Jumoke Omojola Says ‘On The Move’ Role Reflects Her Past as a Street Hawker

Actress Jumoke Omojola says her personal experience of homelessness and hawking helped her connect with her character in ‘On The Move’, an upcoming short film about Lagos traffic hawkers and the dreams they pursue beyond the streets.

Omojola revealed the connection during an interview with Nollywire at a screening of the film, which is presented by Planet Bottling Company and Reaktor Energy Drink in partnership with EbonyLife Creative Academy.

“When I got the script, I was really happy. I could not even wait to jump on it because I understood where the character was coming from,” Omojola said.

“I know what it means to miss your parents. I know what it means to be homeless because I’ve been there before. I know what it means to hawk because I’ve been there.”

The actress plays a character who lives with asthma, a condition Omojola said she does not have herself. To prepare for the role, she studied performances of characters with asthma to better understand how to portray the condition.

For Omojola, however, the film’s central message is one of persistence in the face of difficult circumstances.

“I want everybody to see On The Move because it’s a movie that will keep reminding you that nobody’s coming to save you. You have to keep your head up. You have to keep pushing till you get what you want in life,” she said.

Ezekiel Abayomi, who leads the film, said preparing for his role required him to move beyond simply observing hawkers from a distance.

The actor spent time speaking with street hawkers to understand their daily routines and experiences, including how they begin their days and the process of getting the goods they sell before heading into traffic.

“We see them every day, but we don’t pay attention,” Abayomi said.

His…