Veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has opened up on the people and experiences that shaped his discipline, sense of responsibility and approach to life.
RMD revealed that his mother, Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka and late playwright Professor J.P. Clark were among those who left lasting impressions on him.
The actor said his mother constantly reminded him while growing up never to lose sight of his roots and the responsibilities attached to his identity.
According to him, one statement from his mother has remained with him throughout his life: “Don’t forget whose child you are.”
RMD said the lesson taught him that people do not live only for themselves, as they represent their families, institutions and communities at different stages of their lives.
He also credited his early professional encounters with Soyinka and J.P. Clark for reinforcing the importance of discipline and punctuality.
Recalling his encounter with J.P. Clark in 1984 at the J.K. Randle Centre, where he worked as a resident actor, RMD said he later had the opportunity to work with Soyinka as a director.
He particularly remembered Soyinka’s strict attitude to time, saying the experience influenced his own approach to punctuality.
“If he says 4pm and you get there at 3:30pm, he is already there,” RMD said.
The actor explained that he subsequently adopted the habit of arriving ahead of schedule, noting that anyone expected somewhere at 8am should ideally be there by 7:30am.
RMD said his years in government also taught him important lessons about leadership, integrity and institutional pressure.
He disclosed that he spent eight years in government and discovered that while government has enormous potential to positively transform society, the system can also pressure people to abandon their values.
“When I came into government, I was determined to fight to change the attitude that some people brought into the system,” he said.
RMD said the experience eventually convinced him that people should not remain in a system they are unable to influence positively.
“If you can’t fight the system, get out and go build somewhere else,” he added.
He said he hopes the people he has encountered throughout his own journey will similarly take useful lessons from his conduct and experiences.
