Broadcasters
Apart from parodying songs by major artistes like Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade (Papalolo was always on a mock guitar), they produced impressive dramas such as ‘Jacob is Kus’ and ‘Fine Medicine’.
Trouble, however, began for Jesters when the short-man-humour-personified Jacob died too soon. The group became a shadow of itself and all attempts to revive it failed. While Aderupoko is still largely relevant, appearing in major films, Papalolo has not been that lucky. He seems abandoned, to the extent that old-age hunger now appears to be his lot.
In an interview with Kune Afod, the younger actor who has been shedding light on the state of things with veterans, Papalolo, who feigns leg deformity in plays and films, lamented he had not been invited for movie roles for years. This has badly affected his economy, according to him.
He conceded he was hungry but his children had restricted him from begging the public for money, saying that he needs movie roles.
“Some people, including our movie colleagues, came to meet me recently, and they told me they wanted to take me somewhere to seek financial assistance. I’m hungry, but my children don’t want me to beg the public for money, I need movie roles. It’s been five years since producers and actors invited me for a movie role, and if not for the little help I get from some people, maybe things could have been worse for me.”
His fans will, therefore, want to join Afod in the crusade that old artiste should not be abandoned from the scheme of things. Particularly, Papalolo still deserves roles, while all well-meaning Nigerians should reach out to him.
Oluwatosin Enesi
