By IFECHI OKOH

They are known and acknowledged as the “bad boys” of the Yoruba movie industry. A number of them hit the limelight playing bad boys roles. In fact, they have since warmed themselves into the hearts of script writers, producers, directors and marketers, making them to always create their dreaded characters in virtually all productions. Little wonder their popularity has been growing. Although two of them are late now, their roles have immortalized them. Here are short takes on the five Yoruba movie “bad boys” on parade:

CHARLES ‘AGBAKO’ OLUMO

This hibernating top actor, no thanks to the age factor which actually made him paved way for others, came into focus with the natural attributes of a bad boy, starting from his ever-clean shaved head to mean looks of the typical Bad Boy of the Yoruba movie industry. He did it so well that others did not know when they actually joined him on board.

LERE PAIMO

The veteran actor is really a late comer in this concern of playing the bad boy role. His wealth of knowledge as an actor who has tasted various roles is the magic wand in achieving success in this area within the shortest possible time. Some of his recent productions where he acted successfully in the role of a hired Killers’ baron tells it all.

MUFU (AJIGIJAGA)

Like his predecessor, aged Charles Olumo, the late Ajigijaga stormed the scene years back with a bang, acting the dreaded bad boys’ roles. The perfect re-enactment of the typical area boys’ dispositions inall his make-believe scenarios automatically ticked him for laurels. But sadly, he is no longer alive to have possibly received them. There's no doubt that his natural physique and superb gesticulations remain Mufu’s unseen swagger sticks with which he romped into fame and remained there till his death.

SAHEED BALOGUN

His bad boy's toga which actually is a recent phenomenon, like Lere Paimo, Balogun, massively addressed as the James Bond of the Yoruba movie industry, appears to have arrested successfully, the attention of his followers, especially the directors, producers, and marketers who really love featuring him as a bad boy of all times. Since Balogun started playing these unholy roles, the Kwara State Polytechnic graduate has starred in a bunch of productions, either as a shady character or hired killer. Waoh!

KAMORU ADEBAYO

Thisfair-skinned and bulky-looking actor who is late now, was simply one of thosecut out for the bad boys’ roles in Yoruba movies, because he was always natural when playingthem and interestingly too, doing well to the delight of the viewers.Honestly, from his convincing outings when he was alive, one is actually tempted to submit that he may have romanced area boys secretly at a point of his life. Had it been he was alive, Showbiz Xtra would have recommended him out rightly for an Oscar’s award for the flawless re-enactment of the typical street urchins’ dispositionsin any productions he featured and playing these roles very impressively too.