Oluwole Cole, well known by his stage as Baraka, is a veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor who has clarified his personal life and distanced himself from the vices sometimes connected to the gritty roles he plays.
In an interview on the official YouTube channel of Talk2Dunnis TV, the actor clarified that despite frequently acting as thugs or street characters in movies, his real-life persona is far from the roles he takes on.
Baraka, who has earned a reputation in the industry for his convincing portrayal of rugged and street-smart individuals, stated that he neither smokes cannabis (locally known as ‘Igbo’) nor cigarettes.
He also emphasized that he does not indulge in alcohol consumption, which often forms part of the lifestyle of the characters he plays. According to the veteran actor, his on-screen image has led many to make assumptions about his private life, but these perceptions couldn’t be further from the truth.
The seasoned actor, whose career spans several decades in the Yoruba film industry, revealed that he has never even seen cannabis in real life, let alone used it. He noted that his commitment to professionalism allows him to fully immerse himself in his roles without adopting the habits commonly associated with them.
In the interview, Baraka also addressed rumors and misconceptions about his appearance, particularly his naturally dark lips.
He explained that his lip color is genetic and not a result of smoking or any form of substance use. He cited fellow actor Afeez Eniola as an example of someone with even darker lips, further illustrating that such physical features should not always be linked to unhealthy habits.
In his words; “Looking at me like this, I’ve only heard of Cannabis (Igbo); I’ve never seen it before, and I don’t know how to smoke or drink alcohol. No! I don’t smoke cigarettes. As for my lips being dark, it’s natural. Even my colleague, Afeez Eniola, has darker lips.”
The reality is that some actors and actresses are dating each other in the movie industry, which I see as something normal. I used to have a girlfriend in the movie industry, but I never considered getting married to an actress. I’m not condemning those who are dating each other in the movie industry, and in fact I always praise them because it’s not an easy thing to do because not all men can endure seeing their wife having an affair with different men. I would be stupid to marry an actress, and I will rather not get married than marry an actress. Some of the actresses in the movie industry are in relationships with our bosses, and it’s impossible for someone like me to compete with them, and I’m not the type of man that can endure seeing my wife having an affair with different men, especially in the movie industry
Watch interview below
