She wasn’t the real Iya-Osogbo. But I knew her way back from the simple days of Àrìnjó theatre or Traveling Theatre, or in simple American term: “The Chitlin Circuit.”
She was at that time a bit player in the Oyin Adejobi group which at that same time featured Mrs Grace Oyin Adejobi or the original Iya Osogbo – that tall, slender, regal, light-skinned, tribal-marked, cantankerous woman who suffered no fools gladly. And yes she was Chief Oyin Adejobi’s first wife too.
Then there was Oredola – the mouthy, humorous, comely, dark-skinned beauty with them huge, penetrative eyeballs – the one, who reportedly grew up in Ghana.
Then there was the tall, fleshy woman with the ample bosom – fair-complexioned who happened to be the first Iya Wande. She played Baba Wande’s side-chick in that TV movie: “Ilé Tí A Fi T’ọ́mọ.” Oftentimes, she’d played Tafa Oloyede’s love interest in some episodes of Kóòtù Asipa as well.
And the next most prominent (female) in that group at the time too was ‘Mojoyin.’ I remember seeing her initially in the mid-70s in the Dúró Ladipo group. Then she joined Oyin Adejobi. And in the 80’s she moonlighted quite frequently in many episodes of The Yemi Elebuibon: Ifá Olókùn productions.
I can’t recall any episode where she’d played a nice, outgoing or normal character. Her natural ability to be villainous was set right from the start of her career. She’s always been a heel from hell!
But around the 90’s in the Haji Yekini Ajileye/Jimoh Aliu era – in the golden age of Nollywood’s exploitation of wizardry and witchcraft on television, she became even more prominent.
She became a permanent prop for evil. Thoroughly believable in her evilness. Hard to imagine the possibility of an inch of good emanating from such a devious woman on TV – even in real life. For on-screen – she could just be amazingly wonderful at being astonishingly evil!
‘Iya Gbóńkán’ – which in itself is a crude reference to her small size, her awkward frame and her physical challenges. Importantly, interestingly or amazingly or anyhow you choose to see it – the same necessities in place: to make her, or ensures she’s a compelling act.
A living legend no doubt. Out of character and without make-up, ain’t she just the most naturally evil-looking character in Nollywood – The Cruella Deville of Nigerian theatre? In the absence of Iya Dudu – the late Mrs Ibisomi Ogunde – yeah, I think she is!
