CAN'T STOP PLAYING WAKA--SALAWA ABENI

After investing over three decades in music, Waka queen, Alhaja Salawa Abeni is not ready to call it quits with a career from which she earned fame and fortune. Not even the recent rumour about her being paralysed with stroke can frustrate her out of music.“Music is a career that God has appointed for me from heaven. And I don’t care what people say about me. I am only concerned about what I do,” a livid Salawa Abeni told nfc.The 48-year old diva who would soon release her 39th album has continued to hold fans spell bound with her peculiar style of Fuji music which had its roots from Waka, a genre popularized by aged musician, Mama Batile Alake. Salawa’s activities earned her the title of ‘Queen of Waka Music’ by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi in 1992.Abeni’s first album which was released in 1976 on the seal of Leaser Records according to Wikipedia, an online profiling media, is the first musical album to have sold over a million copies by a female artist in Nigeria.Meanwhile, Salawa’s relationship with Leader Records came to an end in 1986, and her relationship with the label’s owner, Lateef Adepoju also ended. She later married Sir Kollington Ayinla and joined Ayinla’s record label and remained with him until 1994. The musician who hailed from Ogun State in this interview with Daily Sun spoke on several issues such as her absence from the music scene, her relationship with her ex-husband, Kollington Ayinla and how she relaxes among other things.

Rumour about strokeFirst and foremost.

I want to let my fans know that I am a human being like them. It is true I was sick but the sickness was not related to stroke or paralysis. Of a truth, I was sick but now I am fine. Stroke or paralysis is not in my lineage, it didn’t happen and it won’t happen. Even at that, is it proper for people to just sit down somewhere and write stories without facts? Absence from the sceneI was sick early this year. I travelled to Paris along the line. And I got an invitation from a family friend to perform at a burial ceremony which held at Police College which brought me back to the country. Generally, middle of the year is always dull for entertainers. Apart from this, as a policy which I have maintained for the past 35 years, I don’t perform during the Ramadan season. With these rumour, they have given me something to sing about. We have been working on it for some time before I was sick. Yet the sickness didn’t last more than a month. Without bringing people with stroke to ridicule, I believe stroke is something one can hide. Fans from different parts of the world have been asking me why I have not released a new album but I want them to be rest assured that very soon, they will hear from me.

Handling negative pressI have been around for a long time now.

The media once said I prayed with 35 candles. Another time they said I told my husband’s second wife to abort her pregnancy. I have been accused of snatching someone else’s husband all of which is false. However, the recent rumour that I suffered stroke is the most grievous. I am appealing to the peddlers of such rumour that I am human and have my own weaknesses. Whatever evil they wish me would go to them. A few days ago, the father of my children Alhaji Kollington Ayinla called to inform me that there was an appeal on radio that people should begin to pray for me to recover from an illness. And I told him that his children are with me and they should be the first to confirm such rumour or information.

Quitting music

My last album, The Truth came out towards the end of 2007. I am not doing any other business and if I want to do anything at all it would still be music. Music is my career from heaven. There is also one thing about me and that is, I don’t care what people say about me. I am only concerned about what I do. Therefore I appeal to my friends and family that by the end of the year or latest early in the New Year, my album would be released. Waka music in NigeriaI don’t think the popularity of Waka Music on the Nigerian music scene has reduced. What we now have are variants of Waka. God just made me to be the symbol of Waka Music but I met the music on ground. Waka is an Hausa language that means music. What makes it different is that it is most sung by female musicians. The forerunner of Waka music, Mama Batila Alake always sat down whenever she performed but when I started singing as a kid, I stood because I was short as a kid. That makes me different from others.In addition, when I started, I introduced new instruments that would make my music more appealing to younger people. Someone sang Ori mi wu o ela gi mo, this was a remix of my song Orin mi ni o mo de o! The man even spoke to me while I was in England and invited me to sing the original version at an award which held in June 2007.So what we have is a variety of Waka music, it is not dead and it will not die. I met it and will leave it for coming generations. Mama Batila Alake has not retired, it’s just that she is now old. There are several Waka musicians and they include Adebukola Ajao, Princess Adetoun (now late), Hamdala Aweni among others. If you want something new to Waka, then I will advise that you wait for my new album. My children taking after me all my children like music. One is singing RAP while another is singing Hip-hop. But they are all in school except for my first born, who has bagged her first degree at the University of Ilorin and her Masters Degree in England. She is presently working with me. Music then and nowI have released about 38 albums. When the situation of the country was good, we could release three or two albums in a year. These days, one might not do any release in two years because as soon as the work is released, pirates would have taken their share of the job.

Secret of my looks

If possible, I would have asked you to see my mother. At 92, she is still agile and moves about by herself. Though my dad died at the age of 78 on April 19, 1990 and the only thing I picked from him is his skin colour. Every other thing I picked from my mother. Looking youthful and fit is something that is common to everyone in my family. Don’t forget I grew up in the village. Men still disturb me.One thing I know is that one has got to be wise and careful. Men will continue to make advances at one but one has to be clever with one’s approach without being rude. This is because you can’t tell where one will meet the same person in the future. But while some people would just want to take advantage of one, one needs some level of tolerance. Some male admirers can even be provocative. I have had funny experiences but I have used wisdom to get off the hook. One day somebody just bashed my car for no apparent reason. This prize came with being a celebrity.

On remarriage

First and foremost, I have kids and God is taking care of them. We are all human beings and if God says I should re-marry who am I to say no, and if he says no, who am I to say yes. I wouldn’t want to say more than this.

Relationship with Kollington Ayinla

Yes he called recently. He is the father of my kids. He wouldn’t wish me bad that is why he called. We can’t be enemies, despite the fact that we are no longer married. We talk when it is necessary especially concerning the children. I don’t see anything wrong in this. Even when I was sick, he called to wish me well. There is a way we’ve always communicated especially when it comes to the children.

How I relax

I do gym regularly. In fact I have the equipment in my house. I usually stand for eight hours to perform. This work requires a lot of stamina. I eat anything, I don’t have preferences but I don’t over indulge myself. I grew up in a riverine community, so I can even eat herbs in the morning. I listen to all kinds of music, even the contemporary ones. But I love Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister’s music a lot as well as my late colleague and legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson. I was away when he died. His death shocked me so much that I cried like a baby. We have something in common which is that both of us started playing music at tender ages. Although he is older than I with three years. I was told that I started music at the age of nine.

Advice to young musicians

My advice is that younger musicians should be focused on what they do and they should be faithful to their art. They should also focus on songs that make sense. One can do any kind of music but one should have his or her listeners in mind.

INI EDO WEDS PHILIP EHIAGWINA IN HOUSTON,USA

Photo Credits-Segun Gele

AFRICAN TEXTILES

WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SPOUSE

If you want to connect more with your spouse, try these communication and listening methods.

If your spouse wants to communicate with you, stop what you are doing so that you can give your spouse your full attention.

When talking with your spouse, maintain eye contact.

When you don't want to be distracted while talking with one another, choose a neutral location to have your conversation.

It is important to remember to listen to one another without interrupting.

Don't jump to conclusions about what your spouse is saying.

If you need clarification of what your spouse has said, ask questions, but don't point fingers.

Respond without being critical of what your spouse has said.

Be affirmative and supportive.

Decide together to make time to have alone time with each other on a regular basis -- preferably once a week.

GETTING YOUR MARRIAGE OUT OF A RUT

Do you ever think that your marriage relationship is stuck in a rut? Do you feel stifled? Do you see your marriage as going nowhere? It took time to get your marriage in a rut. It will take time to get your marriage out of a rut.

Here is a seven-step approach to help the two of you get your marriage out of a rut and to repair your marriage. Driving on the Freeway when you take a trip on a freeway traffic usually moves along pretty smoothly. However, there are times when you may find yourselves stuck in stalled traffic speeding along at 20 mph. You may experience a temptation to get off the freeway. The side roads through the various towns look pretty clear, and are moving along okay. Then you think about the traffic lights and the curves and turns and you reconsider that decision.

Marriage is a lot like driving on the freeways. It can be easy for your relationship to get bogged down in the traffic and rush of everyday living. Your communication may just be crawling along, slower and slower, til you are tempted to think that another relationship may be the answer to being stuck in a rut.

Hopefully, after you stop to consider the reality of your lives and you each look at your own responsibility in allowing your marriage to be in a rut, you both will realize that the "easy or quick" route of changing relationships will not make your lives better.

Seven Approaches to Getting out of a Rut in Your Marriage.

So what do you do when the freeway comes to a dead stop or your marriage feels like it is on a dead end street? A road map with some alternate routes or a GPS device help on the freeway. The way to get out of a rut is to reconnect with one another.

A Weekend Away.

Take a weekend away to a quiet place with no kids, no tv, no internet, no chores, and no work from the office to distract you from one another. Make this a time just for the two of you. Use this time to talk with one another. Talk about good memories, of future dreams, of current concerns and fears.

A Weekly Date.

If finances are tight or you can't be away from your children for an entire weekend, find a way to spend time alone with each other each week. Saying you will have monthly dates isn't good enough when your marriage is in a rut. You need more time than that to reconnect with one another.

A Peaceful Room.

Look at your home environment. If you don't have any rooms in your house that are uncluttered and inviting, then create such a space. Decide together to make at least one room in your home free of clutter. If you can't get a room uncluttered in a weekend together, spend 15 minutes each day working on the room. You both need a space that enables you to feel relaxed and calm. Such an environment can actually make you feel good about yourselves and your marriage.

Write a Letter.

When talking about sensitive issues in your marriage, express yourself without showing hostility. Do not blame your spouse. Keep sarcasm out of the conversation. Examine your own attitudes about the issue to see if you are contributing to the problem in your marriage. If this is difficult for you to do, write down your thoughts and feelings about one issue, wait a day or so, then re-read what you wrote before giving the letter to your spouse.

Make Plans for Your Future Together.

Ask yourselves if you are living the way you want to live. If not, do some brainstorming about strategies to get yourselves to where you want to be -- emotionally, financially, physically, etc. Make specific plans for achieving a goal the two of you have set.

Spend Ten Minutes Together Daily.

Develop a routine of spending ten minutes alone together each day. Make this a time to reconnect. It is not the time to share frustrations or to want to solve problems. This ten minutes has to be a positive ten minutes together. You could spend ten minutes talking about your expectations of the day, or talk about good things that happened to you in the past 24 hours. You could take a ten-minute walk together or do breathing exercises together. What you do with that ten minutes shouldn't be the same every day. Some couples sitting together quietly and watching the sun set or looking at stars.

Do Something New.

Do something new each day. Take a different route home. Eat a vegetable cooked in a different way. Watch a television show or movie you haven't seen. Discover something new about your spouse. Move a piece of furniture. Plant a flower seeds you never planted before. Walk on a different street or path. Play a new card or board game. Learn how to together. It doesn't matter what you do that is new. What is important is sharing what you did that was new with your spouse.

OBAMA INAUGURATION PICTURES

MRS TEJU PHILIPS--FORMER COMMISSIONER IN LAGOS STATE

Chief (Mrs.) Teju Phillips, a chartered accountant and former commissioner in Lagos State, in this chat with TOLUWANI OLAMITOKE speaks on her career, role as a politician, marital life and how to run a successful home. Excerpts: Saturday, January 17, 2009

Who is Teju Phillips?

I’M a Lagosian, born and bred there. I schooled in the old Western Region-Ibadan and Oyo precisely, where I I had my primary, secondary and Higher School Certificate (HSC) education. I completed my education in the UK to become a Chartered Accountant. I worked briefly with my father and later Peatmarwick, that is, Ani-Ogunde as a chartered accountant. Peatmarwick used to be the old name. I also worked with UAC before joining the public service as a commissioner. I’m married to Engineer Lanre Phillips and we are blessed with four children and two grand children.

You are a politician. How easy do you think it is for a woman to get to the top in the Nigerian politics?

I was at the top of my career before I joined politics. To me, it has been an era of good education and hardwork to get to the peak and I got appointed as a commissioner.

As a former commissioner in Lagos State, what did you miss out of office?

I miss not serving the people as I used to. When in service, I had a lot of people I was dealing with compared to what holds now, the level has reduced. Despite being out of service, I still relate with and serve my people. This morning, I’ve had politicians coming to me, but the scope was larger when I was in the public service.

What was your growing up like?

It was simple. I grew up in a boarding school all my life there until I got married. I grew up well-disciplined.

Did you marry your spouse because he was rich?

I saw the simplicity in him. Again, I studied him and discovered he was a young man that had a future. The issue of wealth had no basis in the relationship. It was just a young man and a woman meeting, fell in love and got married.

As a daughter of a rich man, how were you able to cope?were you still taking pocket money from home?

When I married my husband, both parents gave us the opportunity to live by ourselves and be ourselves and I think that was a great contribution. I didn’t have interferences that could mar the relationship. Obviously, when you are married, you still have your parents to go to occasionally for advice. you still have their support one way or the other but it has not been a flogging support that destroys relationship.

What are those things that cause conflicts in marriage from your own experience?
Foremost, if your husband notices you do not respect him enough, that will cause a lot of conflict in your relationship. My advice is that you always ensure you respect his views and those things that matter to him must be adhered to. You will have arguments, that’s natural, but you have to argue in a way which will get him to listen to you. Don’t argue with your husband in a domineering manner or try to impose your views on him. If it’s going to take you a hundred and one times to discuss and repeat your views for him to see in your own light, then you do it that way, but please don’t attempt blasting it over him; no, it won’t work.
Again, you have to be domesticated –be a good cook and ensure that what goes into his mouth is super; you must be able to clean the home, have the ability to raise the children and inculcate discipline in the home. Monetary issues shouldn’t lead to crises all the time, no. Also, the habit of leaving kids to be manned by the man alone should not be encouraged. Rather, both couple must join hands together to say ‘no’ before the child when need be, you must let that child know it’s ‘no’ at that time. But when both are together and alone, you can now express your views or feeling on the subject. This encourages a total and perfect upbringing of the child. It’s very impotant to make the children learn to love and fear God from their early ages while the lifestyle of parents must also portray this example. children learn easily from what they see their parents or those who are close to them do. Where the woman has a career and has a lot of money, she shouldn’t flaunt it before her husband. Each other’s inadequacies must be managed, there is no perfect human being.

Can you compare your upbringing with that of your children?

My mother used to beat me a lot when I was young, but my style is different. I was strict with my children, they know I believe in the ‘food stick’ (omorogun), that’s what I used in threatening them. I sometimes tell them to pull their ears and go up and down as punishment. But it was not as tough as what my mother used to do. I feel that I was more liberal.

A school of thought says we are fast losing grasp of our mother tongue. Does this hold in your home?

Up to a point it did. I was corrected and had to made sure my kids had Yoruba lesson from 7 a.m-8 a.m every morning until they mastered it. When you are a career woman and you are off to work, you have home services provider that are there with the kids. They also come and brush in their own English language, they don’t dialogue with the children in Yoruba. So, I had to make conscious effort in making them learn and speak their mother tongue.

It’s obvious you have a successful marriage. What were the things you put in place to achieve this?

I thank God for my marriage. Not lacking in our relationship are patience, tolerance, endurance, hardwork, understanding, believing in the future, discipline and a good conscience. All these are backed with the fear of God.

What place does trust occupy in your relationship?

It holds a very important place.

Can you expatiate?

If you don’t put adequate trust in a relationship, issues that do not matter can come up and cause complications and destruction in a marriage. Come what, you have to trust each other.

How do you feel being a grandmother?

Wonderful! You see yourself in the children and grandchildren. Thank God for the grace of seeing the third generation.

What do you do to keep fit?

I eat well, exercise my body, take vitamins but much more, I always feel contented.

What would you like to be remembered for?

A stylistic ambitious woman with a large heart for the people.

Can you tell me your age?

I will be 55 years old this year.

Extracted from nigeria tribune newspaper

BARACK OBAMA'S PICTURES

Barack Obama’s stepfather Lolo Soetoro; biological mother Ann Dunham; and half- sister Maya Soetoro-Ng

Barack Obama’s biological mother, Ann Dunham holding very young Obama

Barack Obama's Grandparents

OBAMA'S FATHER

MAN OF HISTORY---BARACK OBAMA

BARACK OBAMA QUICK FACTS.
Meaning of the name “Barack”: One who is blessed
Barack's nickname when he was young: Barry
Birthdate: August 4, 1961
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii Height: 6’1”
Alma Mater: Columbia University (1983); Harvard Law School (1991)
Marital Status: Married
Wife’s Name: Michelle Obama
Date of Marriage: October 18, 1992
Children: (2) Malia Ann Obama, born 1999; Natasa Obama (known as Sasha), born 2001 Residence: Chicago, Illinois
Parents: Barack Obama. Sr., from Kenya, and Ann Dunham, from Kansas (Mother and father have passed away)
Religion: Christian Hobbies: Poker and basketball



BARACK OBAMA'S QUOTES

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

Barack Obama
There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America .

Barack Obama
I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars.

Barack Obama
We've gotta restore the American people's confidence in the ethics process by ensuring that political self-interest can no longer prevent politicians from enforcing ethics rules.

Barack Obama
If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.

Barack Obama
We have to acknowledge the progress we made, but understand that we still have a long way to go. That things are better, but still not good enough.

Barack Obama
Americans…still believe in an America where anything's possible -- they just don't think their leaders do.

Barack Obama
If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.

Barack Obama
People are very hungry for something new. I think they are interested in being called to be a part of something larger than the sort of small, petty, slash-and-burn politics that we have been seeing over the last several years.

Barack Obama
Hope – Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is God’s greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation. A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead.

Barack Obama
Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. And it will leave you unfulfilled.

Barack Obama
In the end, no amount of American forces can solve the political differences that lie at the heart of somebody else's civil war.

Barack Obama
The true test of the American ideal is whether we’re able to recognize our failings and then rise together to meet the challenges of our time. Whether we allow ourselves to be shaped by events and history, or whether we act to shape them.

Barack Obama
Americans…still believe in an America where anything's possible – they just don't think their leaders do.

Barack Obama
Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.

Barack Obama
Faith is not just something you have, it's something you do.

Barack Obama
America is a land of big dreamers and big hopes. It is this hope that has sustained us through revolution and civil war, depression and world war, a struggle for civil and social rights and the brink of nuclear crisis. And it is because our dreamers dreamed that we have emerged from each challenge more united, more prosperous, and more admired than before.

Barack Obama
I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics.

Barack Obama
When people are judged by merit, not connections, then the best and brightest can lead the country, people will work hard, and the entire economy will grow - everyone will benefit and more resources will be available for all, not just select groups.

Barack Obama
You know, there's a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit - the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes; to see the world through the eyes of those who are different from us – the child who's hungry, the steelworker who's been laid-off, the family who lost the entire life they built together when the storm came to town. When you think like this – when you choose to broaden your ambit of concern and empathize with the plight of others, whether they are close friends or distant strangers – it becomes harder not to act; harder not to help.

Barack Obama
It's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

Barack Obama
If we aren't willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.

Barack Obama
We have a stake in one another … what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and ... if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done for the people with whom we share this Earth.

Barack Obama
The fact that my 15 minutes of fame has extended a little longer than 15 minutes is somewhat surprising to me and completely baffling to my wife.

Barack Obama
What Washington needs is adult supervision.

Barack Obama
The country is not as polarized as our politics would suggest.

Barack Obama
A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, "Huh. It works. It makes sense.

Barack Obama
Most people who meet my wife quickly conclude that she is remarkable. They are right about this. She is smart, funny and thoroughly charming. Often, after hearing her speak at some function or working with her on a project, people will approach me and say something to the effect of, you know, I think the world of you, Barack, but your wife, wow!

Barack Obama
My wife has been my closest friend, my closest advisor. And ... she’s not somebody who looks to the limelight, or even is wild about me being in politics. And that’s a good reality check on me. When I go home, she wants me to be a good father and a good husband. And everything else is secondary to that.

Barack Obama
We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential.

Barack Obama
We can't change the way Washington works unless we first change how Congress works.

Barack Obama
Whenever I write a letter to a family who has lost a loved one in Iraq , or read an email from a constituent who has dropped out of college because her student aid has been cut, I'm reminded that the actions of those in power have enormous consequences – a price that they themselves almost never have to pay.

Barack Obama
That is the true genius of America , a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door.

Barack Obama
Our goal is to have a country that's not divided by race.

Barack Obama
Iraq is sort of a situation where you've got a guy who drove the bus into the ditch. You obviously have to get the bus out of the ditch, and that's not easy to do, although you probably should fire the driver.

Barack Obama
My faith reminds me that we all are sinners.

Barack Obama
Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. it's whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.

Barack Obama
I have seen, the desperation and disorder of the powerless: how it twists the lives of children on the streets of Jakarta or Nairobi in much the same way as it does the lives of children on Chicago ’s South Side.

Barack Obama
When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world.

Barack Obama
Yes, our greatness as a nation has depended on individual initiative, on a belief in the free market. But it has also depended on our sense of mutual regard for each other, of mutual responsibility. The idea that everybody has a stake in the country, that we're all in it together and everybody's got a shot at opportunity. Americans know this. We know that government can't solve all our problems - and we don't want it to. But we also know that there are some things we can't do on our own. We know that there are some things we do better together.

Barack Obama
Most people who serve in Washington have been trained either as lawyers or as political operatives – professions that tend to place a premium on winning arguments rather than solving problems.

Barack Obama
We’ve come to be consumed by a 24-hour, slash-and-burn, negative ad, bickering, small-minded politics that doesn’t move us forward.

Barack Obama
In an interconnected world, the defeat of international terrorism – and most importantly, the prevention of these terrorist organizations from obtaining weapons of mass destruction -- will require the cooperation of many nations. We must always reserve the right to strike unilaterally at terrorists wherever they may exist. But we should know that our success in doing so is enhanced by engaging our allies so that we receive the crucial diplomatic, military, intelligence, and financial support that can lighten our load and add legitimacy to our actions. This means talking to our friends and, at times, even our enemies.

Barack Obama
We should be more modest in our belief that we can impose democracy on a country through military force. In the past, it has been movements for freedom from within tyrannical regimes that have led to flourishing democracies.

Barack Obama
Race is still a powerful force in this country. Any African American candidate, or any Latino candidate, or Asian candidate or woman candidate confronts a higher threshold in establishing himself to the voters


Barack Obama
Our enemies are fully aware that they can use oil as a weapon against America . And if we don't take this threat as seriously as the bombs they build or the guns they buy, we will be fighting the War on Terror with one hand tied behind our back.

Barack Obama
Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions. And that's what we have to change first. We have to change our politics, and come together around our common interests and concerns as Americans.

Barack Obama
It's not just enough to change the players. We've gotta change the game.


BARACK OBAMA BIOGRAPHY

Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4, 1961.
The name “Barack” means “one who is blessed.” And when Barack was young his family and friends called this blessed young boy “Barry” for short.His father, Barack Obama, Sr., was from Kenya, and his mother, Ann Dunham, was from Kansas. His parents met at the University of Honolulu when they were students (his father was attending on scholarship).

Barack’s parents separated when he was two years old and then divorced when he was four, and his father eventually returned to Kenya. His mother later married another foreign student, Lolo Soetoro, who was from Indonesia; and in 1967, Barack moved with his new stepfather and mother to Jakarta, where he lived from age six to ten.

When Barack was ten, he returned to Honolulu and lived with his grandparents, who took over parenting duties. While in Honolulu, Barack attended the renowned Punahou School until he graduated in 1979.During this period, Barack was able to see his biological father, who returned to Honolulu for a brief visit in 1971. Sadly, that would be their last meeting as his father died in an automobile accident in 1982. (Barack would lose his mother to cancer 1995.)

After his 1979 high school graduation, Barack moved to Los Angeles to attend Occidental College. He studied there for two years and then transferred to Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in Political Science and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983.
After graduation, Barack worked in New York at Business International Corporation and New York Public Interest Research Group before returning to Chicago, where he became a community organizer with a church-based group which worked to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods.

He entered Harvard Law School in 1988, where he was elected the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review in its 104-year history. He went on to receive his J.D. degree from Harvard in 1991 with magna cum laude honors.

He then returned to Chicago, directed a voter registration drive, and soon became a civil rights attorney and a lecturer on constitutional law; and in 1992, married the love of his life, Michelle.
And it was in Chicago in 1995 that Barack released his first best-selling book: “Dreams from My Father.” He was offered the book contract shortly after becoming the president of the Harvard Law Review. The book is a compelling memoir of his life.

Barack’s political career began with his election to the Illinois Senate in 1996, where he would serve from 1997 to 2004. In 2000, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives, but would go on to run for the U.S. Senate a few years later.

And while Barack was running for U.S. Senate, he was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime: to give the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. And it was at that convention that Barack gave one of the most inspiring and moving political speeches ever delivered, and by the time the speech was over, Barack became a political heavyweight and an instant celebrity.

Barack went on to win his U.S. Senate race in a landslide, capturing 70% of the votes. And, riding a wave of strong popularity, published his second best-selling book in 2006, “The Audacity of Hope,” which expanded on the issues he touched on in his 2004 DNC speech.
On February 10, 2007, Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president of the United States.

But of all of Barack’s achievements, nothing has made him prouder than becoming a father to his two wonderful girls: Malia (born 1999), and Sasha (born 2001).

SUZANNE WENGER KNOWN AS ADUNNI OLORISA OF OSUN DEPARTED AT THE AGE OF 93

When the end drew near for the priestess of Osun, the elements combined and a sudden midday rain started and ended abruptly in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Monday.

After the rain, Wenger, 93, passed on at the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Hospital, Osogbo. Before she died, Wenger, who was surrounded at her sickbed by some of her 15 adopted children, asked, "What day of the week is it? What time of the day is it?" When answers were given to her inquiries, she replied, "It's time to go. It's good. It's ok." And with these words, she breathed her last in the presence of her first adopted son, Chief Sangodare Gbadegesin Ajala and her adopted daughter, Chief Doyin Faniyi.

Recalling how the culture matriach passed on, Ajala attributed her transition to old age. "She died of old age. She was not particularly sick. She spent only a day in the hospital. A few minutes before her death, she took her bath and was served her tea, which she drank.

"In the last seven days to her demise, she called us (her children) together and talked about the philosophies of life; religion and culture with us. She engaged us for one and a half hours everyday on different topics. She said we should preserve our culture and religion.
"She was unhappy that the Osun grove was not being taken care of properly and that many of her artworks are in a state of neglect at the grove," he said.

According to her adopted daughter, no part of Wenger was removed during the burial rites performed in the forest grove late Monday night by Oro and Osun worshippers. It was said that Wenger specifically requested not to be kept in the mortuary but to be buried immediately.
Faniyi said, "She doesn't want any tomb to be erected for her. She doesn't want anyone to know where she's buried. She just wants to be buried without fanfare. But we are going on with all rites which will be in segments.
"We are commencing with a seven-day ritual and this will be followed by a 16-day ritual and another 21-day ritual."

Before her death on Monday, she was seldom seen in public due to old age. Her last public outing was in 2005 when artists, who went through her tutelage in arts and craft, celebrated her 90th birthday in Lagos. As expected, tributes have continued to trail her transition. Ambassador Segun Olusola thanked God for her fulfilled life while recalling the times in the 70s when they would carry her all the way from Osogbo to Victoria Island, Lagos, to participate in television programmes. "She was well versed in the Yoruba pantheon of the gods with which she was actively engaged," he said. He also described her as a significant member of the Yoruba cultural leaders. "She left a very straight forward relationship of her devotion to the goddess. She also nurtured younger ones in the traditional way," he said. painful as her death is, it is consoling that she lived a fulfilled life and was celebrated severally in her life time with the biggest recognition - a national honour of Member of the Federal Republic - accorded her by President Umaru Yar'Adua just two weeks ago. That was Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, acknowledging the contributions of late Susanne Wenger, MFR, whose remarkable devotion to the worship of the Osun Osogbo boosted the annual festival, giving it an international status. The late artist saw the potential in the festival and employed artists that added essence to the celebration of the goddess. Oyinlola described her death as the end of an era in the cultural world, and a loss to the entire world because she had become a bridge across cultures and continents. Her life, he said, "was a lesson in being true to oneself and to whatever one is committed to. "The late artist represented a bridge across continents and across cultures. She came from the western Europe in the early 1950s in search of what her partner, Ulli Beier, tagged, Ori Inu (her real essence), which she later discovered in the bosom of the spirituality of Osun."

He noted that through her singular effort, Osun Grove has become world renown and preserved for posterity, adding that she would be greatly missed by all lovers of culture across the globe.

For Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Prof. Michael Omolewa, "Wenger left her mark and legacies indelibly on the cultural map of world, and she will always be remembered for her impressive works, love of Yoruba people, passion for the development of the African cultural heritage, and encouragement of truly global cultural village. Although she is dead, her name and her works will live for as long as culture lasts in the world."

The governorship candidate, Osun Action Congress, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, calls on the Federal Government to immortalise Wenger, whose death, he described as the end of an era.
A statement by the party's Director of Media, Mr. Gbenga Fayemiwo, on Tuesday, in Osogbo, said the "indelible marks made by Wenger on African culture will last till the end of history."
"We salute her deep insight, vision and perseverance to attain the stardom that her sojourn accomplished in Nigeria. If anybody deserves credit for the eventual recognition of the Osun Festival as a World Heritage Centre, Susanne Wenger's name stands tall as an Amazon of World Culture."

As a young Austrian girl, the late Wenger began her sojourn in Nigeria in the 50s during a chance visit to the famous Osun grove and that became a defining point in her life.
She threw herself wholly into the worship of the Osun goddess and in that, her life took on a meaning. She succeeded in integrating her art into nature and the worship that is the essence of the Osun grove. An artist and a sculptor, she studied art in Graz and Vienna. She was a part of the famous Vienna Art Club and after the Second World War; she took her art to Italy and Switzerland where she had exhibitions together with the famous artists at the time in the gallery, Des Eaux Vives in Zurich. In 1949, Susanne went to Paris, where she met Ulli Beier who was being posted to work in West Africa. They got married and in the 50s, both arrived in Nigeria. They lived in Ibadan for a while and from there, they moved to Ede. She was quickly integrated into the culture of the people. It was in Ede that Susanne Wenger met a powerful Obantala priest, Ajagemo, who initiated her into the traditional Yoruba worship of Orisha. She would spend the next 50 plus years living as an "Adunni Olorisha" among the Yoruba people in Nigeria in West Africa.

The name, Adunni Olorisha signified a bridge between two cultures - European and Yoruba. She became an important part of the rich traditional cult life in Osogbo, which annually climaxed in the festival of the river, the Osun Osogbo Festival. Her love for the Yoruba culture saw her leaving her husband to embrace the Yoruba traditional religion wholly. She was later remarried to a drummer, the late Ayansola Oniru.

Wenger was essentially a spiritual being. From a very early age, she had been strongly attracted to nature and specifically by trees - in which she was said to have recognised "the images of sacredness". She was said to have specifically requested to be buried immediately and would not want her final resting place known for fear it could be turned into a tourist site. She was laid to rest in one of the sacred shrines in the groove.

To the uninitiated, late Wenger, known as Adunni Olorisa, was just a lover of nature. But she was more than that: she was a believer in that which is deeply etched in man- his essence. She searched and, her husband then, a German linguist, Ulli Beier, said, she found her real essence, which he called Ori-inu, in the worship of the Osun Osogbo. She became Adunni Olorisha which means 'the loved one who worships the deity,' and was influential in the listing of the Osun Grove as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

ESAMA OF BENIN KINGDOM,CHIEF GABRIEL IGBINEDION GIVES OUT DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE

Omosede Igbinedion, the pretty daughter of Chief Nosakhare Igbinedion will soon be getting married to her prince. Her groom to be is Prince Avan Akenzua, Son of the Enogie of Obayanto, HRH Uyiekpen Akenza.
According to the article in Ovation,“The prince charming, studied microbiology at the Edo State University said he is head over heels in love with Omosede. He revealed what endeared him to her was her transparency”
He also said this about his bride to be “She is a woman that can add to a man’s future and also help shape his future ambition. She also has the capacity to help you channel your resources on the right path. This is why I have chosen her as my bride to be”.
Omosede is a lawyer and a business woman. She is said to own a nice shopping plaza in Benin City. Congrats to the couple

CONGRATULATIONS BUKKY ADEOYE ON THE SAFE DELIVERY OF YOUR BABY GIRL

THE ENTIRE STAFF OF CELEBRATING AFRICA MAGAZINE REJOICES WITH YOU ON THE SAFE DELIVERY OF YOUR BABY GIRL.

THE ADEOYES

RMD APPOINTED COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE & TOURISM IN DELTA STATE.

Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD has been appointed COMMISSIONER FOR CULTURE & TOURISM IN DELTA STATE.Born on the 6th of July 1961, only son of his mother.Presently married to Jumobi Mofe-Damijo(nee Adegbesan).An actor and a trained lawyer.

WEDDINGS 2008

MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE MY WORLD---DESMOND ELLIOT

Desmond Elliot is one of the top talented actors in the Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood. An unassuming and God-fearing person, Desmond is the story of a hardworking and focused young man. With diligence, hardwork and perseverance, his rise to the top was rapid. The boyish-looking and handsome man has acted in so many movies. Some of his works include Magic Moment, Last Oath, True Romance, With Love, and Wild Rose. In this interview, Elliot takes a look at his career, highlighting his strengths, mission and vision.

What were your younger days like?

I remember those years as the good old days. I grew up in Jos. My father was a Civil Engineer, while my mother ran restaurants. While those years were fun and nice, they gradually became tough when depression came into Nigeria and things. It was nice and tough. At a very tender age I became a Christian, which went a long way in controlling me and shaping me into who I have become today. My father is a Yoruba man from Lagos State, while my mother is an Ibo woman from Anambra State. . I had my primary education at Air Force Primary School in Jos, from where I went to St John’s College, also in Jos. I studied Economics at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos and graduated in 2003.

Why did you choose to become an actor?

My dream was to go abroad to settle down. I was denied visa then, and so I came to Lagos. While in Lagos, I was jobless, as I really wasn’t doing anything tangible. A friend of mine talked me into taking part in movies and I decided to give it a trial. It actually started as a hobby, but today, it is a career. I first started with soap operas such as Everyday People, One Too Much, Wale Adenuga’s Super Stories and Saints and Sinners.

How did you meet your wife and what was the attraction for her?

We met in Jos, at fellowship. We were members of the acting group. My wife and I never really liked each other. While she thought I was carefree, I thought she was too much of an introvert. But as time went by, we began to know each other better. It was a gradual process because we started off as friends. Later, one thing led to another and today, here we are as man and wife. I dated my wife for about eight years before we finally got married. My kind of job may have exposed me to the opposite sex but the truth is that my wife means the whole world to me. I appreciate my wife and I married her basically for love and nothing else. She is so understanding and caring. These are the two vital attributes I find lacking in most women of today.

What are her names?

She is Victoria Ima-Obong.

Since she always thought of you as carefree, how does she cope with your acting, especially with you having to kiss other women, which you do quite often?

How will you feel if somebody else kisses your husband? It makes her uncomfortable, but she now knows the tricks behind it and it is not much of a problem now. There are things I do she does not like, even on screen, and she tells me. In all, we always try to arrive at a compromise. That is what life is all about.

What of female admirers?

How does she cope with their advances?Well, that’s one thing that endeared her to me. In my profession, you meet people everyday; male and females alike. While there is no need to be a snub, you also have to be cautious about being over-friendly.

Have you had any embarrassing moment from your female fans?

So many, please don’t even go there. So far God has been delivering me and I still pray for his continuous deliverance.

Could you be more specific?

Some ladies call to have a date with you. Some others offer me money just to sleep with them; they make passes at me. Acts like these are embarrassing to me. The point is this, how many fine girls are you going to date? You just stick to the one you love and life would be easier and more enjoyable. Women chase me because I am an actor and if they don’t do that, it simply means that I am not yet an actor. In fact, being chased is not the issue, what matters is that whenever I perceive that I am about to be chased, I run. I run because I have an ambition, which I don’t want women to ruin for me. I run from them if they want to go beyond the level of being my fans to another level.

Are you serious?Is it that bad?

I just told you.

So, you think it is your being a Christian that has saved you? For those who offer money, I hear the figures are so tempting you young men are hardly able to resist?

God forbid. I am a Christian, I love my wife and children dearly. I am not prepared to jeopardise the peace and love that reigns in my home. For young men who cannot resist these women and their money, good for them. People are different and so our priorities. I had always wanted to settle down from as young as when I was eighteen, but somehow, it didn’t happen. I am a strong believer in the family. A man who wishes to succeed in life must keep the home front happy and the way to do so is to flee from temptation.

How would you assess the movie industry?

The fact that the Nigerian movie industry is growing is a positive development. I am grateful to all those that are making it happen such as the marketers, directors, producers and others. Nollywood contributes to the nation’s economy because quite a number of people are involved and are earning their livelihood from the industry. The only problem is that our government is yet to fully realise the great economic advantage that lies in tapping into the industry. America and India have tapped into Hollywood and Bollywood respectively and the result is quite rewarding.Government should come and invest in the industry, the marketers have done great jobs by investing their money to prove that the sector is lucrative.

Who would you say has contributed the most to who you have become today?

My talent is a gift from God and whatever comes from God is mine. At the same time, God gave it to me and reserves the right to take it back if you fail to use the gift to make people happy and contribute to the good of humanity.

If you had not become an actor, what would you have been?

A banker.

How comfortable are you?

I eat everyday, I drink water, I pay my bills, and I also support people whenever I can. I thank God for that.

How do you relax?

I love to stay at home with my family, watching movies. Family time is special and very relaxing.

Which day would you say has been your happiest?

Day, you mean. The day I got married and the day my wife was delivered of our twin sons.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH YEMI BLAQ

Since making his entry into the movie industry in 2005, Wesley Snipes' look-alike, Yemi Blaq, has proved it takes more than great looks to be a lead man. With a diction that is captivating, his roles in movies like Sting, Control and Coded were outstanding. Down to earth and very accommodating, the Theatre Arts graduate from the University of Benin.

What was growing up like for you?

I grew up in a home of seven children. I grew up in love. I studied Theatre Arts in the university because of my unbelievable love for the arts. My parents are arts inclined, with my mum being more of the artistic one. So I guess I inherited this love from them. Growing up, I wrote poetry, songs. But after studying the rudiments; the business, I decided to come into the industry fully. I did not just dabble into the business of acting. I came into it ready for the business.

How has the business been so far?

So far, so good! It can get better, though. I expect scripts to be able to stretch me to the extreme of my capacity.

Which role has been your most challenging?

My most challenging role has been Osaro: The rise and fall. Every movie is challenging. It is also difficult. Acting is not as easy as people think it is. Acting entails a lot. Reading a script and getting into character requires immense concerntration, especially if that character is foreign to yours. Every role though comes with its own challenges. Then, there is also being able to entertain, which is the skill.

What is your assessment of the movie industry?

It is rated the third in the world. I do not have the expertise to doubt it. We need to go beyond trying; go from good to better. I know we will get there. We are already making headlines internationally. Beyond the problems of piracy and distribution, the issue of funds to execute projects is a problem. Until big money is pumped into the industry, mediocrity will continue to thrive. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. But when you pay good money, you will only do so to the very best.

Are you married?

I am not married but I hope to be one day. I love family. It is the best thing to have happened to man.How do you deal with female admirers?I love women; I honestly do. I have more female friends than males. It is a natural thing for me. I love my female fans too. The word is caution. I have my boundaries in all aspects of life, including my dealings with females. I leave things easy. I appreciate the fact that I am admired and so, I will never take advantage of the likeness because it is an honour to be appreciated.For a good looking man who speaks like you do, what happens if one of these admirers wants to take things a little further?Come on it won't happen. I certainly will not encourage any such move.

What is style for you?

I am an ultra-casual guy. I do not believe I have to go with the trends. I want to wear something I can move around in; something that fits and is smart. There is no need to wear a suit in this part of the world, only to end up sweating like a goat. Unless, of course, you are one of those who practically live in an air conditioned world.

Which is your favourite song?

Soul E's Soul E Baba dey here.

How do you unwind?

When I am not acting, I am at home. I am a homeboy who likes to sit at home and watch movies. I also like to write songs. I love animals too but unfortunately, space would not allow me to keep them now. I would love to have a cheetah and maybe a snake.

What is your source of inspiration?

I draw inspiration from everything. It is not enough to just see things. We need to observe things, learn from things, circumstances. Life itself is inspiration. People are works of art and are always changing. The hustle and bustle of life should not deprive us of enjoying the gifts of life and its benefits if we only but pause a minute to see life for what it truly is; a gift from God.

What is the greatest problem facing the average Nigerian?

The basic problem in Nigeria is poverty. When you constantly try to break out of it and cannot, it becomes frustrating. As actors, we should not just consider ourselves as entertainers, but make ourselves worthy of emulation. I would rather be liked and be proud of, rather than be a potential criminal.

What of tales of homosexuals rocking the industry, is it true?

There are homosexuals everywhere. Once they do not shove it down anyone's throat, fine. No one has the moral right to be a sexual police.

Have you had advances from any?

Do I look like I should have had any? It would be suicidal for anyone to think of me in that light and attempt to try his luck with me.

How would you assess the Nigerian woman?

Men and women should live in partnership. A woman complements a man. The Nigerian woman needs to take stand for herself. Women have been too financially dependent on the men. With more financial independence, the sky is the limit for the Nigerian woman because she is beautiful and gifted. She is also strong and bold. Therefore, she needs to be more aggressive when it comes to empowering herself, especially financially.

What is your dream for your career?

My dream is to get N18 million for every role. I want to be known the world over. I want to be able to make good things happen. Being an actor is not just to be seen on the screen. You should be able to add value to the lives of the people who see you.

Who are your role models?

They may not necessarily be role models but I admire the likes of Oprah, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, who have the clout to change the world. They have made positive impact on humanity which is a goal of mine.

Which actor do you admire?

Johnny Depp's acting has depth.

What is your philosophy of life?

Do not give up. There is nothing happening to you that has not happened to someone else. So, do not give up.

Do you believe abstinence is the best way to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge?

Abstinence is best only if you can do it. Education, awareness are the keys with which stigmatisation is better dealt with which is a way forward. There is the need for people to know that people with the disease are as human as those without it

OLU JACOBS--ACTOR WITH A DIFFERENCE

Olu Jacobs is a name that is very synonymous with the Nigerian theater and the art. With more than forty years experience on the job, the United kingdom-trained practitioner is far from retiring. In this no-holds-barred interview with Showtime Celebrity, Uncle Olu as he is fondly called by friends and associates speaks on his career, his wife Joke and more. Excerpts;

How do you cope with working with the younger generation of stars on set?

I work with upcoming artists but many of us make fundamental mistakes by calling people stars when they are not stars. Our audiences call us stars, we do not call ourselves stars because it takes a lot to be a star but unfortunately we find that we are in a nation of titles where you find an upcoming person calling himself a star even when he is not. That limits one’s growth and I really think it takes more than that to be a star. It takes years of work and highly appreciated work by the public before you begin to recognize one as a good actor. Talking about working on set with the upcoming artists, it is very challenging and interesting to work with them.
Some find it difficult fitting into their various characters well enough because they don’t take time to study the scripts well and understand the characters enough. Others find it hard interpreting their roles very well. Some times there are problems and nobody to help so you have to do the best you can to help the situation.

And what was government’s role in the development of the movie industry?

For a very long time, government never took this profession seriously. Once they see off their guests to the airport that is all. They only paid lip service or use artists to entertain their guests. That was the way they saw the profession before now. And suddenly when they embark on their numerous foreign trips, they are being congratulated by their hosts for movies coming from Nigeria and how enjoyable they are. As new economic doors are being opened, they began to realise that there is something after all to say about the industry. Apart from the opportunities the industry offered Nigerians, there is the foreign exchange earning for the country. And this aspect is the reasons why the distribution area of our industry is being looked into by the government and new laws enacted to control film distribution in the country. We are entering a new phase and I believe that we should give the Census board a chance, there is no better alternative and I honestly believe it will work. I find it embarrassing that in a country of about one hundred and forty million people, we cannot sell one million copies of our movies. It is very embarrassing but with this new method of distribution, I know it will work.

What could have been responsible for this, could it be that the industry was not well represented in the past?

Just as the name depicts, an actor is there to act, a director is there to direct, a producer is there to produce and a distributor is there to distribute. That area has suffered untold negligence and this is the reason government is starting to offer assistance because it benefits government and the private sector.

Was there any particular movie that you starred in that you found very challenging?

I study scripts well, when I read the story I understand my roles very well, I never have problems with any.

Which is your first movie?

It was called Carrying Up the Jungle. It was shot in England.

How did you feel acting first time, with real professionals?

I felt numb, I was miserable because I have done stage plays and with stage plays, I get my reactions from my audience instantaneously. And when I’m getting them, I know when I’m losing them. And I know when I have them under the palm of my hand. But with the movie you are talking to a cold iron, just the lonely voice of my director saying; ‘thank you Olu, thank you, okay give me a close up of that or give a medium’ that is all you hear and I did not know how to deal with that. Three days later you meet the director and he says ‘that was good’ just like that and he is gone. That was how I felt the first time.

How much were you paid in your first professional job?

It is supposed to be private and confidential.

Having been around for so long, what is your perception of sexual harassment in Nollywood?

Let me tell you categorically. I have never been sexually harassed.

But you are a man now?

So, men are harassed too.
It is most unlikely because this is a man’s world . . .
Don’t let anybody deceive you. It’s a woman’s world as well.
I think wherever you have men and women, men will fancy women and women will fancy men but some men will like to take undue advantage of the situation and some women unfortunately will like to take undue advantage of some men. But I don’t think it is something you get too many people to talk about these days. It comes out, you know it happens but you find that most of the people who think they have to harass to get a favor from their actresses don’t usually do well, eventually people find out and things begin to dry up as far as job is concerned with them and some of them are still around and they have gone down. Like I said, it happens both ways and I think it is much, much less than it was now because most of them have left because jobs were not coming to them anymore.

How do you handle advances from your female fans?

I really believe that somebody has to have courage to look for my number and phone me. And when that happens, I thank them and I try as much as possible to be as nice as I can.

How do you feel when you are on same sets with your wife?

We are working, at least I know that she is an actress I’m happy and comfortable. We work very well.

Do you work as if you are working with any other person?

But when we are on set, we concentrate on our works and change costumes and all that. Work is work, after work then there will be plenty of time to do other things. We don’t take the time of work to do other things; after all, we came from the same house.

Since both of you are in the same career, how do you now joggle the home front and the job?

We are lucky we have children who understand the way we work and we try as much as possible to think of them too as we move around. My eldest boy is in America and I have a young boy so it is for him we are worried about so that he doesn’t feel our absence too much. But as things happen, when I’m at home she is either going or returning home from set and I will be on my way out. So we are not too far from him.

When you started out with your acting career, were your parents supportive?

My mother was but my father was not in support of it at all. He was a prolific dancer and drummer but he did not do it as a profession. He’d always say it was for pleasure. My mother requested to know why I was bent on doing it and I explained to her that I love telling stories, I love the way it is being told and I want to go and learn how to tell it because I enjoy it.

And how did you now get into the game proper?

I saw Ogunde in Kano when he was on his annual tour (I was born in Kano). On the day he came, I’d gone out on an errand and I saw this vehicle with so many people standing, singing and throwing leaflets to people. It was a beautiful picture the crew painted. When I got home and told my mother I wanted to go watch him, she said ‘you want to watch what? And I said Ogunde. She tripled my work load and pronto I finished the chore and when I told her, she didn’t believe it. But in the long run, she convinced my father to take me along to the show. The experience was wonderful and there and then I told my mother this is what I want to do. She promised to talk to my father about it, but she didn’t but on her own supported me when I travelled abroad for further studies. As for my father knowing what I was up to, I already have my passport and my visa. He did not know but my mother of course knew.

Your accomplice?

Yes my accomplice. On the appointment day, my father went to work and I took the train to Iddo in Lagos, then from Iddo to the Ikeja Airport Hotel where I was lodged.
When I got to England, I wrote him a letter, he was angry, so I wrote him another one. And when somebody was coming to Nigeria, I sent him some pipes and British tobacco, because he was a piper. In reply, he just a wrote a short note saying ‘how are you? Thank you for the gift’ and that was all. We exchange some few more letters after that. In his last letter he said he wished me luck and that I should always remember whose son I was. Unfortunately, we never saw again because he passed on before I got back.

You were doing well in UK, why did you come back to Nigeria?

That is one question that people find very difficult to understand. I’m a Nigerian and I went to England to train so that I can contribute to the improvement of the theater in Nigeria. I did not go to stay. Most people who travelled had that in mind. It’s only in the last say twenty years ago that you find people going and settling abroad. But I went so that I can come and give our people those things that they crave for in the theater. That was the stage I was in. I left Nigeria in September 11th 1964 and in 1980, I made the journey back home. And in 1984 I was invited to help start Second Chance and Third Eye, a detective series and from there, my agents called me and told me that I was wanted for another shoot that took me out of the country for eleven months. And after that, I came home and never left the shores again until 2001.
When I first came back, I was disappointed with the state of affairs but then it was a challenge. My wife happens to be an actress so we were speaking the same language so even if everybody around us didn’t understand us, we understood each other and this made life a lot easier for us.

How did you meet your wife?Did you ask her that question?I want to hear from the horse’s mouth

Am I a horse now? (Laughs) I was invited at the National Theater to help start Wole Soyinka’s Jero’s Metamorphosis and it was the premier so we did that at the National Theater. After that we had a play produced for the twenty-first independence anniversary and I was directing that play.
We had a very heavy cast, we were about one hundred and twenty and we were having a conference and a production meeting when the door opened and this lady walked in. I’d never seen her before and I said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, this is the lady I’m going to marry’ and she assessed me with her eyes and left.
No sooner, we became friends and from being friends, five years later, we were married. I’m not an impulsive person, I did not know why I said it, I just said it and I didn’t feel uncomfortable about it.

So how have you managed to keep your marriage together?

We thank God because it is God’s blessing that supercedes everything. It is always good when God gives you your friend; when you meet your friend, life is much easier because where others fail, friendship sustains. She is more than a wife, she is a mother, she is a friend, and she is very caring and generous and very deep a person.

Is she very romantic?

She is very romantic.