The veteran actor, Prince Jide Kosoko of the Kosoko royal family of Lagos had a very lengthy interview with the Vanguard newspaper a few weeks ago. He spoke about pioneers of movies in Nigeria where he maintained that it actually started with ‘Kongi Harvest’ produced by Prof Wole Soyinka, followed by ‘Ajani Ogun’ produced by Dr. Ola Balogun in 1976 and so on. We would only feed you here with ‘Why Prince Jide Kosoko became a polygamist’ because he really has a story to tell on that. Thanks to the Prince and the Vanguard newspaper. Here it goes:
And how has your work affected your life?
It has robbed me of my privacy. The moment you become a public figure, your life becomes other people’s business. You have to pretend to be a gentleman even when you are a rascal. We learn to stage-manage our lives even when we are not on set. Many of us have learnt to live a fake life to suit and keep our fans, people who see us as role models.
How have you been managing your role as a father, husband, actor, role model, etc., over the years?
These are different sectors of my life. I know my responsibility as a father. I have eight of my kids who have graduated from the University. I make the money from being an actor to play my role as a father and husband. I try my best to remain focused and hardworking to remain a role model to many people.
Some of your children and fans were not happy when you took two wives. What’s your comment?
I never envisaged being a polygamist though I am a product of one. My parents didn’t support it too. My first wife was a business woman. I craved for somebody who was in the same field with me. In those days, the best advice you got was from your better half and that was how the second woman came to be. Along the line, I lost the two to childbirths within 11months interval. I had seven children as at that time, so I didn’t plan remarrying or having more children again. But after much persuasion from my doctor and relatives, I decided to have a woman with the agreement of not having more children but a complete African woman will not agree to that. One thing led to the other and I got two women again. So being a polygamist was not intentional but God’s design over which I do not have power.
Do you mind sharing those things that led to your marrying two women again?
The situation that surrounded marrying my wives made me go for the two.
What has been the worst thing ever written about you and how did you react?
Bad reporting is just bad. I can’t place my hand on the worst. I have decided not to react because I believe I am bigger than them. Also, the more I react, the more copies they sell. I need not cry over split milk at this level.
Many are of the opinion that actors are very promiscuous. What’s your take on that?
That is far from the truth. In fact, our’s is one of the professions whose members are very disciplined. People tend to make noise out of everything we do as public figures. That is not to say we do not date or sleep with each other. The profession is a blessed one and people should please see the good side of our profession too. We educate, entertain, admonish, enlighten the world through our artistic works. (Credits: Jide Kosoko, Vanguard Ngr).