When and how did this all begin?

I've always loved the arts without knowing what it was called. But I was born into it. Between the age of 7 and 10, I lived in my village, Omu-Aran in Kwara state. That was where I was exposed to the masquerade tradition. When I came back to Lagos in 1982, I realised I loved performing. I felt at home whenever I was dancing as a child...

My journey into Arts began with Black Image in 1995.I instantly felt at home with the group the moment I walked into their rehearsal venue. It was this group that first gave me the opportunity to express myself... In 1996, something happened and I left the group. With encouragement of some friends, we started Crown Troupe in June 1996. We didn't start the group to become famous or make money. We were just doing our thing.

In 1997, I decided to get formal training. So, I studied for a certificate in drama, after which I went ahead to get a degree in Creative Arts, both from the University of Lagos. With my exposure to the masquerade tradition, what I learnt from Black Image and the experiences I gathered while studying, I was set for the Arts.

Since your father wanted you to study medicine or engineering, I imagine he didn't support you when you chose Arts. How were you able to cope without parental support?

It was God.But I was also determined. At a point I left my father's house and moved in with my friends. And while other young people our age were busy watching football matches, we moved about, looking for people to entertain.

So, how have you been getting funding?

People have just been cropping up from all angles to help us. We have been using this space for free in the last 3 years. When Crown Troupe started, we did''t have even one drum. We started in Sunny Ade's sitting room. It was one barber opposite his house that offered us his drum. That was how we got our first drum.

Do you ever get government support for this thing you do?

Support? Crown Troupe has performed in Aso Rock before, but we don't get funding from government. The only support we need from government is for them to provide basic social amenities for us. If we have electricity, good roads and freedom of expression, that's the much support we need.

Have you been harassed by the authorities in the course of carrying out your duties as an artist?

I am not stifled. I don't know if other artists are stifled. If anyone tries to stifle me, I'll bite off the person's finger. Fela and earlier artists have paid the price and cleared the way for us.An artist is easy to deal with. If you think he has written something that is offensive to you, you don't have to treat him like a criminal. Take him to court and fine him, not fight him with guns. I've never really had that kind of confrontation from the authorities. Ironically, my confrontations come from the people we're speaking for, the common man.

So, did Crown Troupe turn 20 recently?

We will be 20 on the first of June. But to mark our 20th anniversary, we will be having a project with the British Council from February to April. We will be performing a play by Shakespeare in Lagos, Calabar and Abuja, sponsored by the British Council in commemoration of Shakespeare, as this year marks the 400th year of his death.May to June we'll be having another project with the Goethe Institute. In July we're performing Wole Soyinka's Death and the king's Horsemen.

How has the last twenty years been?

It's been exciting, challenging. Crown Troupe has taken us places. We have performed from the smallest to the biggest shows, both home and abroad.

Where do you see Crown Troupe 5 years from now?

We're looking at a situation where Crown Troupe will be a formally established academy where people can attend and be issued certificates. We currently train artists, it's just not formal.

Finally, tell us the source of your inspiration?

God. We are like transistor radios. Besides, the society writes our scripts for us, as it were. We live in a dramatic society. If I want to write a song for instance, I don't need to look too far, there's always something happening around me from which I can tell a story.