Acting was not my first love – Wayoosi

Ghanaian actor Joseph Nana Kofi Osei popularly known as Wayoosi has given detailed account of how he was persuadeed into acting by Jackson K. Bentum, a Kumasi based movie director.

The diminutive actor in an interview with Enter Chat revealed music was his first love, performing on same stage with award winning rapper Lord Kenya.

As his passion for music grew stronger, he had the opportunity to meet with Jackson K. Bentum, a top movie director in the Kumawood sector to discuss about featuring him in a new movie.

“Through Lord Kenya, I began my music career when I was still in school. One director called Jackson K. Bentum approached me at home one fateful day to discuss a new movie he wanted me to feature in. During that period screen twins, Osita Iheme a.k.a Pawpaw and Chinedu Ikedieze a.k.a Aki took the Nigerian and African movie industries by storm after featuring in so many movies”

Wayoosi who was not pleased with the movie director’s decision said “I did take it lightly because I thought indirectly, Jackson K. Bentum was attacking my personal feature comparing my stature to the two Nigerian actors. In fact I insulted the director for wanting me to play similar roles as Aki and Pawpaw because of my diminutive nature.”

“I thought he wanted to make fun of my height so I asked him if he has no son who can play that role. First, I perceived acting to be for people who have no focus in life but Jackson Bentum kept brainwashing me on the positive aspects in the movie industry… I finally succumbed to the director’s persuasion of getting into movies which I have not regretted choosing movie over music.”

He further disclosed how he got the name Wayoosi after playing a role with Mikki Osei Berko, Santo, Suzzy Williams, others in same movie titled ‘Awieye’.

“My first time on a movie set, acting with top actors like Agya Koo, Santo, Joojo Robertson, Master Richard and Suzzy Williams was in a movie titled ‘Awieye’. I was dumbfounded and a bit nervous seeing these actors but I mastered courage and played my role very well. All the actors clapped for me after my role on set.

“Master Richard approached me to feature in his popular television series, Dada Boat. So through Master Richard and featuring in Dada Boat TV series, I got the name WAYOOSI. I received Ghc50.00 as pay for the role I played in ‘Ma Tricki’ movie… Agya Koo also received Ghc200.00 for that same movie.”