Many know her as the backup and lead vocalist for Afrobeat artiste, Lagbaja but singer and songwriter, Ego Ogbaro, is much more than that. She is currently starring in the stage play, August Meeting directed by Kenneth Uphopho.
In a chat with The Nation, she admits that though she is known more for her exploits with Lagbaja’s band, she also has an acting career going.
“A lot of people don’t know that I’ve been acting. I’ve always liked acting, especially stage drama,” she opens up.
Speaking on the upcoming production, she says that it is a topic dear to her heart, especially as it is gender-sensitive themed play.
“You should expect a lot of fun. It is a serious topic but we tried to put some laughs into it. But at the end of the day, we tried not to lose the seriousness of what we are talking about,” she said.
Explaining the theme ‘August Meeting’ seeks to explore, she said that the drama talks about women, the tough times they face, and the difficult situations they find themselves.
“There is widowhood, there is bareness. These are things that a lot of women have been going through, and they are still going through it. It was set in the early 1900s, basically 1929 to 1930, but it is still something that a lot of women relate with because it is something that is going on now. Not just in Nigeria. We just want to talk about that,” she revealed.
She is also known to play a recurring role in acclaimed TV series, ‘Tinsel’. And although she joined the set two years ago, she’s not a regular feature. However, between music and acting, she admits that music is her first love.
“I think they both depend on each other. Because I do a lot of stage plays, I get to sing in them, especially if it’s a musical. That way, my career as a musician comes in handy. Also, when I’m singing, sometimes I get to do a bit of acting. But if you ask me, I would say I am more inclined towards music,” she says.
Ogbaro was lead vocalist for Lagbaja for 12 years before going solo in 2017. She released her debut album, ‘FirSTeps’ in 2013 and has been performing with her band, Indigo for over 10 yrs. As a stage actor, she was part of the Wole Oguntokun’s ‘Vagina’ and ‘Tarzan”’ monologues in 2010. She currently plays Dr Raji on Mnet’s Tinsel.
The Nation
