Why I made up with Yvonne Nelson – John Dumelo

Top Ghanaian Nollywood actor John Dumelo was in Nigeria for the launch of Ghandour Cosmetics in Nigeria as the male brand ambassador for the cosmetics brand. Naij.com hooked up with him at the event and he spoke about marriage, making up with actress girlfriend Yvonne Nelson and parenting among other tropical issues.  

John Dumelo

 For how long have you been Ghandour’s ambassador and what made them pick you?

I think I have a little fashion sense and I always love to keep my hair stylish. I think that was the attraction for them. And good hair attracts women. Ladies love nice things.

How many women has it attracted for you?
Wait now.
  

You spoke quite a number of Yoruba and Igbo languages few minutes ago, how much of these Nigerian languages do you speak and how did you grasp them?

 I have a lot of Yoruba and Igbo girlfriends that’s why.

Is that what you do to Nigerian girls?

No, no. I mean I have worked a lot in movies in the East so I pick some Igbos and for Yoruba of course you always come to Lagos before going to the East so I pick a lot of Yoruba as well and then here I have a lot of Yoruba and Igbo friends.

What will be your perception of how things are done in Nigerian movies?

Nigeria has good films and it always keep Ghana on their toes in terms of films, Ghana does the same thing too to Nigerian movies and I think it is a healthy competition. You know Ghanaian copy Nigerians and Nigerians copy Ghanaians in film making but at the end of the day like I said it is a good marketing strategy. We have a lot of fan base in Nigeria same way Nigerian actors have a lot of fan base in Ghana and this makes things work out properly.

Yvonne Nelson and John Dumelo

How easy was it for you to break into the Nigerian movie industry?

I think at my time around 2007- 2008 I think it wasn’t that easy obviously we have other Nigerian actors around so for them to accept me was a bit challenging. By and large we all accepted the fact that we can come to Nigeria and work or Nigerians can come to Ghana and work. It was ok.

There was a time you posted on social media about ladies rushing into marriage and it trended. Why did you say that?

Because I have seen a lot of people talking about the beauty of marriage. I have also seen a lot of people getting into marriage and divorcing early. I think people just like the idea of marriage but they don’t know how to stay in the marriage. They like the idea of love but they don’t know how to be in love or stay in love. Since I have some followers I decided to share what I have heard and seen, let me just put it into writing by advising them not to rush into marriage because you want to have beautiful wedding pictures on NAIJ weddings or because your friends are getting married and other trending wedding websites so that everybody will be talking about you. Or you go and rent a nice event centre, good music and everything that is not marriage. Marriage is making it work and that is what is making a lot of marriages fail these days because people go in with the wrong mindset.

Are you married for you to have a lot of experience to talk about marriage?

No.

With the vast knowledge you have about matrimony when are you getting married?

Because I am writing about marriage, don’t worry it will help me know what to do when I am married.

You finally made up with your friend and colleague Yvonne Nelson. There was even a picture of you too kissing to celebrate your reunion. Are you too trying to make it official?

No, I mean Yvonne is just my friend. We have a beautiful relationship; I mean friendship over a period of time. Yes we had some misunderstanding and I was like what is life? Life is short.

John Dumelo peeping at Yvonne Nelson’s boobs.

A Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh got married to a Nigerian actor.

Yes that’s good now.

Since you are always in Nigeria should we be expecting something like that from you?

Laughs. If you give me i will take now.

You also spoke about fatherhood and parenting on your social media?

Fatherhood is always good and it is very important in parenting. I have also witness families where the fathers are not around and watch the children grow up. I am not saying women are not good parents. Women can do their best and when you have a father it just make everything wonderful. It’s the same thing when you are growing up you have a father and not a mother. The children also turn up to be something else so both are very important. Fatherhood and motherhood are very important.

When you were growing up who were you closer to, your father or your mother?

 I was closer to my dad.

Ear piercing, tattoo is a trend especially in Nollywood and Ghollywood, why don’t you have one?

You want me to pierce? I have nothing wrong with those with tattoos and those who pierce their ears. It’s a lifestyle; it’s the same as those who drink and those who don’t drink. You shouldn’t judge.

How did you become an actor?

I actually did my first film when I was seven years old called Baby Thief. It was a hit in Ghana then. After that I develop a strong film sense.

Who and what motivated you to go into in it professionally?

I think God has a purpose for everybody in life. Sometimes you want to be something else but God has something better or something else for you. I think that’s what God did with me so I develop passion for acting and that was it.

Basically you operate in two industries, Nollywood and Ghollywood, what are the challenges you have been facing?

We all have similar challenges. We have challenges with financing, with organization and other minor challenges.

How prevalence is piracy in Ghana?

It is to the extent that when movie producers premiere films they are very careful about their CDs and stuffs because you can premiere your movie today and in the morning the movie is on the streets and that’s your money gone.

Is it Nigerians that are pirating the movies?

I no fit talk o.