Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke has on Monday, revealed to the world those who influenced his journey into acting, especially the Nollywood movie industry. And top on his lists, are Richard Mofe Damijo popularly known as RMD, and the beautiful and ageless Dakore Egbuson-Akande.
Actor Gideon Okeke who was a former Big Brother Naija Housemate (the first edition of the reality tv show) and also a stage actor, taking to his social media handle on Monday 13th September 2021, put up a photo of Dakore Egbuson-Akande and that of RMD to tell the world how these two influenced his acting career, which he said started professionally way back in 2007.
Aside from these two, the actor also listed the likes of Bimbo Manuel, Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ireti Doyle, Joke Silva, Olu Jacobs, Norbet Young, Gloria Anozie-Young, Justice Esiri, Pete Edochie, Ebele Okaro, Femi Branch, Yemi Blaq, and Funlola Awofiyebi who are all veteran Nollywood actors and fans favourites as those he has looked up to since he began in 2007.
In a long post on his social media handle, he said:
“They’ve NEVER heard this before
But here’s a TRUE STORY.
2007 was the year I began My Professional Acting career. Before then, My biggest reference (and still till date) was RMD. He gave it everything that Panache required. And then I saw the movie “Critical Assignment” one evening in Uni.
I saw Myself a lot through RMD
Now let’s Flip to DAKORE.
Before My entry into Nollywood, I did notice something “worrisomely” peculiar.
Diction and Elocution were not part of the WhatsApp group lol. The Actors were delivering “labored lines of dialogue”, Like they had a morsel of Poundo in their mouths. But DAKORE spoke this English with so much fluidity…with ease. It rolled off her tongue like a damn great KISSER.
I believed I had a shot at this too. Cos I worried about how I would fit in. (Being a student of English Myself, it’s My most efficient means of communication lol). Now that there was a reference for Me within the fold, (somewhere not too far from My age bracket), I took ALL audition calls available.
Today, I’m My Own MAN! My own kind of ACTOR. I made it here! No surprises.
So I just wanna say 2 things :
- In whatever you do, reach for the highest standards Possible, within yourself. You could be someone’s pitching reference, even without knowing it.
- Nollywood is for EVERYBODY. There’s no gate! Just come in and show the world, something they ain’t NEVER seen before. But please, Be about THE WORK. Nobody cares about your slay.
In closing, May I say thank you :
DAKORE, RMD, BIMBO MANUEL, TAIWO AJAYI LYCETT, IRETI DOYLE, JOKE SILVA, OLU JACOBS, NORBET YOUNG, GLORIA ANOZIE YOUNG, JUSTICE ESIRI, PETE EDOCHIE, EBELE OKARO, FEMI BRANCH, YEMI BLAQ, FUNLOLA AWOFIYEBI, and a host of other Diction and Elocution merchants.
My RESPEK LARGE and this post is with ALL DUE RESPECT!!!
Be INSPIRED !,” he added.