Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo, popularly known as Mama G, has explained why she is frequently cast as a witch and other villainous roles, saying she uses such characters to highlight the consequences of evil, injustice, and harmful behaviour.
Ozokwo gave the explanation during a livestream interview with popular Nigerian streamer Carter Efe on Monday. The actress was responding to a question about why she regularly portrays witches in films, a role that has become strongly associated with her career in Nollywood.
According to the veteran actress, her frequent portrayal of such characters is connected to her desire to expose wrongdoing and promote moral values. She said she believes the roles provide an opportunity to show viewers the consequences of negative actions and encourage them to make better choices in their lives.
“God carved that niche for me to be able to, I think, expose ills. God created me to expose it,” Ozokwo said during the interview.
The actress also spoke about her personal dislike for conflict and injustice, explaining that she does not support behaviour that creates division, suffering or hostility. She said her approach to villainous characters is therefore not simply about playing an antagonist, but about bringing out the lessons contained in such stories.
“I hate injustice. I hate war. I hate anything that shows rancour,” she said.
Ozokwo explained that whenever she receives a role involving witchcraft or other forms of wrongdoing, she tries to portray the character in a way that makes the consequences of such actions clear to the audience. She said viewers should be able to recognise the dangers associated with participating in harmful or destructive behaviour.
“So when I am given that kind of role, I try to bring out everything I know about it, that if you are taking part in any of them, you will be careful and know the end thereof,” she said.
The actress further said she hopes her performances will help audiences understand the difference between living a destructive life and choosing to do what is right. For her, the significance of such roles goes beyond entertainment, as the characters can also serve as a way of communicating moral lessons.
“You know what will happen to you if you live a terrible life. And you know what you gain if you are a good person,” she added.
Ozokwo is widely recognised for playing strong and often intimidating characters in Nollywood productions, with her performances earning her the nickname Mama G.
