The movie industry in Nigeria is fast rising and is dominated by countless talents. The southeast has a bulk of these stars. There are big stars, there are middleweights, and there are upcoming ones. Among them is one of the freshest discoveries who, in a short period of time in the industry, has shown that he has the potentials to rise to the top of his chosen industry. Agbasiere Chukwuebuka Bonaventure is the name and he is heading to stardom.
To fully understand his person, career, and choices, I sat down with him in what is an exclusive interview. who hails from Ihiala local government in Anambra State where he also schooled, talks about his life as an actor and a model.
Early life and education
Speaking of his childhood and growing up he said, “I came from a family of nine (7 males and two females). I am the second to the last. I was born and raised by strict parents. We are from Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. My mother was a teacher and my father was a businessman. They are both late.”
Speaking on his education, he said he had his nursery, primary, and secondary education at his home town Ihiala between 1995 to 2007. “I got admission into Anambra state university (ANSU) now known as Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) where I studied mass communication,” he said. Bonaventure graduated in 2014.
Pasttime and philosophy
Bonaventure who is also known as BukkyGentle is a man of deep thoughts summed in a simple philosophy. “My philosophy in life is Nothing good comes easy and I am grace personified.”
On the one hand, he shows his belief in success, in his belief in not getting anything handed down to him but in going out to work for whatever he desires. This is crowned in his belief that it is not always hustling, that it is not by he who runneth and he who willet but by God who shows mercy, hence his reference to being grace personified.
For his pastime, I love swimming, traveling, and watching action movies.
Nollywood journey and relationship with fans
“I went into acting,” he said, “because I have always had a passion for acting right from the time I was in secondary school. I started acting way back in 2008 when I was doing stage dramas but my first film is “Tears and Sorrow” in English and “Ekere Oru Eke” in Igbo all in 2018.
As an actor, “I have played many roles but the most difficult role I have played Is a leader of a dreaded gang. It was quite challenging because that character doesn’t portray my personality. And one of the easiest roles I have played is a gate Man. I interpreted the character very well because of my comic nature.”
Chukwuebuka admitted that all movies whether set in the city or “epic” are challenging, all depending on the character he is given to portray.
Chukwuebuka identifies “Crazy Princess” and ‘Brothers War”, and “Sexy Banker” are the best movies he has featured in so far.
Talking about how he handles his fans and as most of them are females, Chukwuebuka said, “It’s been awesome. I try as much as possible to maintain a cordial relationship with them.”
On the matter of his future, he assured his fans that he will not let them down and he urges them to always expect big things from him. He identifies Jim Iyke and Stephen Emeka Odimgbe (known as Flashboy) as his role models “because they inspire me”.
“In five years’ time, I see myself as the biggest artist Nollywood has ever produced,” he predicted.
Mixed feelings in Nollywood
More than speaking on his career and his passion for his craft, Chukwuemeka mentioned areas he feels the industry needs to improve:
“Nollywood is an industry that still has a long way to go.”
You could say that you already knew this about Nollywood and probably expect him to shine more light on this issue. He obliged: “A lot of things need to change in Nollywood which comprising of the issue of upcoming artists not being paid.”
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“Some producers need to do films that make an impact in the society,” he added. “It is so sad that most executives producers always look for a shortcut in the terms of expenditures. They don’t like to get things right the way it is in the script. some always go with this slogan…. ‘shoot like that’. They don’t care about the content; all they want is to make money.”
Chukwuebuka revealed that one of the major challenges in the industry is the issue of not getting roles on merit because the industry is largely about who you know more than what you can offer. “Sometimes,” he said, “people are given roles based on who they know and not based on what they can do.”
“Most times, it’s a mixed feeling because you will be putting in lots of handworks but you are not seeing the financial benefit of the work you are doing.
On the structure of the industry, he suggested that government needs to invest in Nollywood, especially the area of equipment and locations.
He didn’t close the talk without giving words of advice to upcoming actors. “Anyone who intends to join the industry needs to have a side hustle as a means of sustenance. But most importantly, they should be good at their craft.”
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