The late Nollywood icon, Justus Esiri might have lived by the axiom that a good name is better than silver and gold.
A
performer will often take a stage name because his/her real name is
considered unattractive, dull, unintentionally amusing or difficult to
pronounce or spell, or because it has been used by another notable
individual or because it projects an undesired image. Sometimes a
performer adopts a name that is unusual or outlandish to attract
attention.
Love for motherland, roots and family, strict influence
from his German training schooled late Nollywood veteran actor, Justus
Esiri, to refrain from taking a stage name throughout his career. For
over four decades that he lived and breathed theatre, Esiri stuck to his
given names.
It could not have been any different for a man who
learned the tricks of the Thespian trade in the conservative and largely
discriminatory environment of Germany. He understood the need to retain
his identity and not be subsumed by a sobriquet. In the days that Esiri
trained in Germany, the Germans were known to be in fierce ideological
and philosophical competition with the English-speaking countries of
Europe and America. Therefore, any mannerism that tended to give the
impression of apeing America was frowned at. American and British
entertainers are particularly famous for adopting stage names.
Having
attended the Maximillan University, Munich, German, 1964 and Prof.
Weners Institute of Engineering, West Berlin, 1967, he was set to become
the quintessential Nigerian 'big man' on account of his study of
engineering. However, in a twist of fate, while working a casual staff
at a theatre company in Germany, the acting bug bit him hard. The pull
was irresistible. Being one to follow logical steps, he enrolled at the
Ahrens School of Performing Arts in1968. For so many years, he was the
lone black face in a challenging environment that did not think much of
people of colour. Looking back, his resilience to continue with drama in
Germany speaks volumes about the toughness of a man who was determined
to live out his dream.
Again, coming from a famous Urhobo family
in Abraka, Esiri, it must be said that Esiri was already used to certain
comfort as his background would reveal. Born on November 20, 1942 in
Oria-Abraka, Deltta State, Esiri attended Urhobo College Effurun in the
then Bendel State, now Delta State. He was an avid golf player. One of
his younger brothers, Prince Albert McCarthy Esiri, is a well-know
billionaire industrialist who owns one of the biggest, active polo clubs
in Nigeria. Albert Esiri is the CEO of Ashbert Limited; Ashbert
Beverages Limited, founder of Abraka Turf and Country Club, Executive
Chairman of Ashbert Oil and Gas Limited and other business ventures.
He's played with over 120 ponies. He is the patron/founder of one of
Africa's biggest polo teams, Ashbert Raiders, an award-winning team that
has played successfully in major tournaments in Nigeria, Argentina,
Brazil and the United Kingdom.
One of his sons, Dr. Sidney
Onoriode Esiri is the dentist turned, pop artiste, who is better known
as Dr. Sid. Previously signed to the defunct Mo'Hits Records, Dr. Sid's
playful, fun song, 'Pop Champagne' shot him into limelight. Another
younger brother of his, George Esiri is a famous international
photo-journalist who works out of Abuja for Reuters. The fame of his
family was also a major consideration for his refusal to take a stage
name. Because he valued his name so much, Esiri was never in the news
for sordid deeds. In a profession steeped in immorality, it is a glowing
statement to his uprightness that his career was scandal free.
The
same consideration for his eminent background, informed why Esiri's
illness could not be turned into a pity party, demanding donations to
save his soul from public spirited Nigerians. His death last Tuesday at
70 years was, therefore, a shock to millions of Nigerians who connected
with him as one of Nollywood’s leading men. This proud family
disposition was confirmed midweek when Dr. Sid there was no reason to
cry over his father’s demise. He felt the late actor had reached the
famed Biblical age of 70 years and lived a good life. It was a clear
indication that his funeral will be a celebration of his life (and going
by Dr. Sid's song, it will be an opportunity to pop champagne).
Regrettably
though, when his health was beginning to fail, many noticed the drop in
his body weight but because he was such a cheerful and courageous man,
he did not entertain sympathy or talk suggesting that he was sick. The
announcement of his death last Tuesday in a Lagos hospital may not have
registered a bang with his close associates and family members who knew
that he was battling a terminal illness suspected to be diabetes.
His
best known role in television was the Village Headmaster in the then
popular television series of the same name. Incidentally, Chief Segun
Olusola, creator of Village Headmaster passed on last year. Esiri
continued to be active on stage until Nollywood was born. While some of
contemporaries treated the emerging Nigerian film industry with some
cynicism, Esiri was one of eminent trained Thespians who supported
Nollywood with his integrity and credibility. Till the end, he always
had faith in Nigeria and did everything within his power to project her
in a positive manner.
Unlike some who were never rewarded for
their love for motherland, Nigeria did a good turn to Esiri when he was
decorated with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). Apart from
the fact that some of his contemporaries with whom he studied abroad had
become highly placed in various walks of life, being inducted into
Nigeria's exclusive company of national honourees also opened a new
world of previleges to him.
Appreciating creativity, President
Goodluck Jonathan joined other Nigerians in mourning the veteran
Nollywood actor, whom he described as an epitome of commitment,
excellence and creativity. Jonathan reiterated his belief that Nollywood
actors have carved a positive image for Nigeria in the eyes of the
international community, with the late Esiri, a Member of the Order of
the Niger (MON), having contributed in no small measure to the creation
and sustenance of that image. A statement by the president's Special
Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the Nigerian
movie industry and the country would miss the actor.
The president
extended his sincere commiserations to the Esiri family, the government
and people of Delta State and all fans of the late actor. Before the
news of his tragic death, the Nollywood great hit the headlines last
year for a somewhat gloomy reason. He had been robbed while attending
the Olympics in London. His compatriot, Segun Arinze who was resident in
the same hotel suffered the same fate. The actors were touring London
with ‘The King Must Dance Naked’ and other stage plays.
Unknown to
him and many, it would be his last major production. Incidentally,
Esiri who began his acting career on stage craved a return to live
theatre in his last days. He was said to have been fed up with Nollywood
scripts which he did not find challenging. For him, there was nothing
more to exploit in Nollywood. It was only natural for Esiri to desire a
return to live theatre, a profession that he abandoned a promising
career in engineering to pursue.
Apart from the Nigerian national
honour, MON, Esiri's talent, hard-work and consistency was also
appreciated in his industry. For these, he was variously decorated with
the THEMA Awards, NTA Honours Awards and AMAA Awards, amongst many
others. While some treated the emerging Nigerian film industry with some
cynicism, Esiri was one of eminent trained thespians who supported
Nollywood with his integrity and credibility.
The long array of
his performances bears evidence to his versatile talent. The checklist
includes: Village Headmaster, Supple Blues and Things Fall Apart. He
featured in many Nollywood movies, including I Love Forever, The Prize,
Six Demons, Wasted Years, Forever, The investigation, Corridors of
Power, Last Knight, The Tyrant and he is reputed to have featured in
more TV Network drama programmes than any Nigerian actor.
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