Hero of Tunde Kelani’s movie on the late apala singer, Ayinla Omowura, Lateef Adedimeji, has said that he knew almost nothing about the genre and the singer before he was asked to play the role.
As a result, he said, he had to do a lot of research to be able to cope.
In an interview with ‘Saturday Punch’, he said: “”I had always prayed to work with Tunde Kelani; even if it was to play a cameo role in any of his movies. So, when the lead role came, I thought it was a dream. I did not believe it until I heard ‘action’ on the first day on set.
It was challenging because I had not been a fan of apala music and I never listened to it. But, when I got the script, I started listening to apala songs. I had to do a lot of research because there wasn’t much documentation or video recording of any kind on Ayinla Omowura. All the characterisation I did was built based on my own research and everything I had heard and read about him. It was quite a stretch for me. The musical part was also taxing because I had to learn his songs. It was tough but at the end, I am glad it came out well..”
