Helen Paul is a superstar comedian, media personality, academia and entrepreneur who have been around for over a decade dazzling Nigerians with hilarious jokes; She is Nigeria’s first comedian to have a PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos. Helen Paul became a household name after her first breakthrough came through a radio programme where she acted ‘Tatafo,’ a character with a child’s voice and the rest is history. In this interview with OMONIY I ALLI, the academician spoke about her recent induction, managing home front, and why is still investing in more books.
Trumpet: You came into the industry as a multi-faceted entertainer, now you have this scholarly feather in your cap. Where did your flair for education come from?
Helen: Sincerely, in most cases the people that you are surrounded by matter. My mentors are mostly scholars. I am surrounded by people who believe that if you are going to do something, do it well and understand it. I didn’t like the fact that in 2004/2005 when I was trying to practice journalism, I didn’t like the fact that they used to give us back seats, or when entertainers go for shows they put the camera guys behind and give them leftovers. But these are the same people that are going to bring out your message and publicize you. That is why at each event I do; I make sure my media people are in front because they are the ones that represent my image. It is not just for doing sake, I want to learn so I can help to correct things. It might be through entertainment, but I would inform you that the people you are meant to honour should not be behind just because they are not wearing branded designer clothes and all of that. In case they are even shifting people back, everything that would make them not shift me back is what I am having. As my friend would say, make sure you make it for the now so that in the future you will be celebrated.
Trumpet: How are you combining shuttling between America and Nigeria, academics, career and business?
Helen: The people you are surrounded with really matter. I don’t have any sentiments in relationships. If you are not meeting that plan, I will cut you off. Having the right relationships help you. I am very intentional in my circle and that has helped me even in appointing staff as well, so when I am opening a store or company, I am constantly looking beyond the play. In my playfulness, I am studying temperaments and checking out if that relationship is for a short or long term, or if it is for a season, reason or for lifetime. That is who I am and that helps me be ready if disappointment occurs.
Trumpet: Do all these not take a toll on your role in your family?
Helen: As I said, I am very focused on the things I am doing at every point in time. Hardly will you catch me at some events. Most times I don’t attend events if I am not there to work. It is my job, and I see it as my job. I’m usually not everywhere. Yes, it is good for an artist to be everywhere, at least it would sell my face, but having my publicist and media friends make it unnecessary. If I want people to see my face, they will handle it. Of course, my husband is someone that enjoys this. When we got to America, I told him that I don’t want my portfolio to be full of Nigeria; I want to do some courses. In less than seven months, during COVID, as I was finishing one course in the morning, I was resuming another one in the evening. In between all that for about 30 minutes I quickly come on Instagram Live and do my show business. But mornings I am on zoom live having classes back to back. There is always time for things, but most times we don’t know how to set timetables without sentiments.
A friend cannot visit me now without telling me ahead that he is coming. I can be very strict and it is very possible to plan your life. I remember when I was running my MBA. It was almost clashing with my other activities. My MBA classes were always on Saturdays, so for that period, I was not taking Saturday shows in the morning. I wasn’t taking weddings because I would go to classes at nine in the morning and we would close at four in the evening. So I would only take shows that start at six in the evening till dawn, then on Sunday I get home and quickly go to church, and when I can’t I sleep. The children also go to school in the morning and luckily for me I was able to beg my husband to let us move from Ikoyi to Yaba because we were both studying at UNILAG.
The house wasn’t the kind of place we would ordinarily enjoy, but my husband agreed to it because he was also doing his courses then. As I am earning degrees my husband is doing the same. We both have like three or four masters and as I am doing my own thing in my field, he is doing his in Law. The same thing happened when we got to America. The house is always very quiet. As the children are going to school in the morning, we are on zoom. As they are returning in the evening, they also get on zoom to do their assignments. I discovered that my boys are always on the internet researching something or finding out information.
So sometimes my house can be very quiet because everyone is busy doing something. When I go out, I then wear the character of an entertainer. You can actually plan your life, no sentimental weddings, birthday attendances. If I attend, it is because I am working or the person has impacted my life in such a way that I cannot but attend. In other cases, I just send in a gift.
Trumpet: How long did this journey to your induction take?
Helen: It’s been for years, immediately I finished my master’s in Public Administration at LAUTECH. I started by joining as a member, then advancing to this point as a fellow.
Trumpet: Why didn’t you just stop at the point of getting masters?
Helen: I believe that Theatre is not just the art of performing or entertaining but more of impartation. Of course, my primary work as a theatre practitioner is to relate to the public through acting, re-enacting what happens in our society for corrections, entertainment and information. And that is what public administration is all about, only that they don’t have the performance part, so I wanted to merge the two. I also wanted to be a good blend of the town and gown; understanding people, where they are from and relating accordingly.
Trumpet: Asides from these two things you have touched, is there any other field you plan to bring into the fold?
Helen: They are actually not different because it is the public you are relating with, but the style is just different. So as a theatre practitioner, performance is to relate to the people to let them understand things according to their own level. I am just bringing these two together to make sure we achieve a result of making people understand our message.
Trumpet: You are also an ambassador for INEC. Is this your way of entering into politics?
Helen: The duty of a politician is to help, speak and stand for his or her people. I don’t necessarily have to be elected or appointed to do that. We all have that duty to relate with, help and educate people. That is my office. For now, that is not my plan.
Trumpet: How do you unwind?
Helen: Sometimes I have my friends or students come over to the house so that we can watch a movie. We pass silly lessons from the movie. But I think that even in my unwinding, my brain is still tuned to career and people’s personal growth. I think I enjoy counselling as relaxation. Sometimes, my husband says we should travel and that is relaxing. Even then, I find a way to do a few courses while we are there even if it’s just two weeks, and I register online. I believe that wherever you find yourself and your feet are touching the ground if you make up your mind to succeed, you will succeed. Whatever it is that they do there, I must learn and make it.
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Trumpet: What is your eventual goal with all of these?
Helen: The goal is to enjoy my life and make sure I have great records of achievements, not just to impress but to have impacted lives. Look at Mother Theresa or Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti, you can’t say there is just one thing they achieved. These are strong women. That’s why I am a woman; I am a multi-tasker.
Trumpet: How do all of these impact your children?
Helen: My children believe that mummy reads a lot and I want to read too. They also think mummy plays and pray a lot and they want to play and pray. Many times they tell people that I am quiet, and their dad would tell them “Yes, mummy is quiet at home.” I make them realize that it is my job to sell the sanguine nature and not to give people my choleric nature. My students at the Helen Paul Theatre and Film Academy have come to realize that I am not a comedian. They tell me that I am strict. I will still laugh and play with you if you allow me till midnight even when I know you have an exam the following day. I believe you should have your focus. If you fail, I will still be the one to tell you why you failed because you didn’t know how to draw the line. During one of my exams, I remember I distributed all the reading chapters among my roommates and told them that the best person that explains what they have read well would win N100, 000. Everyone went to read while I relaxed. They all came back to download what they had read and it was as if I did the reading. People wonder how I do it when it is time for exams, but it is just wisdom and understanding the people I have. I have the right people in my circle and I know how to manage them.
Trumpet: How have you managed to stay scandal-free?
Helen: I am afraid of not disrespecting my people and all those watching me. The fear of the people that are my roots that I do not want to lose keeps me scandal-free. It is not that I don’t want to misbehave, because that may help my brand, but when I get the brand and lose my roots, what happens?
