After 40 Years in the Entertainment Industry, Richard Mofe-Damijo isn’t Slowing Down for Anybody

At school, he learned about stage acting. He joined drama club in secondary school and studied theater arts at the University of Benin, where he was cast in a play in his second year. Soon after graduation, in 1982, and while working as a magazine and newspaper journalist, he made his television debut. “I got on television quite early,” he says, “and I haven’t looked back since.”

The birth of Nollywood

Despite initial recognition of his talent, Nigeria in the early ‘80s was not an easy place to be. A military coup had just occurred, and the junta had implemented austerity measures. “I was running from one production to the next, looking for work on stage,” RMD remembers. “Stage is my real forte, but television was what created instant work. It was a struggle, but because passion was the fuel, it became easier, day by day.”

The real challenge, however, was convincing his mother about his chosen profession. “For an only child in ‘80s Nigeria, there were three professions — law, medicine, or engineering!” He laughs. He devised a strategy, assuring his mother that she would see him on television, surely a marker of success. “That became my goal. And of course, she became the mother of the popular actor from a little town in Warri. She died a happy woman.”

The ‘90s saw the closing of movie houses, widespread fuel scarcities, and the rise in the bootleg video market; all paving the way for the now-legendary birth of Nollywood. RMD recalls actors putting their own money into films and knocking on the doors of private homes to ask for production assistance. He doesn’t miss those scrappy days but credits them for preparing him for the road ahead. “Anybody who wanted to practice this profession didn't need to be told to be disciplined,” he says. “[Today], I never fail to teach young actors about being disciplined and timely.”

This discipline, as well as copious on-screen charisma, mean that he has starred in dozens of Nollywood movies. He credits Violated (1995), one of the highest-selling home videos of its time, with being the one that cemented his role as a romantic lead. In the movie, he plays Tega, a rich-voiced charmer under the thumb of his mother and ex-wife. “People still walk up to me and speak my lines to me,” he marvels. “It was the best upscale romantic film of that era.”

Two years later, while studying law at the University of Lagos, he earned his first writing and production credit with Out of Bounds (1997), where he plays Pastor Voke, a rising star with a growing congregation whose fame brought temptation. The following year saw the success of Diamond Ring (1998), which made OkayAfrica’s 20 Best Nollywood Movies of All Time.

Inspiring the next generation

When RMD helmed his home state’s culture and tourism ministry, first as special adviser and later as commissioner, the popular television shows America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent had just burst onto the scene. “And I felt, Delta got talent, too!” RMD says, eyes sparkling. He sponsored the annual Delta Talent Quest for his entire eight-year tenure, and takes pride in having helped to discover homegrown comedians, actors, musicians, and dancers, who are now celebrities. “You cannot overstress the importance of talent shows and film festivals in growing the industry. Every time I see festivals or efforts that support short films, I jump in.”

His entertainment platform, RMD Productions, produces creative content, while his RMD Foundation provides mentoring: “I love to work with young people. I love their approach. They’re very out of the box; they don't go for safety.”

Currently one of the most sought-after actors in Nigeria, RMD has become a household name around the world. Last year, both Shanty Town, a gritty limited series that sparked lots of chatter on social media, and blockbuster revenge thriller The Black Book, landed on Netflix, with the latter reaching number three on the streamer’s global top movies (English) list. In the former, RMD is a corrupt politician and mob boss who controls sex workers and gang leaders. In The Black Book, he plays a bereaved deacon who, when his son is framed for a kidnapping, takes justice into his own hands. “It was the second time I had to lose weight for a role,” says RMD, who was also one of the film’s executive producers.

This Christmas, fans will see him in Prime Video’s Christmas in Lagos, a buzzy holiday romance. Director Jade Osiberu (Isoken,Gangs of Lagos (2023), has called it an ode to the holiday festivities known as Detty December. RMD describes his excitement at the opportunity to work with Osiberu, who like him, was invited to join the Oscars last year: “I love directors who tell me what they want and let me do the rest. It’s a fun movie—beautifully written, beautifully told.”

As he prepares to head to San Jose, California, for SVAFF, RMD reflects on his latest milestone. “Wow, I’ve been doing this professionally now for 41 years. It doesn’t feel like it. I’m still hungry for television and film work. I’ve had three lifetime achievement awards, and I tell them, ‘I appreciate all awards, but if this is supposed to slow me down, too bad!’” He roars with laughter. “I ain’t slowing down for nobody! I’m just getting started.”