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There was another experience, where the character I played in a movie was shot and seeing that my kids started crying. It was so terrible that they had to call me from home and had to put it on a video call for them to see that I was okay. That was it growing up but now, they understand that we’re shooting movies and they think differently.
There is something about this generation that parents need to understand. These children know what we may think they don’t know. The rate at which they are learning and unlearning things is faster than our own generation. Growing up, we didn’t get to query our parents and teachers but children of nowadays will ask their teachers questions. Sometimes, they even tell me that they are seeing a movie and after the many shootings, there is no blood, how could that be? And they will be telling you the chemical composition of blood and why it is important in human life and why would someone be without blood. So, I find myself trying to explain to them that there is a censors board that doesn’t want to see blood in movies and all that. Still, they ask why. This generation wants to know why you are doing what you are doing and why they shouldn’t do what you asked them not to do.
Do your children call you by your alias, ‘The Emperor?’
Yes, they do. My daughter calls me that mostly when she wants to get something from me. Once she calls me that, I know she is up to something.
How do you correct them when they go wrong?
Well, like I said, things are changing and you just have to move with the trend. I don’t spare them when they are wrong; neither does their mum. They know when mummy is serious and when daddy is serious. They know when I change my voice or the look on my face. That is the African way. I have ways of looking at them and they will just know that something is wrong or that they are getting out of line. As an African, we have culture and tradition. I still instil that level of discipline. When they want to ask me or their mum questions, they know how to ask, not in a rude way. They know there is a consequence for every of their action. If you do something good, I will embrace you and celebrate you; but if you are wrong, I will show you that you are. That’s how to train a child. But it’s not all about bringing out the rod. Now, it’s about carrot and stick. Growing up, our parents wouldn’t want to celebrate us when we did something good because they felt it would get into our heads. These days, it’s carrot-and-stick generation. You show them the stick when they are wrong and show them the carrot when they are right.
What’s your opinion on letting the kids get westernised?
Growing up, my children learnt Yoruba first. They started schooling a bit late and it was intentional. We started with teaching them some values and morals and all that. Growing up, usually when they wanted to say something, they would say it in Yoruba and then interpreted to English. They would interpret to English if they realised you didn’t understand what they said in Yoruba.Then, the Yoruba was the primary language and the English was just to explain to you further. Kids are wired to learn from the things around them and that’s why you have to be super conscious of the things you expose them to.
