I was not keen on doing Okomfo roles —Komfo Kolegae | General entertainment

There is no doubting how well he means it, in fact, it is hard to believe for a minute that Kumawood actor Komfo Kolega would not want to play the role of a magical priest (Okomfo) near perfection.

But from the horse’s own mouth, Kampho Kolle, real name Collins Oteng, revealed that he was never keen to play the ‘divine’ role, a smock or skirt made of raffia decorated with white powder. All over his body and other things to make him ‘scary’.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz recently, Komfo Kolegae revealed that the ‘perfect’ interpretation of the okomfo character was pushed back for fear of a perceived negative outcome.

He mentions that he made sacrifices and fought his fears with character and design, which turned out to be the magic that turned his fortunes as an actor around.

“I was forced to play the role of a wizard priest instead of a security guard, which was difficult for me at the time. I allowed my fear to mask my abilities but the director insisted and I had no choice but to do it.

“As luck would have it, that role brought me fame with a very positive response and that encouraged me to play the lead in such roles leading to my current showbiz name, Komfo Kolegae.

“It’s a brand name that no one can ever take away from me and I overcame my fear, it’s paying off now,” he said.

In response to claims that the role of the magical priest could have negative consequences, he maintained that it was purely fictional and that his acting was not meant to tarnish the image of any religion or belief.

“I don’t do this to mock people who associate themselves with traditional beliefs. All I know is that it’s a play and I have to deliver it. As an actor, I have the responsibility to play the role assigned to me and I know it has to be dynamic for me,” he said.

In November 2022, the actor lost his wife and child through labor complications and while many expected the tragic loss to take a huge toll on his career, Komfo Kolegae described the tragic loss as a phase of life.

“It’s never easy, but I’m doing my best and the only thing I can do is keep myself busy to forget the pains. I’m back working full-time and on set,” he said.

Responding to claims that the Kumawood film industry has stagnated, Komfo Kolegae opined that the industry is not as vibrant as it once was, but far from it.

The current shift from buying movies on tapes and DVDs to streaming on YouTube and other digital platforms has changed the narrative but that by no means suggests the industry is dead, he said.

“In our current economy, it’s not as vibrant as it used to be. However, we’re still working and doing everything we can to keep the industry alive with the help of YouTube and other social media platforms,” ​​he concluded.