industry Nojimdeen Adeyinka came out and said he can act as GOROSO and that he’s ready to barb his hair for the production of the film. That was how he also got his own stage name as ‘’GOROSO ‘’which i did he’s second in command. It was this same TV drama there was a woman who as a male child that wanted to marry king daughter, but unfortunately they are was a strong Man in the town called GOROSO which also intend to marry the king daughter, in the cause of the process there was a franker at the end which make the strong Man wanted to kill his competitor ‘’Olaiya’’ but he couldn’t succeed, that was how he falsely killed Olaiya’s mother in the film and Ebun Oloyede known as OLAIYA today (Meaning; He gained the favors of her mother)that was where he got he’s stage name.

So my acting career started fully in the industry as an artist, director, story writer, producer and I choose it as my profession. Many years later I was decided to go back to the school to further my education, because I really have passion for it seriously and in the process of that I could not be able to leave my theater work, it has become my hobby which I combined the two together . After my National Youth Corp I started working with NDLEA and I was later transferred to Lagos , but after some years I decide to go back fully to my work which is the acting, because without it I can’t do any other job I will not be satisfied.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN THE INDUSTRY?

The most challenging thing in the industry is from the film’s producers because when I was working as government worker in NDLEA from 1991 to 1998, anytime I was invited to location by the producers I will not be bordered Since I have enough money to spend and also entertain my people out of my own pocket, but now am not a salary earner again. They are still looking at me as big man. So whenever they invite me to location, you will just see them saying that our boss please help us to manage this toking money which is wronged for somebody like me that have been in the field as many years back, which also married and blessed with kids. Don’t forget that I did not have any other job doing except this theater work, therefor it should be corrected.

MANY THINGS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE MOVIE INDUSTRY AND AS SPOKESPERSON OF THEATRE ARTS PRACTITIONER ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, TANPAN, IN OGUN STATE, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ?

We cannot be going to court all the time; we have tired of doing that, since our leaders refused to reconcile and allowed peace to reign in the association. When Adebayo salami (OGA Bello) was there as a president we supported him, it came to the turn of Prince Jide Kosoko we all joined hands with him , so after him we know who is next as our national president, Asa Olu who is secretary before now came out that he want to be president of ANTP, which I think is not proper, because as an Association of Nigeria Theater Practitioner (ANTP) anybody that want to be a leader must be somebody who is fully practicing in the field and be a professional in the movie industry, that is the reason why we support Dele Odule as a president of ANTP then. But when everything was scattered and the case has been taken to court, we can’t continue to be going to court every time. That is the reason why we decided to registered   new association which is called TANPAN and is acceptable by 95% of the members in the industry today.as am talking to you know Dele Odule is our national president both home and abroad, out of the 36 states we have in this country, TANPAN have extended to 20 states and we also have in abroad like; Los Angelis, United kingdom, London and so on. Moreover in Ogun state Dr. Sam Adesina Adesanya also known as Pastor Ajidara is our State governor which I happen to be the state Public Relation Officer and everything is moving fine. If you look at the industry today, you will discovered that those people that is performing well in this industry are from TAPAN; Odunlade Adekola , Segun Ogungbe , Mobolaji Amusan (Mr. Latin) ,Femi Adebayo’s family, Dimeji Ijaduade, Jide kosoko’s family , Kunle Afod and others. So what are we know saying TANPAN is well recognized and stand on its own which have the combination of good leaders, who are ready to improve the standard of our films production in this country to the best standard. They have good aims to lead us well and fight for our right in government sector and tackle the issue of piracy that is affecting us in marketing sphere. Since the establishment of TANPAN, we have achieved a lot of things in the industry.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THE UPCOMING ARTISTS?

They should be focused. Hardworking and well educated because Education is the best legacy. Everything in this life requires education.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

If I don’t have anything doing, I did rehearsal at home to improve my acting and also used to do road jugging with my Dog as early as possible in the morning, because jogging is part of an exercise which makes me keep fitted at all times; doing exercise is good for the body and also increased the life span.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOUR FANS SHOUILD BE EXPECTING FROM YOU VERY SOON?

I have a fantastic, tragedy, knowledgeable film which has been registered by sensor board. It is coming to your screen very soon; they should be expecting it and ready to buy original one, don’t buy four or six in one DVD it can damage your DVD player, ‘’SAY NO TO PIRACY’’ and be blessed.  

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