Justus Esiri… exit of ‘grand good old man of moviedom’

HE enjoyed a comfortable listing among the very few professionals in the veteran class who have consistently been winning the hearts of moviegoers with grace and charm. Until he passed on last Tuesday after he reportedly complained of “weakness and pains’’ and was taken to a medical facility in Surulere, Lagos for prompt medical attention, Esiri who is described by younger colleagues (but not to his hearing though) as a ‘grand good old man of the movie’ enjoyed the reputation of being one of the not too many iconoclastic performers on the movie runway who is well regarded as a core professional and one of the very few actors with a strong screen presence.
Indeed, Justus Esiri whether in Nigeria or on the continental acting turf needs no introduction. Awarded the national honours of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2007 by the Federal Government ostensibly for his immense contribution to the development of the motion picture industry, Esiri who would have been 71 in November having been born in November 1942 was undoubtedly one of the most popular faces in the Nigerian movie industry and one of the few actors in the professional class who have had a remarkable career, earned their spurs and who have enjoyed super roles on television and on screen.
From his break on television The Village Headmaster to Forever one of his numerous home video hits and to the more recent Assassin Practice which is currently showing in cinemas across the country, the focused and likeable Germany-trained acting uncle to a number of young actors whose acting career spanned over four decades deservedly enjoys a good rating as an actor. Besides, he was well regarded as a veteran actor and respected as an outstanding thespian of the television, home video and celluloid.
Born in Oria, Abraka in Delta State, Esiri had his early education in Warri. From Warri, Esiri’s thirst for knowledge saw him heading to Germany. He qualified as an Engineer in 1967 at the Professor Weners Institute of Engineering after a stint at the Maximillian University in Munich, Germany. Esiri career swivel chair negotiated a sharp bend in 1968. He detoured into motion picture production and worked as a staff of the Schiller Theatre, Berlin, Germany for nine years. He had earlier trained at the Ahrens School of Performing Arts when it was clear at that time that it was acting or nothing else.
Married and blessed with children, Esiri, father of the dentist-turned singer, Onoriode Esiri a.k.a. Dr. Sid of the Pop Champagne fame returned to Nigeria after that stint at Schiller and his sun set on motherland soon as he did. The authorities found him competent to be part of those to supervise some of the side events of the second World Black Festival of Arts dubbed FESTAC, which Nigeria hosted in 1977. Esiri coordinated creditably the Modern Dress exhibition, which was staged in Lagos as part of FESTAC. That outing earned him some commendations. After that outing, Esiri’s sun shone brightly. He hopped on to the acting turf, worked in between as a news translator and newscaster with the Voice of Nigeria, worked in advertising, before he eventually made up his mind to stick to what has assumed a first love for him, acting.
An actors’ actor of immense credits whose movie and award pouch is filled with plaques and titles of well regarded movies, Esiri star of Dark Soul, Last Desire, Love After Love, Miss Nigeria, Apostates of Hell, Double Affair, The Price, Indecent Desire, Big Heart Treasure and Keep My Will among many others rode into prominence and became something of a constant visitor in many homes on the back of the long rested television soap The Village Headmaster.
As Village Headmaster, the role he lived on the gripping television soap, which ran for so many years on national television, Esiri stood out. The hat wearing acting elder showed depth and he deftly delivered, a reason the name ‘Village Headmaster’ stuck with him.
An old boy of the prestigious Urhobo College, Effurun who though studied Engineering but never practiced for a day, Esiri who is undoubtedly bonded to the arts, hinted that the lot fell on him to interpret the character of the headmaster, who in the soap was the link between education and tradition when others that were auditioned for the role did not measure up to expectation.
After so many trials, someone suggested that he be invited to ‘just try’. What was supposed to be a mere trial soon ended up the real take. He was engaged to play the role and he put an unequalled performance.
“There was a lot of skepticism of my ability to live the character. But as we got along, there was a consensus that I fitted snugly into the role and that was it. But I must add that I found it very challenging and I found the entire programme incredible. It was one incredible drama series. Every one wanted to see it. At that time, people rushed home to watch the soap and it continued like that until it was dropped. And it’s sad that it was dropped because it served as bridge between the citizens and the government. There was so much to learn from the programme. I was reading somewhere about the effort to get it back on air. I am really looking forward to it. We need a programme like that as a growing nation.”
Anytime he is asked to volunteer a word on Nollywood, Esiri who was at a time President of the Conference for Motion Pictures Practitioners of Nigeria (CMPPN), a body now defunct, but which the promoters were hoping would transform into a council for regulation of practice in Nollywood, would describe it as “a gold mine that has not been fully exploited.
Although he acknowledged in his very last interview in the Guardian conducted during the interactive session the Secretary to Government of the Federation Ayim Pius Ayim held with Nollywood on the proposed centenary celebration, that the industry was expanding, Esiri who is always smartly dressed bemoaned the fact that excellence has not been achieved in Nollywood in spite of all the feats it has achieved.
He therefore canvassed a situation where emphasis would be placed on experience, training and skill enhancement as well as acquisition. “We need to improve on all these areas I have mentioned. We must insist that people particularly the young ones, hone their skills. Only then can they succeed in showbiz. There is no two ways to it really. There is no profession that doesn’t demand a reasonable level of training and adherence to ethics so why would anyone want to practice as a film maker without being trained? So, we must insist on training and encourage the establishment of sound training institutions and not the ones that are set up to make money. We must be sure of the facilities on ground and the faculty and we must unite and speak with one voice.
“At the moment, we are speaking with so many voices. We need an umbrella body that will regulate our practice. The Nigerian Film Corporation and others like the Censors Board should be for the development of the industry and implementation of policy decisions as it affects the industry. But there should be a council for the regulation of practice as we have in advertising and allied industries. That was what we set out to achieve with CMPPN, but unfortunately some young people thought we the elders were too over ambitious, they scuttled the plan and went their different ways. Today, everyone calls us to a meeting with government instead of our attending with our representatives on the council. We need the council. We need the film policy to be implemented because it makes provisions for all this structures that will ensure the full exploitation of the gold mine,” he had said.
When Esiri is not working, he says he spends time on the golf course, but that is after attending to other businesses and or family demands.  He said about his family: “I have a wonderfully family that I always want to be with all the time. They are all grown up now but each time I am free, I like to just stay around and call them up and we talk and bond. Of course, you know that my son (Dr. Sid) is into this now and he is doing very well. So proud of him and to know that I didn’t influence his taking to entertainment. I gave them a free hand to be what they wanted to be because I was given that chance too.’’
Till death, Esiri had nostalgic feeling for some of his earlier screen runs particularly The Village Headmaster but he would not consider any of the over one hundred movies he starred in, challenging. “To say one particular one was challenging would be like saying that you love a child over the other. May be works that are memorable, but as a rule, I don’t take up roles that do not task me.”
A warm natured person to be with and a strong advocate for professionalism, what can pass as a well deserved icing on Esiri’s career cake came when in 2007 the Federal Government named him alongside another equally illustrious thespian, Chief Adebayo Faleti as recipients of the national honour of the Order of the Officer of the Niger (OON). The recipient of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) crest for acting in 2006 had this to say on the award which he said came to him as a surprise. “I thank the government for the recognition. I wept for joy the day it was announced. What a way to be recognized and appreciated. I thank the Government for the recognition. I can’t express my gratitude enough.”