Ever admired the great chemistry exhibited by Goge Africa’s Isaac and Nneka in their shows? Ever learnt how the celebrity couple met and how strong passion for Africa inspired them to create the leading culture and tourism show? In this exclusive interview, the couple speak about the journey so far, their marriage and how they started Goge Africa, among others.
Did you find things rosy when you started Goge Africa?
Nneka: It was so challenging, still always challenging. But it’s been fun too, educative and fulfilling.
Isaac: In the beginning, several people thought we were a flash in the pan. They didn’t think we would last. But we have been able to prove them wrong. We’ve been running the show for 15 years and counting; and we are still here …
Nneka: (Cuts in) By the special grace of God, and the kind support of those who believe in us.
Did you start Goge Africa before or after your union?
Nneka: No, our union started before the programme.
Are you serious?
Isaac: Yeah; that’s what some people do not know.
Nneka: We got married first, and then decided on what to do.
Some people don’t know also that you are a couple?
Isaac: Yes, we are aware. Some people even think she is my sister.
How did you conceptualise the show?
Isaac: I used to run a radio show and I had a producer who wouldn’t let me play the kind of music I would love to play. I wanted to play something from Africa but my producer preferred otherwise. They wanted me to play foreign, country music and all that. So, after a while, I decided to do something that would extol Africa – something that I would be able to call the shots. That marked the birth of Goge Africa. So, when I discussed it with her (Nneka), that I wanted to do something on radio, all for myself, she said, ‘why don’t you do it on TV?’ I told her I didn’t have the money for TV, and I didn’t have a ready sponsor with that kind of money. But she encouraged me to give it a try since she was already into costuming. She offered to provide her costumes and that was it. And gradually, one episode led to another and another, and another and…
Nneka: We now have over 300 episodes running across different countries and great cities.
What biggest surprise have you experienced?
Isaac: We once attended the Carnival of Culture in Berlin.
Nneka: Yes, we were
invited by the City of Berlin to cover the carnival of culture. The German Airlines wanted to give us free flight tickets.
Isaac: We had queued up at Lufthansa to buy our tickets, and a woman just walked up to us and asked, ‘Are you not the ones that are doing culture thing? We affirmed, and she took us upstairs, and the next minute, she asked us to go over there and pick up our air tickets, without paying a dime. She said to us, ‘You don’t have to pay. Next time, just mention that you flew Lufthansa.’
Nneka: We later learnt she was the marketing manager of the company.
Isaac: And that was when we realised that Goge Africa was really making impact and that people were appreciating our little efforts.
So, most of your numerous flights around the world are on free tickets?
Nneka: The thing is that we have developed a lot of partnerships along the way – governments, hotels, airlines and what have you. They give us something to get something in return because we have a platform to put them. For them, it is like brand association; ‘This is a couple that travels around Africa and the world, and they use our airlines, products or services’. Then for hotels, choosing a hotel as our preferred one when we visit a country is seen as big endorsement for that brand. So, we do a lot of brand association.
What does Goge stand for and why did you adopt it?
Isaac: Goge is Hausa word for a local musical instrument. It is called Ubo in Igbo. I chose Hausa word because Hausa is spoken along several other African countries and I felt that Goge would be understood by more people across Africa than Igbo or Yoruba term. Our intention for creating Goge Africa was to make Africa to begin to look inwards, to respect African designers, and culture, tradition and tourism. You see what we are wearing now? They were made by African designers. It doesn’t have to be Kalvin Klan or designed by other top international designers before I can feel good wearing it. Why not a Mubi design and the rest of popular African designer-brands? These guys are great. All they need is promotion and support. So, Goge Africa is interested in promoting the good things Africa has – the music, people; fabric, fashion and costume; our food and culinary culture, just name it. That is what every African should do, so, non-Africans can begin to appreciate what we have.
Taking you back a little, Isaac, you were working in a radio station before…?
No, I was running a radio show, independently.
Nneka: I was into costuming, fashion designing and other stuff.
So, you are not trained journalists?
Nneka: Yes, we are not.
Isaac: I read Insurance and she read English.
How did you meet and where?
Nneka: We met at a Zack Orji movie set in Lagos. I was costuming and he was acting.
Was it love at fight sight?
Nneka: It was love at the right time (Laughter).
What attracted you to broadcasting?
Isaac: I would say that people talked the idea into me; I ignited it and gave it a shot. As a financial consultant back then, people would tell me that I had a great voice and that I should be working in a radio station. So, somehow, I started doing radio commercials and later, TV commercials and documentaries, alongside running a radio show on Rhythm 93.7 FM. And when I was not allowed to play African music, I decided to start something that I would be in charge of. But then I noticed that everybody was just doing the same thing and replicating existing programmes on radio and TV when there were lots of new stories to tell. When you witness burial, marriage ceremonies and other events around Africa, you would see how elaborate and colourful they are done in some countries – the music, costumes and all that. And when you report some of these things, people will watch how some of these ceremonies are done and appreciate African culture and tradition. Have you been to a burial ceremony in Ghana? I have seen somebody standing in state instead of lying in state. I have seen a coffin that looked like a plane, because the man who died was a pilot. I have seen a coffin that was designed like a fruit of tomato. When you move around you will see that Africa is interesting and rich in culture that make amazing stories.
After you met at the movie set and somehow, which of you made the move towards voicing your mutual feelings?
Isaac: I’m the guy, so I did. It happened in her house because she had lent her apartment for the film shooting. You know how it is now.
Did you find it a smooth task?
Isaac: Easy? Well, toasting a lady… Would you say that toasting a lady is easy or difficult? (Laughter) A guy like me… I could toast any lady whenever I felt like. I think it’s a matter of opinion. I don’t think it is…
Nneka: He is a very confident guy. So, he didn’t have any problem talking to me. And for me, it was just a pleasure saying yes (Laughter).
You didn’t need to either think about it or do some usual Shakara stuff?
Nneka: Why would I do Shakara? I am somebody that knows what I want. When I see what is good for me, I go for it, and if what I want comes my way, I attract it.
How did he propose to you?
Nneka: He proposed the way he should propose (Laughter).
Your show is now 15 years old and running; how old is your marriage?
Isaac: It’s about 17 years now.
How have you been coping with marital hiccups?
Isaac: I think it’s all about how you manage your challenges. I tell you the truth: Everybody has challenges but it is all a matter of how you manage yours. But generally, God always has a way of seeing us through our problems and challenges.
The kind of chemistry you exhibit makes many people feel that you don’t ever quarrel or experience problems…
Isaac: No relationship is insulated from challenges, but it all depends on how such challenges are handled.
Since your programme always takes you away from Nigeria, how do you go about feeding? Do you just eat any delicacy you meet on ground at your destinations?
Isaac: When we are staying for up to three weeks or more, we travel with things like Okra, fish, crayfish and things like that.
Nneka: We pack a few stuffs that will keep reminding us about home and prevent us from missing our delicacies. And we find things easy because we always travel together.
What do you enjoy most about your marriage?
Isaac: She complements my weaknesses and inadequacies. I don’t feel complete wherever I am and she is not there. Whenever we are travelling, I don’t bother about anything; she makes all the arrangements. That’s how marriage should be – complementing each other’s weaknesses and inadequacies.
What was the biggest risk you took in the course of your work?
Nneka: Mine was going on a boat ride without a life vest and I knew I didn’t know how to swim, and I was carrying a camera, shooting in the troubled waters of Opobo.
I think I once watched you holding a python in one of your episodes?
That’s not risky; it wouldn’t bite me. Did you watch where I carried an alligator? Even when we travelled to Uganda, my husband and I were taking a lesson on viper at a place, and a huge cobra lay by it. I a l s o remember when we visited the Gambia a n d we were taken to a crocodile pond that contained about 288 crocodiles. They would come out at about 10 am, with their mouths open, to feel the sun.
Isaac: They would stay motionless as if they were not real.
Nneka: The Gambian President had asked one of his guards to take us there and I stooped down in front of a big crocodile while taking my presentation. It was twelve years later that I saw that footage and felt goose balls. I was just lucky because if it had wanted to eat me up, it would have been easy for it. But I had no fear then.
Isaac: Fear releases an adrenaline in you which animals can smell, and it makes them uncomfortable so they try to attack you. If you are before a dangerous animal, you should try to hold back fear to prevent the release of the adrenaline.
You always make new clothes to depict the culture of any people you are visiting and that should make your wardrobe to pile up heavily. What do you do with all the clothes?
We give them out because they really come in heaps.
Nneka: I can only wear a clothe twice. If I wear any clothe on an outing, the best that can happen to it is that I can wear it on Goge Africa show and that’s the end of it.
Isaac: A lot of designers make clothes for us. They keep sending us different designs because we acknowledge them on our show.
You don’t pay for all the clothes that you wear?
Some international designers even pay us to wear their designs.
What makes you proud and happy as a celebrity?
Nneka: I am happy and proud to be in a part of the world where we don’t experience earthquake, no wars and I see food to eat even if it is once a day. And I am happy and proud that I have a husband that really loves me and cares for me; and that we have a programme that is on air and people watch it, which I think, is the reason you cared to interview us, making us feel like we are relevant. So, why wouldn’t I be happy? Some people demand so much from life and keep starring at what they do not have, without considering what they already have. I’m comfortable and happy in my little ways.
What else do you do apart from Goge Africa?
Nneka: We produce documentaries and run travel consultancy and other services.
TheSun
No comments:
Post a Comment