Afeez Oyetoro, popularly called ‘Saka’ is largely celebrated for his comic roles in the Nigerian movie industry. He came to the public eye mainly because of his controversial modelling engagements.
The Oyo State-born, who is both a thespian and a lecturer at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, left an indelible mark in the memory of many Nigerians after his role in the 2013 MTN advert, which caused a lot of debates as well as critical acclaim and recognition for the actor.
Early Life/Education
Afeez Oyetoro (popularly known as Saka) was born in Adegbola town in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria on August 20th, 1963 to Pa Oyetoro.
The fifth of his father’s eight children, Saka attended Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and the University of Ibadan, where he studied Theatre Arts and also have a Master’s degree in Theatre Arts specialising in African Dance.
Career
Saka is known for his clown role in Nollywood movies and has featured in several Nigerian films some of which include The Campus, Tatus, Family Apart, The Wedding Party, and Ojukokoro. He is regarded as one of the funniest actor in Nollywood.
He is currently a senior lecturer in the department of Theatre Arts at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education in Lagos State and is currently running a doctorate programme at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State. In 2013, he featured as the main character in a 2013 MTN advert where he announced “I don port o.” after migrating from Etisalat to MTN.
In December 2013, Saka revealed that he had turned down an appointment given to him by President Goodluck Jonathan to become one of Nigeria’s ministers sighting personal reasons.
In 2016, he appeared in popular Nollywood movie “The Wedding Party” alongside with Banky W, Adesua Etomi and RMD. He has also featured in the comedy-crime film “Ojukokoro” (Meaning Greed). In 2017, he appeared in the part two of the popular Nollywood movie “The Wedding Party 2” alongside with Banky W, Adesua Etomi and RMD.
Recent Movies
- Ojukokoro (2016)
- The Wedding Party (2016)
- The Wedding Party 2 (2017)
- Taxi Driver
- Oko Ashawo
Awards
Saka has been nominated for several awards some of which include Best Comic Actor of the Year (English) at the City People Movie Awards, Best Actor in Comedy at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards and Most Promising Comic Act to Watch Actor at the Best of Nollywood Awards.
Controversies
1. In an interview with Tribune, the veteran said he got many nicknames used in mocking him because of his skin colour. In his words; “I got so many: yellow pawpaw, oyinbo pepper, afin, among others. As a child, I used to get embarrassed because of my skin colour, but growing up, I realised that God had a purpose for creating people. I read in the Bible and in the Qu’an that everything that God created is beautiful. So, I see myself as beautiful. These days, I call myself those names more than anyone else because I have grown up to realise that it is not an abuse. If someone calls me afin (albino) do I not look like afin? So, this is the reality of life that we cannot run away from and if you refuse to accept it, you will just give yourself unnecessary emotional distress.”
In 2013, Saka stirred up controversy when he switched from Etisalat where he was the face of the brand to its competitor, MTN, in Saka don Port advertisement campaign.
2. Clearing the air about his switch, he said; “The truth is, I was never an ambassador to Etisalat. If you read all the papers, even before the ‘port’, all the journalists then, who were saying that I am Etisalat ambassador, I used to correct them that I am not an Etisalat ambassador. I was never Etisalat ambassador. I was just a model to an agency, Centerspread, who was handling Etisalat account. And when Centerspread left the account, it was given to another agency, which I was doing. I never had direct interaction between myself and Etisalat. I was just like any other model.
“So, when DDB, which was the agency, called me and they spoke with my lawyer, and the issue of ambassadorial thing for MTN came up I went. I was just an ordinary model,” Saka told New Telegraph.
Personal Life
In 2003, Saka got married to his beautiful wife Olaide Oyetoro and the marriage is blessed with three beautiful children comprising of two boys and one girl namely Abdullahi Oyetoro, Munim Oyetoro and Rufiat Oyetoro.