My Life In Nollywood: Paul Joshua Uma (Paul Word)

Every week, The Culture Custodian grants you an all-access backstage pass into the lives of Nollywood rockstars. You get to learn about their fascinating backgrounds, the behind-the-scenes stories, and more. This episode features fast-rising actor, Paul Joshua Uma. 

For eight years, Paul Joshua Uma (Paul Word) has been chasing his creative passions as a spoken word artist and performance poet, moving from one poetry competition to another and winning grand slams. While at the University of Benin and also in church, he started showing off his acting skills on stages, appearing in productions of his friends. But it wasn’t until 300L in the university that he had his first shot at Nollywood, after leaving school to attend an audition that landed him a role in the televised series, Abigail and Family. After then, he starred in the award-winning Africa Magic show, Slum King, as the younger version of gang leader Sapele Water, a character played by Phillip Asaya.

In 2023, his friend, Prisca, recommended him to veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Omoni Oboli, for a role in her YouTube-based film, Thicker Than Water, where he had a brief yet impressive screen time with his performance as Titus, an unwelcome guest in the home of a friend. In the film, he starred alongside Scarlet Gomez, Chinyere Wilfred and Omoni Oboli herself.  That experience transitioned into a smooth work relationship, and ever since then, he has featured in other films of Oboli, including The One Who Stole My Heart Part 2, Breakfast Is Served, and A Special Place where he acted alongside Eddie Watson, Sandra Okunzuwa and Maryam Apaokagi (Taaooma).

You made your Nollywood debut in Abigail and Family, a series directed by Uche Agbo. How did you get involved in this production, and what was your experience on set like with the cast and crew?

Before my debut in Nollywood, I was already acting on stages in school and at church. I was a 300L student at the University of Benin and was home for the holidays when I heard about the call for auditions at NTA. I went for the audition and met Prisca Okeke, an established Nollywood screenwriter who happened to be one of the casting directors. She saw me perform and took interest in me. After then, I returned to school where I received a call that I was selected  to be part of the show and that we would be filming on the outskirts of Lagos. I came to Lagos for the production and met other veterans on set, including Femi Branch who would play the role of my father in the series. 

Let’s consider your being a writer, spoken word artist and performance poet and how this has contributed to the development of your acting career?

One of the things being a poet did for me was allowing me to be in touch with some of the subject matters that I try to address. There are many poems that I have written that do not necessarily have to do with me. They are experiences of people I have listened to, including those of friends. Being a writer and poet empowered me to be able to work with subject matters that are not personal to me. I remember reading a poem sometime ago about mothers going through abuse in their families. It was based on an experience a friend shared with me. My mom never went through abuse, yet people actually thought the experience was mine. More of these started to play out when I decided to go into acting. In acting, you take a script and try to connect with the character. It’s no more about you, rather it’s about the character you are trying to portray. Poetry and writing basically gave me the foundation for my acting career.

I understand that you are also committed to grooming budding spoken word artists through workshops. For how long have you been involved in poetry?

It’s been ten years now. I started in 2014 and won a poetry slam, War of Words at the time. War of Words is one of the biggest poetry events in Nigeria. Over the years, I have grown in experience and learnt to accommodate other people who I share my knowledge with. 

You said a friend introduced you to Omoni Oboli last year, after which you started featuring in her films that are available on her YouTube channel, Omoni Oboli TV. Could you relive your memories of your first meeting with her and debut in her film, Thicker Than Water?

I got a call from my friend, Nancy, that Omoni Oboli needed someone to play a scene in her film. I remember arriving at the venue, walking in, and getting starstruck at the sight of Omoni Oboli. I did not know that she was trying to build her YouTube channel. It felt beautiful that I would be acting with her but I didn’t realize I would be her friend on screen until I got the script. When it was time for me to appear, she told me I was going to be acting with her. She was welcoming. We read our lines and rehearsed together, and we did it. It became funny because it was just a single scene. In that scene, you will notice that I was constantly coughing. While we were filming, the light went off. She looked at me and called me a very good actor. I didn’t even know that she was talking to me at first as I was busy pressing my phone. She said that my acting was so real and she felt I was actually choking. Even people around were asking me if I needed water because they found my acting too real, but I assured them I was okay. That first appearance metamorphosed into me being featured in other productions of hers. I feel like that moment was divinely orchestrated because if I had not gone there, I wouldn’t have seen her and gotten to feature in her other movies. 

On your Instagram, there’s a video of yours which shows you acting alongside popular content creator Taaooma. How was that production?

After my first appearance on Omoni Oboni production, I received a call from her in December. Her producer, Tomi Adeoye, a super-helpful woman who believed in what I could do, also reached out and said they wanted to give me a role that was different from the minor roles I was used to playing. I felt it was a humbling experience for her to have considered me for something as big as that. I played Eddie Watson’s brother in that film and it was the first time I was getting enough screen time on her production. After that production, I featured in another film of hers, Breakfast Is Served, starring alongside Eso Dike. 

With reference to some of the characters you have played, how do you prepare for and approach your roles on set?

For me, one of the things I do is to consider a character as an individual and as a collective responsibility. A character is influenced by his surroundings, the people he interacts with and his experiences. I remember being on a production of Omoni Oboli’s, The One Who Stole My Heart Part 2, where I had to fill in for someone who did the character in part one but was not available for the second part. I had to see the previous interpretation of the character, including the character’s mannerisms. I tried as much as I could to play along that line while bringing my own feel to it. The character was that of a young man who was neglected by his mother that had to fend for his younger ones.  I was able to approach that character as an individual, in relation to other persons in the story and in relation to his environment.

Let’s reflect on the challenges you encounter as a developing actor and how you manage them.

My challenges include things that I could do better for myself as an individual and ones presented by the industry. I’ll start with personal ones. As a guy in the industry, you have to look a certain way in terms of physique, which I am yet to achieve. Also, there is the difficult access to resources. I follow Stella Damasus on Instagram where she provides tips on how up-and-coming actors can improve their craft. Apart from her, I spend quality time listening to Michael King’s workshops. For industry-related challenges, you know it’s difficult to land a role especially when you have guys who are more popular. There are guys like Mike Afolarin and AMVCA’s recent Trailblazer recipient, Chimezie Imo. I understand that we all look at these guys and want to be like them. It’s easier for casting directors to cast them over people like us who still have to try and prove ourselves. 

Are there specific family memories and values from your formative years that remind you of your talent, perhaps also contributing to your development as an actor?

My dad is an artistic person. He sings and writes well. Apart from being musically inclined, he reads a lot. I don’t think I read as much as he does. Growing up with him, I was really exposed to art. Now that I am older, I get to see his influence in what I do. I love music and art a lot. I also love to read good books. My dad is also a Christian, a pastor who went to seminary school. I try to infuse my Christian faith in my art as well. So, there are certain lines I can’t cross in acting. For instance, I won’t have sex or show my nakedness in a film. For me, a man and his faith are interwoven. 

How has your educational background contributed to your career trajectory?

I studied History at the University of Benin where I graduated from in 2018. My school, UNIBEN, has two campuses. I had friends from the other campus who knew I was a poet and would invite me for their productions. In fact, some of my friends involved in the theater were Law students. I remember one that was running a production at that time and made me part of it. I also belonged to a literary society while in school. 

Which actors and filmmakers do you consider role models and, possibly, having the biggest impact on your career?

Cillian Murphy, Denzel Washington are actors I look up to. Christopher Nolan is someone I love and respect a lot. I hope I get to work with him some day. I honestly adore and appreciate Omoni Oboli because her work ethic is top-notch. She works like she does not have a name. I also respect Eso Dike.

What new roles and opportunities would you love to explore in the Nigerian film industry?

I don’t want to be in all films. I want to do films that will shape us as a people. I know that there are scripts meant for me, scripts written with my name on it. And this is not me trying to exclude the place of work. I also understand the place of trying to make money. But I want roles that are defining and would be considered masterpieces. Even if I get to star in only twenty films throughout my career, I want my performances to be impactful. 

Aside from acting, poetry and writing, what other engagements and hobbies do you have?

I sing too, and I hope to venture into music on a full scale. I did poetry for about eight years before venturing into Nollywood. I have been on Africa Magic and acted in Slum King as the young version of Sapele Water. Now, I want to take my time and have a solid foundation in acting before thinking of doing something else. 

What would be your unpopular opinion of Nollywood?

I think it’s pretty popular. We have so many famous actors who are not good. 

How would you love to be perceived in the industry in the next 10 to 15 years?

I want to be seen as someone excellent at what he does. People might not like you, but they would work with you if you are good.