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 unclad’ 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.
Source: ThisDay
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