Zebrudaya, Comedian worries over TV series

Veteran actor and comedian, Chief Chika Okpala, popularly known as “Zebrudaya,’’ says the lack of sponsorship have hindered production of most television series.
Okpala, aka Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias 4:30, is famed in a TV comedy series, Masquerade and the New Masquerade (1983-1993).
He alleged that the old popular soap series “Masquerade’’, “Cockcrow at Dawn’’, “The Village headmaster’’ and others were left to dwindle because sponsors withdrew.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the dwindling economy was the major problem of production.
The comedian said that the lack of sponsorship had contributed to the dearth of programmes on Television stations.
“Foreign soaps like Mexican soaps, Telemundo, the Z-world and the rest of them have flooded our TV screens now and ours are suffering.
“Those popular programmes, such as Masquerade, Cockcrow at Dawn, The Village headmaster and others were left to slip away,’’ he said.
Actors, actresses, producers, directors and the rest of the Nollywood would be employed and people would be entertained if those soaps were still being aired.
“People cannot do productions without it yielding something substantial to take care of their families.
“If you engage an artiste and he performs for free today, tomorrow he may not because he has to pay his bills.
“He has to pay his rent and take care of other things.
Okpala said that “the `Masquerade’ was the medium that actors used in propagating government issues and policies. NAN)