Honour for TK
LAGOS EDITION
By Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan
It was Tunde Kelani’s day (or night rather) of glory on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at the Excellence Hotel, Ogba.
His night because out of the many producers in the Nigerian movie industry, City People, a popular soft-sell, organised an event which singled him out for honour “for his immense contribution to the cinema/movie industry in the country”.
The event had been slated for 5p.m on that day and you can imagine how glad I was when at exactly that time, the master of ceremony (MC) Yemi Shodimu, came on stage and declared the event open.
By this time, Kelani fondly called TK was already seated, with Seye Kehinde, publisher of the City People, Susan Eyo-Honesty, his deputy, the Director-General of the Nigeria Films Censors Board, Emeka Mba, Ambassador Segun Olushola, some royal fathers, Yinka Davis, Alariwo, the Managing Director of Nigeria Film Corporation, Afolabi Adesanyan and a host of Yoruba actors and actresses, producers and directors in attendance.
One could tell that the night belonged to those in the movie world as they shone brightly.
Beautiful Nubia, the medical doctor cum musician was the first artiste to perform that night to the delight of the audience. His rich African vibes thrilled all, just as some girls dressed in traditional attire went up-stage to wriggle their waists to his songs.
Omo Baba Number one, one of Nigeria’s well known and funniest comedian was on hand to make the audience relax and laugh – a job he didn’t disappoint in. Mandy, a female comedian, did try her best as many in the audence adjudged her just okay. Some other musicians also performed, but Sound Sultan’s performance was simply breath-taking.
One thing quite evident though was that the show was very exciting – this one could see from the reaction of the crowd. I doubt if any of them took notice of the time, because even when I checked, I realised that it was already late into the night.
It was some minutes past 9 p.m that evening when TK, dressed in his usual African attire was called onto the stage and his citation read by a professor. After a few minutes, a plaque was handed to him by Kehinde.
But before this, Kehinde had come up to offer reasons why his organisation decided to honour the man he referred to as "the pride of our nation".
Kehinde: "We had to honour him for his devotion to his work and the time he puts into any project he handles. His movies are always different. They speak for themselves. Anyone can attest to it. It is only natural to give honour to whom it is due…”
Mba, the DG of the Censors Board on his part said, “TK is almost perfect in his work. The way he tells the story in his movies always makes you want to sit and finish watching every scene. His locations, his lighting and scripts are marvelous. He doesn’t rush, he takes time to do his movies and it pays off at the end”.
Friends and associates of TK were one after the other called up to say something about a man who is behind a lot of mega hit movies such as Agogo Ewo, Campus Queen, Shaworo Ide, Thunder Bolt, Ti Oluwa nile, Abeni and a whole lot of others.
Gabosky, a foremost movie producer in the industry, after saying a lot of nice things about TK, however, added that he was looking forward to a time when he and TK would make a movie together.
For this, Gabosky earned for himself a huge round of applause. Then Omo Baba came on stage again to “Crack de Ribs” of members of the audience.
At about 10.30pm, TK gave a “Thank you” speech, which was very emotional. In it, he said that he was overwhelmed by what everyone said about him and gave a heartfelt appreciation to the City People for the honour done him. He also said that all these years, he has been doing his job diligently and professionally because that is the way it should be done.
After his speech, the event came to an end but somehow no one left. All they wanted to do was take photographs with TK – or at the very least have a handshake with him.
A little while later, the crowd started thinning away. Most of the dignitaries had by this time left and TK could have a breathing space but not until he had told me that for his recordings he uses the latest digital technology in film making. Years ago he was known to be recording on celluloid.
It was about 11.15p.m when we all left the venue of the event – an event where you could see how love and admiration poured out for one man who has made professionalism the bedrock of his work.