Kumawood producers don’t care about talents - Actor Enock Darko
HAVING announced his talent as a comedian in 2011 on reality TV show Talented Kidz, where he came third, Enock Darko had wished for a successful career in Ghana.
However, Enock, who also had strong acting talent, abandoned that plan when he realised that Kumawood, the Twi movie industry he joined, was anything but supportive.
In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, August 11, the actor/comedian, who is presently flourishing in Nigeria’s movie industry, said he had no regrets plying his trade in Nollywood.
“It is said that until you taste another woman’s food, you will think that your mother is the best cook and that was the feeling when I was in Kumawood. I assumed we had the best until I went to Nollywood and realised that we had a lot of progress to make.
“The truth is that these producers don’t think about the talents but what they can make out of talents financially. So they will select one person and use him or her for a long time. Eventually, he/she becomes more like the most popular figure and most wanted in the industry, hindering other talents from shining.
“When it happens like that, they hype you and give you all the promotion not necessarily for your personal growth but the monetary gains they will make from you. And you know, there is always complacency in the absence of competition so you will think you are the best when in actual sense you are not there yet.
“I had a better grasp of this situation when I came to Nigeria and got to know and see how everyone, irrespective of where you come from, or whether new or old, is given an equal opportunity to shine,” he explained.
After Talented Kidz, Enock founded the “Team Fooling Nation”, a comedy group that did skits on social media. His works got noticed by Nigerian producer Uche Mbunabo who came down to Ghana to meet him and later took him to Nigeria to feature in a movie.
Since then, the old student of Dansis Senior High School at Dansoman, Accra, has featured in movies with the likes of Patience Ozokwor, Osita Iheme, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Zack Orji, Ebele Okaro, IK Ogbonna, Destiny Etiko, among others.
‘Mr Tutu,’ as Enock is also called, encouraged young acts to be original and not copycats.
“I am sought after here in Nigeria today because I was original and not a replica of another person. I worked hard and took my craft seriously and thank God that people didn’t just watch me but noticed my uniqueness which brought me attention within a short time in Nollywood,” he stated.
Hype and trending on social media with stunts is a new way many up and coming acts are going to draw attention to their craft but Enock cautioned that it should be used wisely.
“I have realised that in Ghana you only get support when your works trend and just after a few days or weeks, you fade out and the attention is given to another person but that is not the case in Nigeria.
“They appreciate longevity so artists work on building solid brands that can stand the test of time and not just anything that withers easily so new talents must take notice of this. Yes, the recognition of your talent may not come quickly but with consistency, you will go far,” he stated.
At present, Enock has featured in a number of Nollywood movies such as Sorrowing Wind, The Couple, Joro, Mr and Mrs Push, Blood Feud, Ordinary Love, series Kojo and the Kids, Sisters Bond. He encouraged movie lovers to watch his new movies, Watabombshell, My Father’s Wife and Friends Like Dubem on YouTube.