The ‘Home from Home’ project aims to explore the legacies of pioneering British Nigerians in the UK and their impact on society. The project highlights and celebrates British Nigerian contributions to the cultural, political, educational, artistic, spiritual, and sporting life of Britain and London, in particular. In this interview we feature Actor and Producer Tunji Falana.
Tunji Falana is a British-Nigerian Actor and a Producer who has worked in Film, TV and theatre for over two decades. He started his acting career at 14yrs old while growing up in Nigeria, where he worked on stage, toured and appeared on screen. He moved back to London and began his formal training. Firstly City and Islington college :Performing arts BTech, then University of Roehampton Surrey: Drama and Theatre Studies BA Hons. Finally he finished his training at Mountview Academy: Acting PG Dip. Since his training he has worked across the country and internationally in various performing forms, mediums and roles. Tunji is passionate about people and their stories, this passion made him move into producing. producing short films projects, artistic concepts and most recently Musical Theatre. He is often viewed as the go to person, which has given him credit as a consultant and problem solver on many projects. He is also very active in his community especially in his church. When not creating art, he loves to spend time with his family, read, do photography, watch an insane amount of TV shows and sleep.
Home from home is a place, environment or community that reflects where I originally called home. Such that I feel comfortable , relaxed and seen. It might be a temporary home from home or permanent but still not quite home.
It’s hard to describe how I celebrate my Nigerian Heritage with a name like mine, It’s hard not to. Looking at my name, listening to it being called especially with the right pronunciation, Listening to music from Nigeria, Speaking Yoruba when the opportunity arises and cooking cuisines from childhood are but a few ways I celebrate.
British Nigerian means I have somewhat of a privilege passport-wise and presumably by law the benefits that come with being a British citizen. But it means I have the best of both worlds. Growing up in Nigeria, I understand the sensibilities that come with that as well being British. On the other hand it also means I can be slightly displaced on either side. Not Nigerian enough when in Nigeria because of accent, expectations etc and not quite British enough for the obvious reasons.
The same way I celebrate, but also being intentional in visiting communities, people, friends and creating work of Nigeria heritage.
Culture to me means something that keeps you grounded, something you can carve your personal culture from. Not everything about culture is always great, but you can appreciate it and identity with it. It is to be celebrated, taught and simultaneously approached with eyes and mind wide open. There are so many things I love about my culture, but there are things I also loathe or perhaps don’t understand.
In my industry the British Nigerian community has grown and will continue to grow. I remember a time you would hardly find British Nigerian shows or plays. Then suddenly there was an influx. As like anything else there are ebbs and flows, but for the Community I see it gaining strength commanding more spaces and it being the norm to see or be in the culture at large.
@TunjiFalana (Insta, X)
@ateonaproductions (Insta, X)
