- The thespian also recounted how his father was against him studying performing art at the university as he wanted him to become a lawyer
Veteran Nigerian actor, Segun Arinze, has revealed how he became known by his stage name.
The film star, originally named Segun Aina, disclosed that he chose the stage name ‘Segun Arinze’ in 1991 during the early days of his music career.
The thespian also recounted how his father was against him studying performing art at the university as he wanted him to be a lawyer.
Speaking in a recent chat with Biola Bayo on the ‘TalktoB’ podcast, he said the mistake of a host, who mixed up his name, at an event in the National Theatre gave birth to what would later end up as his stage name.
“I was also singing. In 1991, I was told someone wanted to sign me. ‘We are going to sign you on’. He came from Sony Music. So he called me and I signed the contract. He signed. And then he said ‘Okay we are going to start recording.
“Went to Ife to do Dramatic Arts. My dad did not like the idea because he wanted me to be a lawyer. At a point in time, I thought he was not going to pay my school fees to go and read drama.
“Then the National Theatre was running an open theatre then… ‘welcome new artiste Segun Arinze’. I said ‘excuse me sir what is this? I said why are you changing my name? The album came out – ‘Dreams’. Everywhere was ‘Segun Arinze, Segun Arinze. That was how the name got changed from Segun Aina to Segun Arinze in a nutshell”.
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