Bola Akande specialises in screen writing and film directing. She is the second daughter of the late popular thespian, Olusola Ishola Ogunsola, famously known as Isho Pepper, who ruled the theatre industry in the West Africa for many years. Trained as a Microbiologist, Bola started a Christian ministry called Praise and Glory Media Ministry (HPGM) based in Manchester, UK. In this interview conducted by SEGUN ADEBAYO, she speaks on life as Isho Pepper’s daughter, career and more.
You are the second daughter of the famous Ishola Ogunsola also known as Isho pepper, how was life growing up with your father?
Growing up with my dad was so much fun, never a dull moment with him. Even though he was a strict African father in terms of instilling discipline in us, we still loved him and loved staying around him. He shared jokes easily with everyone and would discuss with us deep experiences of life. Yes, it was wonderful being Isho Pepper’s daughter .
What kind of man was he?
My father was a very good man, honest and caring. A man that feared God. He would spend his last penny to ensure his children are okay despite us being many. Especially in the area of education, he ensured we all went to school and even up to the university level for a few of us before he died. A very friendly man, neighbours and colleagues alike loved him.
You must have had some great moments with him that would remain close to your heart. Could you share some of your fondest memories with us?
All memories with my father were great. He was a genuine man and very protective of his children, he would allow no harm to come near us; he wanted all of us to do well in life.
A very funny one I still smile about now happened in 1986. It’s one that shows how much he wanted us to do well in life. My senior sister and I were sent to rewrite our WAEC exams in Ikare, Ondo State because we didn’t get good enough grades in our first attempt at the exams in Ibadan, this was in order for us to proceed for higher education. We were away for nearly one year retaking our year 5. In those days, there were no mobile phones and even house phones were not many, so we were greatly missed by friends and family alike. Upon our return, we went visiting friends and some came to visit us as well. On this day I went out to visit some friends and my dad happened to be the one at home. He would usually sit in front of the house greeting passerby and enjoying the breeze. Some of my friends on hearing that I was back came to check on me and they met my father at home. Some of them that were boys who were bold enough to ask him about me, received the reply that I had gone out. So, when I returned it, was not funny for me at all, he told me that he had high hopes for me that I would make it in life but with what happened today, he is worried. He said he counted the number of boys that came to see me, (I cannot fully remember how many but I think) he said five or even more, He said, “I hope you would be able to complete your studies, how come your own friends are boys?” Even though I had lots of female friends, who also came to see me, he didn’t want the boys checking on me; he believed having male friends was too much distraction from my studies. I had many friends when growing up, boys and girls who were just friends with no strings attached but my father didn’t think a girl should have male friends; he was really particular about us facing our studies.
When he died, how hard was it for you and your siblings to cope with life without him?
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His death changed everything; he was the backbone of our family. He held us all together like a good father would but thanks be to God for our mothers. The mothers were pillars and they looked after us all. My mother Mrs Mojisola Ogunsola, who also has gone to be with the Lord, was a strong woman, she tried her best to hold the family together after my dad passed. Losing my father at that time was serious but with God on our side, we are moving on. Twenty-six years now since his departure, many of us children have completed our education; many of us are married with (children). We are mostly doing well. Yes, God has been gracious to us.
You are a filmmaker and you seem to be making waves in the UK, but you produce Christian movies. What informed this decision?
I really don’t call my films Christian films; I call them God inspired Films. This is because my movies are not made solely for Christians; they are made for anyone that loves to see good films that talk about real life issues and how to deal with these issues. As a story teller, I approach my work from my strong point which is from my relationship with God and my understanding of His love to the world and His willingness to help us.
You worked in Nigeria for some years before you relocated. How was it hard for you settling down in another man’s country?
I studied Microbiology in my first degree from the Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University and I worked as a microbiologist with the Federal Department of Agriculture CSU’s project for a few years and I was also into buying and selling of different products until our relocation to the UK. I have been a born again Christian since 1994 and I love the Lord. During one of my private times with God in 2003, I believe He was calling me into a Ministry. I honestly didn’t know what ministry God was calling me into at first but after taking part in one Mount Zion Faith production in 2004, it became clear that I was called into the media ministry. I believe God wants people to know the true God and His love for us and one of the most powerful ways to do this is through the Media which I was called into. After my relocation to the UK in March 2005, we started a media ministry called His Praise and Glory Media Ministries in December of the same year.
At what point did you decide to relocate to the UK and how hard was life when your dad passed on?
Life was hard as it would be expected when the major breadwinner dies. Financially, it was tough as it wasn’t easy to carry on the business without him. Attempt was made but it’s never really the same. We are here and still moving on by God’s grace.
Your dad was a secular moviemaker that was known by many in those days. You don›t seem to be interested in that. Why?
I wasn’t interested because I never really saw myself as an art person. I studied science like most students believed to be brilliant in those days. Even though I had helped my parents in some of their productions but it was just like the child of an Akara seller helping in the shop, not knowing that I was still going to live to do this. Also, my father didn’t encourage us to do it, he wanted for us to go to school and study ‘real courses’. Until recently most people do not consider Theatre production or music as a real jobs and despite the fact that it was My Father’s vocation. We weren’t really encouraged to do it possibly because of the many challenges attached to the profession…I don’t know, but he didn’t encourage us to do it. I guess that was why I wasn’t interested.
