Veteran actor, Chief Kanran, prepares to celebrate his 50th anniversary as an actor. In
an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the actor revealed that about
N50m would be spent on the week long celebration.
He said that the money would be got from well meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations.
“The chairman of the occasion is Deji
Etiiwe, who is an actor, publisher and producer. The event would last
for a week. There will be a three-day performance, a seminar has been
lined up and I will also be launching a book titled, ‘Who is Segun
Remi?’ I also have a movie that I want to launch. During the weeklong
celebration, there will be a dinner and award night which is aimed at
celebrating prominent Nigerians who have made their marks in the
society. Veterans in the industry will be recognized, especially those
that are hardly celebrated. With each award given, I intend to back it
up with either money or a gift that will forever be appreciated by the
recipients. We are going to partner with the government and well-meaning
Nigerians to sponsor the event; it’s going to be elegant. The event
will cost about N50m but various companies and the government would be
sponsors. It will be to their advantage because it will be an avenue for
them to advertise their products. The government, both states and
federal, would be a part of the celebration because it is their way of
appreciating an artiste who has been making the country proud for over
half a century,” he said.
He further said,
“The journey to stardom has been
rough but we thank God for the past 50 years. All through my 50 years
as an actor, I have never regretted my choice of career. However, it
makes me sad when I travel and see our contemporaries abroad. An actor
of my caliber should be a billionaire by now but such is not the case in
Nigeria. Our government does not appreciate our profession. The only
time we are useful to them is during political campaigns or when they
want to publicise themselves and that is not right. From the days of
Ogunde, artistes have been neglected by the government. If Ogunde did
not have property which he used as collateral to obtain loans for his
celluloid films, only God knows what would have happened to his career.
Look at Baba Sala who went to borrow money to shoot a movie, he was
wrecked by pirates. I am also a victim of piracy. Four years ago, I
spent over N8m on a project but I cannot premiere it because I am scared
of pirates. Apart from that, I am thanking God for everything. I am
glad that anytime I walk on the streets, people would wave at me. I
thank God that I am still seen as a superstar.”
Happy Anniversary Chief Kanran
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