Tobi Bakre, a former Big Brother Naija reality show contestant and actor, has opened up about role in the new crime film “Gangs of Lagos.”
Tobi, who portrayed Obalola, a street monarch, had an unremarkable childhood filled with wounds from his humble beginnings.
He claimed that it was his first time acting as the main character and the first time he had truly relinquished control to become that role.
The former BBNaija star was discussed in the most recent edition of Olumurewa and Michael Sonariwo’s audiovisual podcast Menisms.
Tobi said, “For ‘Gangs of Lagos’, that was challenging because like for the first time… you know as guys now, we build so many walls like you are ready for all the possible sad outcomes in life mentally.
“Like you don’t know it but… I was now playing the role of a strong guy but then in the same movie, he had moments when he had to be vulnerable. Bro, I had the toughest time. I had to tear my walls down.
“You know those plastic [herbal bitters] drinks na? I drank two within the space of five minutes. I just felt like I drank water because I didn’t feel anything. I was listening to the saddest music.
“This is the song I always remember from Gangs of Lagos, Celia song by Tiwa Savage. It is a very emotional song. I wasn’t trying to fake it [my role]. I needed to be actually sad, I needed to be there. So, I was putting myself in the scenario of this character.
“I was self-reflecting. There was a graveyard right in front of where we were shooting. So my head was in different places. And eventually, we shot that scene.
“After we shot it, and they said ‘cut’, everyone stayed quiet. And people in the background were sobbing. It was almost as if for that moment everybody forgot that we were acting and some people were actually tearing up.”
The first African Original for Amazon Prime’s video streaming service is “Gangs of Lagos,” which Jade Osiberu both produced and directed.
Three friends, Obalola (Tobi Bakre), Gift (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), and Ify (Chike-Ezekpeazu Osebuka), are the subjects of the movie, which premiered on April 7, 2023. As they grow up in the tumultuous and chaotic streets of Isale Eko, Lagos, each of them must forge their own path.
