Toun Oni: An Actor Never Dies…

By Chris Ihidero

Florence Adetoun Oni sat calmly on a sofa on the set of Fuji House of Commotion sometime in September 2008, a wide smile playing on her face. She was making fun of me. “Sebi you are happy now, my director?” she asked, laughing. Of course I was happy; she had given a stellar performance and my worries had melted away. What I didn’t know at that time was that I was directing the legendary performer for the last time.

Mama Tee, as she was fondly called, was a director’s delight. She gave 110% every time. A day after her recent passing, I got a call from Amaka Igwe, asking if I had heard the rumours about Mama Tee’s death. I confirmed that I had and they were true. Silence ensued and she finally said: “I have been in denial since yesterday. I worked with her for 20 years, from Checkmate to Violated and Fuji House…I will miss her deeply; they don’t make actors like her anymore.”

It isn’t surprising that ‘Toun Oni would give so many years of her life to a craft she was dedicated to; such was her sense of dedication and professionalism.

After years of watching Checkmate and Violated, I met ‘Toun Oni physically at a performance of Who is Afraid of Tai Solarin at the National Theatre about a decade ago; she stole the show while playing a minor character! Years later I would have the honour of directing her on Fuji House of Commotion and it was a great pleasure working with her. But beyond her acting skills, Toun Oni was a great soul.

As I write this I keep seeing her face; and she’s all smiles. I keep seeing her exchanging banters with Kunle Bamtefa and Ngozi Nwosu. I keep seeing her give pieces of meat from her plate to ‘her children’, to the chagrin of other children. I keep hearing her laughter…

I wonder what it would feel like the next time we go to camp to shoot Fuji House of Commotion. That camp will not be the same without Mama Moji…I know I won’t hear Bukky Ajayi scream ‘Adetounnnnn’ whenever she needed her attention; I know I won’t her Ngozi Nwosu hail her ‘Mama Mojeeee’, neither will I hear ‘her children’ greet ‘Mami’ while we have breakfast in the morning. She’s gone but memories abound…

Florence Adetoun Oni, on behalf of all members of the Fuji House family, sun re o. Thank you for years of dedication and for using your great skills to bring joy and laughter to millions on screens across the globe. God bless your good heart.

I know your creator smiles now; your mission was accomplished and it is now time to rest.

Sun re o, o digba Mama Tee!

*Ihidero is a Lagos-based writer, broadcaster and Director.