World Cup: Nigerian artistes in SA to boost tourism

As part of efforts to encourage the Nigerian team in the FIFA World Cup, about 10 Nollywood actors and many Nigerian musicians will arrive in Johannesburg ahead of the World Cup on June 11.
“Nigeria is set for a fantastic outing outside the football field,” the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Johannesburg on Monday.
“We are here ahead of time to make a statement which will see the gains of the first World Cup on African soil rub off tremendously on our tourism industry,” he said.
He said the focus was to see an upward climb in investments in the nation’s tourism sector which peaked at N50bn in 2009.
“We are bringing our best so we can use our strengths to promote the country and reposition our image as we clock 50,” he said.
Runsewe said soccer fans in South Africa will spend only a fraction of their time at the stadia, using the rest to explore tourism opportunities.
“If you invest in Nigeria, you can’t make a mistake and the story of MTN and South African Airways are some examples,” he said.
Runsewe said that the artistes being flown to South Africa would also help sell the nation’s rich culture which suffered greatly due to exposure of youths to western culture years back.
“We almost lost it all in our customs and cultures about five years ago as our youths were imbibing western culture which is dangerous for us.
“But now it is improving as we have been able to convince our youth that we have a rich culture and we can capitalise on it.
“The kind of village we are putting up in Johannesburg, I don’t see any other country coming close to it.
“We will really showcase Nigeria and use the village to reposition the country,” he said.
Runsewe said worship centres, VIP facilities, giant screens and Nigerian cuisine would be present at the village which would be a home away from home.

Three things are bound to endear you to Empress Njamah, even though you hold negative opinion about her lifestyle. They are her friendliness, intelligence and boldness to discuss issues affecting her personality as well as her acting career.

These qualities last Monday were at play, as Empress, whose crashed love affair with the Egberi Papa of Bayelsa, Inetimi Odom a.k.a Timaya, made headlines in national  dailies early  last year,  was the guest of SPECTRUM  MAGAZINE. Daring and bold, this Imo state born actress takes the SPECTRUM team on a tortuous trip through her love life, insinuations, and most importantly, what seemed to transpire between herself and Timaya, amongst other revelations….
Excerpt
You are welcome to SPECTRUM. Are you married now?
I never told you I was married before.
We learnt you had a fight in the church with Timaya. Was that true?
Was it the only thing you heard about me? So many men fought over my hand in marriage. I’m not married yet. But I’m in a relationship.
Who is this Mr. Right?
Even if I tell you the person, you might not know him because he’s not  always in the eye of the public.
What are you waiting for?
Well, I’m waiting for the right person, the right time and also, when God says, this is the appointed time. I’m not really looking for a customized man as a husband. I’m taking my time to find myself a husband.
What do you mean by waiting for God’s time?
God’s time is the best. I haven’t seen the right man that is meant for me. If I meet my husband today, I wonder what will stop me from marrying him the next day.
What are the qualities you look out for in your man?
Like I said earlier, I’m not looking for a customized man for a husband. He doesn’t have to be tall,  dark or slim per se. It has to do with emotion. I’m not an everyday – everyday kind of person. I’m yuppie-yuppie, I’m hyperactive and I love to play a lot. I don’t want to get involved in a man who has an opposed idea of my kind of person.
Does he has to be rich?
It depends on what you mean by that. If the person is comfortable, why not. Talking about “money”, I have gone through money, money have not gone through me.
and easy-going.
You were talking about people wanting to date you…?
I haven’t mentioned anybody.
But you need to put the record straight by talking about it now, because a lot of people do not know what transpired  between yourself and Timaya?
I don’t really need to come out to tell the world my own side of the story. No, I wouldn’t do that. If you are close to me, you would notice my kind of person. I can’t come out in public to state whether I did, or I didn’t what I was accused of doing.  It wouldn’t change the fact that I had a problem with him.
Don’t you know that Timaya has another girl friend of your nature?
Really, I’m not aware.
You said you have dumped several men, did you dump Timaya?
I didn’t say so. I never said I have dumped any man. We are talking about men who were fighting over me. You mentioned only one person, and I said, how are you sure there were no other men who fought for my hand in marriage.
Have you returned his Jeep?
I never took anybody’s car.
A lot of things have been said about you, the good, the bad and the ugly and most of all, people refer you as a controversial actress. Are you really controversial?
Yes, the same people would say, Empress is a lesbian, she’s into women. She’s a kleptomaniac and all that.  If I’m what people alleged me to be, how come I’m not crucified. There’s no tyre hanging around my neck, or   I haven’t been sent ablaze. You see, these are the things that comes with stardom. It’s not true of me. People say all sorts of things about someone that are not obviously real.
What are you currently occupied with?
Well, I’m fighting very hard to know Christ the more. He’s my only comforter. I hardly have a dull moment. I’m always up and doing, hard working…
What does it take to get you  on set?
I, Empress Njamah worth millions of naira. You see, in our industry, what people perceive to be our take home is not necessarily what we get at the end of the day. We are short-changed, because what we are paid as our service fees are not enough to take care of our needs as celebrities.  In fact, we are not paid well in Nollywood
While you were growing up, did it occur to you that you would some day be in the public eye?
I would say, I was born an actress. I love acting, It’s something I cherished so much. Yes, while growing up, I started from the stage and not the big screen. I trained under Bayo Odunaya. I remember, when myself and uncle Bayo actually visited a  producer who wanted to do a movie then.
I was asked to read a script, which I did very well. The producer liked the way I read the script. And that was it. One thing led to another thing.
Did your parents welcome your decision to become a movie star?
My dad and not my mum never encouraged me when I opted to join Nollywood. My mum is that kind of woman who would love to encourage her children  to pursue their dreams in life. But my dad never realised this.
He didn’t want me to be an actress because of the negative things one get to hear about actresses. Until I did my first movie, which required me to travel from Aba to Port-Harcourt without the knowledge of my dad.
When the movie finally hit the shelve,  every member of  my family was aware of it, except my dad. So, one fateful night, after having our dinner, my mum had to make the whole family see the movie and my dad watched speechlessly until it finished. He went upstairs to his bedroom without uttering a word. I was restless throughout that night.
But the following morning when he summoned me, I did a sign of the cross seven times, before going to answer him. Rather than vent his anger on me, my dad commended the movie, saying “that was a good one”.
Later that day, he summoned me to enlighten me in respect of the art of film making.
My childhood was very beautiful.  I grew up among lively people. I’m a happy woman, despite the odds. My dad, late Mr. Gilbert Njamah hail from Oru Local Government Area of Imo State, while my mum is a Cameroonian. We were basically everywhere because of the nature of my dad’s job during his lifetime.
His job took  us  round the country. My dad studied at Oxford University, UK, and my mum was a qualified midwife. I spent much time with my dad than I did spend with my mum.
Between yourself  and your brothers, who introduced who into the industry?
Nobody introduced anybody into the industry. We also used to have a sister, Blessing Njamah who started acting before all of us.
Three of us are into acting. My brothers, John and Aquila Njamah  were into it before I later joined the industry.  I’m the last child in my family. They encouraged me a lot. I love their works, not because they are my brothers. John is a very good director. Blessing is now married and live in Canada with her husband.
Being your brothers, would subscribe to playing love role with any of the two?
I have done that several times. I have worked with my brothers on stage as well as in movies. Currently, I’m on location with John. It’s not a new thing. Once we are on location, we see ourselves as colleagues, and when we are at home, we see ourselves as one family. I have once kissed my brother on set.
How did you feel doing that?
I wouldn’t know how I felt until I left the set. I was paid to do what I had to do. I didn’t feel anything.
In the same way, if you are paid to act nude, would you succumb to such offer?
First of all, I like to elaborate on this issue. Our society is full of hypocrisy. Apart from the fact that acting nude is alien to our culture, there are so many things happening in our society today which are not part of our culture.
The same people who would love to see you look decent are the same people who would go behind your back to criticise you. That’s our society for you. Yes, if  my society is not all that hypocritical, I will do it.
But I will comfortably do it abroad because I know that over there, I’m working for my money. The good thing is that you are doing your job, and people like to criticise what they would love to watch. What’s the difference, when people go to the internet to watch pornography and all that. Would they criticise themselves for doing so?
Everybody is talking about  taking Nollywood to the next level. But how can we take the industry to the next level if we continue to criticise what we would love to see and feel happy. In advanced societies, actresses are not criticised for doing what they had to do. If I’m paid well, I will act nude abroad.  That’s the truth.
Your ass!
I really will not pin-point out something about myself.  But the thing is that I like Empress Njamah as a whole. There are people that has these ass but they don’t know how to put them in use. It’s useless if you cannot use your ass to your advantage.
The other day, I went for one audition, and the organisers  were looking out for ladies who were endowed with good ass for a musical video. Some of the ladies there had this ass but they could not properly use it to their advantage. It’s always good to have what you can actually use to get what you cannot get ordinarily.
In this case, I don’t like to flaunt my ass, my darling. I’m not like Cossy Orjiakor who loves to flaunt her boobs. Cossy is my very good friend, but she likes to flaunt her breast indiscriminately. I don’t flaunt mine. I don’t usually like to wear sexy clothes. I wear things that I’m comfortable in.
What has been your most challenging role in movies?
I’m an actress, every role I play in movies is as challenging as the other. Because every role I play in movies is not Empress Njamah, but a character which I try so hard to let people see and be convinced of the character.
So, every role I play as in acting is challenging. There was this movie where I had to descend from a mountain top with the help of a rope. I did it convincingly , and never saw it as  challenging.
What makes you cry and how often do you cry?
On a serious note, I hardly cry because the things that make other people cry will hardly make me cry. I do more of internal crying, I will just sink into myself, while other people cry. I’m a  hyperactive person, it is very difficult for anyone to make me feel bad because I hardly go out, I try to make myself comfortable at home.
Let’s talk about your face-off with Timaya. How did it happen?
It happened early last year, a lot of newspapers carried the story, including your newspaper,(Saturday Vanguard). At the time it happened, I received a lot of calls from people who asked me a lot of questions. I  don’t think I want to talk about it now.  That is my past, and I do not want to talk about it again.
Were you hurt when your love affair with Timaya crashed?
I’m a woman, and very emotional so why not, if anyone should go into a project and it doesn’t work out, the person will definitely feel bad.
Where you in love with him?
I could not have dated someone I wasn’t in love with.
That means you may want to reconsider him if he comes back to you?
Let’s wait and see if he comes back…
What kind of reactions do you get from people when you play the bad girl role?
The kind of reactions you get from people who are not intelligent and does not know it is a wolrd of make- believe. Take for instance, Mama G who is always playing the role of a wicked woman, does that make her  a bad woman?
She’s a very lovely woman to be with in real life, people should learn to accept us for what we do. We may be stereotyped to a particular bad character but we are only trying to pass the message across in the best way we could do it.
Did the bad experience you had with Timaya affect you negatively?
It didn’t affect my acting nor did it affect the fact that I am a very happy person. It didn’t also affect the fact that I come from a happy home. Besides, I still have all my friends intact.
How did your mum react to the incident?
Of course,  no parent will throw a party, when they go out and see different negative stories written about their child. But the most important thing is that she knows her daughter and my happiness was what mattered most to members of  my family.
What is your impression about Nollywood?
I think we’ve not gotten there yet. If we have, we will not be thinking about how to take Nollywood to the next level. You and I know that the industry still has a long way to go, some of us can only suggest ideas because I am not the government or AGN President, I will just say that I am handicap here.
Can you share some of these ideas with us?
I can’t, these are ideas that many people in the industry are aware of. We’ve suffered so from putting a square peg in a round hole.
I mean, directors and producers bringing people from their village to play lead roles and things like that, sometimes people don’t get deserving roles because they don’t belong to a particular clique
What do you think about the inversion of nollywood by Ghanaian actors?
Well, if we are able to put our country in order, most Ghanians won’t even think of getting into Lagos not to talk of Nollywood. We have great actors who can deliver here in Nigeria, so we don’t have to go to Ghana, Ghana need us more than we need them, they used to come here to get our people for theirs before now.
Some producers are blaming the actors?
They can’t blame us because we don’t invite ourselves to shoot movies, a producer can say he can’t work with a particular actor, and the marketer will say that a particular actor is not a selling face. And I ask this question, are they after a selling face or a total package which will result to good production?
Sometimes too I can be called to do a movie and I am charging five naira and another actor can go behind m to accept one naira for the same role, some producers who don’t know their job end up giving out the role for one naira and get a half naira movie.
When are you quitting acting?
Acting is not something anyone can quit, once an actor, always an actor, you can go on vacation, but whenever you are called up for a role you think you can handle, you will love to do it. No matter the age, acting has no expiring date.
So are you observing a break right now?
No, I don’t need to be on location every day for you to know that I am still acting
What else are you into aside acting?
I do interior decoration
Do you watch football?
No. Thanks
Do you make more money from interior decoration than acting?
Yes.
When are you getting married?
Marriage is not something I want to rush in and out of, as we speak now, I will leave here to go console someone who just separated from her husband, I don’t want to marry and divorce, because God hates it, so I want to marry the right man and I will be glad to invite Vanguard to my wedding.
What do you mean by not wanting to marry a customised husband?
Customised in the sense that a lot of people will say, they wouldn’t want to marry a poor man; that their man must be such that has a fat bank account, flashy cars and all that. No, my kind of man must be comfortable

YAHOOZEE crooner, Olumide Adegbulu popularly called Olu Maintain, is set to wed his gorgeous girlfriend, London-based Wendy Jogjakarta. The wedding, which will take place in London and Nigeria, has been scheduled for the last quarter of this year.


Narrating how they met, Olu said he met Wendy in Los Angeles, USA last year while he went on a recording session and coincidentally they lodged in the same hotel and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

Nollywood star actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu was not surprised last recently when  fate pitching him with actress Genevieve Nnaji as host of the maiden edition of the popular reality and celebrity show, Gulder Ultimate Celebrity Search, sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc.
This show, which makes its debut this year, according to officials of the brewing company,  will however not replace the front line show, Gulder Ultimate Search. The original GUS show made its debut seven years and will resume later this year.
Udokwu is the three  times host of the widely televised reality show. He will be in the jungle with the other nine celebrities searching for the lost treasure in this edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search Celebrities.
He was once a leader who will now be led by another of his own, Genevieve Nnaji. “My legs are wobbling, the leader will now be led,”Udokwu muted as he realised that he was going to join the likes of Daddy Showkey,  Emeka Ike, Funke Akindele, Chioma Chukwuka, Muma Gee, Dare Art Alade, Weird MC and Fuji musician, Obesere to  climb  trees, mountains  and ropes in search of the hidden object.
There’s no doubt Udokwu has advantage over other celebrities as a former host of the yearly show. But in the jungle,  he will have the likes of  Daddy Showkey, Emeka Ike, Obesere and perhaps, Dare Art Alade to outwit.
However, one thing will set the reality show apart from the regular one. The celebrities will all take a sign_on_fee to participate and each will get eviction fee based on when evicted.
Showtime  learnt that activities in the house will also include the regular physical work and a bit of intellectual exercise will also be introduced to make it more exciting. Shooting commenced last Friday and the programme will go on air any moment from now.
Running on AIT, NTA network, STV, Africa Magic, Soundcity (DSTV) and other stations as an original Nigerian adventure programme with international standard, the audience will be treated to an 11 week- show of talents, fame and excitement.

I DID'NT HAVE SEX WITH EMEKA IKE IN THE BATHROOM

Muma Gee was one of the female contestants in the just concluded celebrities’ edition of the reality TV programme, Gulder Ultimate Search. She speaks to ‘SPECTRUM about life in the jungle where the competition was staged, as well as her relationship with Chioma Chukwuka and Emeka Ike.

Did you expect to be evicted as at the time you were? Yes, I actually did. So you never expected to be the winner?

Never. I knew I wasn‘t going to win. I knew I wasn‘t going to stand the test of time performing those rigorous tasks. I love myself a lot. I don‘t like to task myself too much, because I know I have a very sensitive skin and body system. So, I am very careful with the things I do. I knew that if they came up with tasks that were very difficult, I would work myself into eviction.

Would you have had a chance if the tasks were mainly intellectual?

Why not? What did my family spend all the school fees on?

Given the chance, would you be a part of GUS again?

No! If the setting is outside the bush, I would consider it. If we were kept in a house, I would have preferred it. But in the bush, I had series of emotional trauma each time I saw millipedes and all that. That was why I made sure I always swept the floor so that the environment would be clean. But that wasn‘t the only reason I wouldn‘t want to be a part of it again.

What are the other reasons?

I would not want to be a part of it again because it is not easy at all. But trust me, it was very nice. It was an enjoyable scene. It was fun having to be brought into a platform where you were able to mingle with other colleagues. We don‘t usually see all the time. Even when we see, it is usually on professional grounds, and it ends there. It was nice to live together in that condition. But then, it was very stressful.

How much of you did you take to the jungle? Or were you just acting?

Oh, I took my whole self. Acting is a re-enactment of life. If we say that was a reality show, then I was being compelled from my body, my soul and my spirit to put in all my best to ensure that all I did was real, otherwise, I would have been a liar. I couldn‘t have gone into a reality show and pretend or even say that all I was going to do in the show was pretence. Acting is not pretence. Acting is a re-enactment of a particular scenario so as to teach people a lesson. It was the real me that you saw in that show.

How come you didn‘t flow well with the ladies in the house?

It might have been the situation there or because of the individuals involved. I really do not know. But I know that there are some human beings who flow better with the opposite sex. Some men fell freer with women while some women feel freer with men than with their fellow women. I grew up as an only female, even though I had an elder sister who was more like a mum to me. I was an only girl among guys, so I am always a bit more comfortable among males. I love my fellow women, but I feel emotionally stable when I am around guys.

But at the jungle, you singled out Emeka Ike as the only guy you were so close to...

I had known Emeka Ike before GUS. But in the jungle, I got so emotionally attached to him. It was nothing personal. It was just the way I felt. This was a reality show and my family were not there. I was just alone with other people. Who wouldn‘t fall in love?

Oh, you fell in love with him?

Not that kind of love, please. But he took care of me. Who wouldn‘t fall in love with somebody who made your tents and had your back at any time? People shouldn‘t misunderstand that kind of love for something else. We don‘t see. I have known Emeka for so long.

You even wrote a love letter to him in the jungle, which the camera caught him reading aloud.

I am a realist. If I write a letter, it can be read in a court of law; it can be read anywhere. It can be read privately as well. I wasn‘t bothered about where he read the letter. The letter simply said how much I felt emotionally. I was only being real, I was being myself. When I was writing the letter, I was crying. I was just being myself.

You didn‘t care if his wife saw the letter or watched the episode where he read the letter?

I have been privileged to meet Emeka‘s wife. There was a time we were given the privilege to make a single phone call. Every other participant called their family members, but I refused to call because I am very emotional. I would have burst into tears or I would have been driven to come back home. So, I decided to speak to Emeka‘s wife. Emeka was always talking to me about his wife. She was so nice on the phone. She wished us luck and told us to be careful. She said we should be careful and try to support each other. I am not joking. That was the first and only time I spoke to Emeka‘s wife.

There was a story that you guys had sex in the bathroom…

People just misunderstood that scene without asking questions. I apologize to Emeka‘s wife for the embarrassment the story might have caused her. The media blew the whole thing beyond proportion. It became an object of ridicule and it shouldn‘t have been so. I respect Emeka‘s wife. From my note, you would have known that the same love I gave to Emeka was accorded his wife and children. I respect him as a married man. After the phone call with his wife, I went to the bathroom area and Emeka followed me there. we were discussing about the phone call but people now misunderstood it.

Would you have dated him if he weren‘t married?

No! I had an emotional attachment to him. I don‘t know if you will call that love. I might call it God‘s love. I don‘t really have a definition for what I felt for him, but I knew I had a special feeling for him. I knew my eyes were clear the way I felt.

Funke Akndele said she didn‘t know who you were before you entered the house. Did you know who she was?

It would be disrespectful for me to say I did not know who Funke was. I have never really been opportune to watch any of her movies. I knew I was out of the country when Jenifa was released. When I came back, my friends were calling me ‘bigs girls‘. I didn‘t understand what they were saying until they told me about the movie. But then again, before we got into the house, I ‘googled‘ all my fellow contestants. I had to do a research on their personalities and who they are to be able to relate to them and know them a little bit more. If any contestant said he/she didn‘t know me, it is the person‘s intellectual fault. Even if you do not know me, you should have tried to find out who I was since we were going to be together for some time, so that you would know the angle from which you would tackle me.

One person you had so many misunderstandings with was Chioma Chukwuka,,.

I didn‘t quarrel with her. I noticed that she hated me. I tried to make sure she was okay. I tried to advise her that she didn‘t need to like me, but she should just live with it for a while.

She said most of the stuff she did with you were mere pretence.

Hmmm. If she said so, I don‘t concur with that. If she had sent me a signal that it was pretence, we would have flowed more. I wasn‘t pretending. She was sending a message that she didn‘t like me, and that she hated me. I am glamorous and it is not my fault. I may not be beautiful, but I take care of myself, and it is not my fault. I wear the kind of hair style I want, and it is not my fault. It is not my fault that you don‘t like me. I don‘t force people to like me. People don‘t have to like me. I like myself so much to cover for every other person‘s hatred. I knew vividly what was going on and how she was treating me. I don‘t have the energy to victimize anybody, but if I get victimized, I try to take it. I swallowed a whole lot and I took it as one of those things you see in life. I have gone through a lot of hurdles in life to accommodate any other. I can take anything; any difficulty in life. That period was very difficult in my life. I was really pained. It will wear off in time, but I am deeply heartbroken the way I was treated in the jungle. This is life.

Was that why you called her a demon and said she behaved like an animal towards you in one article I read?

Every human being is an animal. I am an animal as well. We are advanced animals. But trust me, I would not use such a word against somebody. I cannot say somebody is an animal. That would be daft of me. I have a right to feel hurt because it is blood that runs through my veins. I have the right to bare my mind. The pressure I went through was so much. I am a human being. We are not at war. She can be forgiven. I have moved on. I don‘t dwell in the past. I have my album to concentrate on. I have loads of things to do. I have a very busy schedule.

Now that everything is over, could she be your friend?

She has never been my friend. I don‘t have to pretend about it. Something has to bring people together to become friends. Before GUS, we were never friends. May be that would have been a lovely platform for us to become friends, but she travelled from being non-existent to being bad. I will not go out of my way to call her my friend. Don‘t get me wrong; she is not my enemy. I am indifferent the way I feel about her. But I just didn‘t enjoy what she did to me. They were so painful.

What particular incident pained you most?

Flinging my things out of the tent was the most dehumanizing thing she did. It was very painful. The marriage issue was no issue at all. If I wanted to be married, I would have been married.

Princess and Chioma said you said something that was unprintable. What was it?

I said so many things. They also said so many things. I can‘t remember what it was I said. Maybe you guys should ask them. They should remind me.

You were routing for Emeka Ike to win...

I wished all of them luck. They are all my colleagues. I respect Daren. I respect Showkey.

Do you wish you were the last girl standing?

How? I don‘t pretend. How would it have been possible for me to be the last girl standing? I am very protective of my legs. If you give me a task that will ruin my legs, I will chicken out. Don‘t you get it? If you give me a task that will scratch my skin, I will chicken out. I just went into the jungle to get an experience, and I thank the organisers for giving me the platform to get that experience.

You were not supposed to get into the house with makeup, but we learnt you came with a bag filled with makeup.

I was nominated to go in there as one of the celebrities. It was a celebrity show, I hope you remember? I am a celebrity. Part of my life style, as a celebrity, is to look good all the time. Why should I fall short of the glory of God because I am in GUS? Please! It was not possible. In all honesty, nobody told me not to bring makeup. I wear high heels and suddenly, somebody is telling me not to wear high heels again. How possible do you think it will be? I can stop eating to make sure I take care of myself. I wasn‘t making up because I wanted to look good in front of the camera. I love to make up. I love to feel good. I love to make up and be okay.

I learnt there was a time you called a conference because somebody used your disinfectant.

When you are conscious of your person and your things, you will be protective of them. I don‘t like my things being abused. I have no problem with somebody using my things, but return it the way it was. I was the only one who came complete. How can you take a fashionista like me into the jungle and you think I will not come with my gear? Wake u

RAMSEY NOUAH'S WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE

The bad boy of Nollywood is going through divorce with his wife. Ramsey is known for being a profound womanizer on and off the screen. He has slept with fans all over the world and left his mark. Is it fair to blame Ramsey? What about the all the women that knows he is married with children but still jump into bed with him when ever the opportunity arise.

There are so many men doing the same thing, even guys without the fame and stardom of an actor have the main wife, a side mistress and girl friends down for whatever. This is not just an African thing, but common from all men. May be having one woman is not normal and men are just exercising their natural act. Whatever the reason is for men doing this, it is a problem that the society needs to work together to resolve.

OMOTOLA...I AM A FULFILLED WOMAN.

Tombola a.k.a Omosexy is one person who is a go-getter.shes a fulfilled actress,musician, mother of four lovely children and wife to a man she fondly calls’honeyboy’.
you can also add comedian to her titles as all she does is laugh and laugh and make some expensive jokes when one talking to her.
some questions were posed to her and despite her hectic schedule,the diva took out time and told STELLA DIMOKO-KORKUS how she feels about negative publicity..heck,she even added a few thank yous to her fans.
She also recently started ‘omotola jalade-ekeinde fan club’ worldwide and wants al lher fans to know she loves them all.
1-Omotola how have you been

….Great! my career has been interesting this year.

2-Whats have you been up to lately?

…I am in new york right now on my way to Dallas,preparing for my musical tour with timaya for sacaids and tuffgig.I was in Miami last week for the premiere of my movie’mind games’.before then I was in L.A for the premiere of movie ‘ije’ .it was an exclusive private screening by Warner brothers.I have been very busy but I will definitely make it home in time for Christmas.

3-You were recently in free town to create awareness on mortal maternity can you explain and tell us how your campaign went?

…..It was brilliant,it came at a time when the people were truly tired of their situation.Amnesty International contacted me from London to headline the campaign on Maternal mortality which is a first for them as they usually deal with more political issues and i am the first African Artiste Amnesty is working with in a campaign of this magnitude.


Omotola Ekeinde

I feel honoured and priviledged to work for and with people.I will be in London in 2wks for a crucial meeting with Amnesty on the next phase of the campaign.

4-There is something quietly different about you,did you re brand?or is it that you are more mature now?

….A little of both i guess.i will say that along the line one picks up better habits and drops some of the not so good ones.

So if you see me as re branded you could be right,if you see me as more mature you could be also right.one cannot remain the same forever.

5-You are such a busy mum,how do you find time to spend time with your children?

….We keep Sundays as family day and we have mandatory holidays during their long vacation every year, we put off our phones and spend all that 2-3 wks with them ,by the time they get back,trust me they are so choked up with us they don't mind us stepping away for a minute.

6-Do your children watch your movies and give you feedback later?

…..They don’t watch most of them since i do a lot of romantic movies,they get to see the G rated ones and they treat me like any other actor ,and depending on how they feel at the end of the movie i get the first hit or kiss.

7-Omotola some people do not think that you dress up the way a married woman should especially when you wear those mini skirts and really tight sexy tops,whats your opinion about this?

…(Laughing)hmm,na wah oh!what do they want me to wear?to dress up as a nun?come on,i dress up how i like to look,i wear what i feel comfortable in and my hubby likes the way i dress,so hes the important one,if he doesnt have a problem with that then i am okay with that.i dont dress up to provoke anyone.

I wear what i feel comfortable in.

8-Does this have anything to do with the fact that you married quite early and started making babies quite early and did not have the opportunity to dress up the way you should when you were younger?are you trying to relive your youth by dressing younger?

……no,its not necessarily that,i got married quite young and right from secondary school,i had always dressed the way a girl my age should dress up.i dont think i should be dressing any older just because i am a wife and mother,i am still a young person and as long as my dressing is not disrespectful and i am well covered then i dont think i have committed any crime here.

9-Omotola when you say you are still a young person,what age are we looking at here?

….I am 31years old and i dont hide that,i am a fulfilled woman so i dont need to hide my age.

10-Do you think you have paid your dues as an actress?

….(Laughing)i think i have more than paid my dues.i got into the industry that was full of flaws,there were no rules to work by,nollywood practically had nothing when i began my career,i think i am one of those few people who struggled and toiled hard in my capacity as an actress to put nollywood where it is today.i have paid my dues,i have worked through my own in the industry.

11-You are one of the A list actress,are you at a point in your career where you think you have reached the top of your profession or do you see yourself going further?what are your plans?

…..I dont think i have reached anywhere at all,for me i am still at the starting point and things can only get better.i am trying to get to a point where generations after generations will have something to learn from me. as for my plans i think it would be better to take one day at a time and let things unfold for themselves.

12-What do you think about the influx of actors/actresses into nollywood?

….We have done a good job of attracting them.they are Welcome ,they will make it as well indeed but they should never think of disrespecting anyone in the line of duty and they should concentrate on interpreting their roles well.success doesnt always take place overnight but with hardwork it does happen.

13-Since you became an actress until date,what has been the biggest lie the press ever wrote about you that you have not had an opportunity to correct?

…Well…i have been lucky with the press and so far nothing excrutiating, however there was one reporter from p.m news who wrote that i asked for money from organizers to meet and sit with the producers of the last king of Scotland.

14-The movie you featured in ‘ije’ was recently screened by Warner brothers and there are whispers that you are on the brink of a mouth watering movie deal with some Hollywood A-list producers.do you want to tell us about this?

….Yes,i am talking to some big names right now and we have something on the line,i dont just want to go into the details right now but it will unfold as time goes on.

15-Whats your make up routine?is there some piece of cosmetic and jewelry you cant do without?

….I can live absolutely without makeup.When i am not shooting,i dont wear makeup to the office, however, i like l’oreal volume shocking mascara and my bobbi brown lipgloss in petal. as for jewelry,i am not a gold person,i just love very loud earrings.

16-Omotola the print media and internet reports have always fingered you as being a snob,but recently i noticed you have warmed up to your fans,especially on face book,i see you responding to every comment made by your fans and taking the extra time to let them know you love and appreciate their support.was this a misconception about you or did the reports make you change for the better?

…..Thank you very much for this question,this is the best question you have asked me so far.yes its been very hard for me,i believe the people who made up this story do not really know me for who i am.i have been tagged very cold,unfriendly and all what not but its not true.when the opportunity presents itself some people walk up to me and say ”oh my God i didn't know you are this friendly”and i say to them that i have always been like this.i really look forward to the day when this wrong conception will be totally corrected and people who matter will see me for the person i truly am.

I thank all the fans who come to my facebook wall to write,i thank them for all their comments,i really appreciate it.someone told me that on a site called naijarules my album was voted best album out of nollywood and i just want to use this medium to say thank you to them.any little acknowledgment i get from people who think i am doing something good,i like to say my thank yous.

17-Sometimes there are negative write ups about your husband Mathew,how does it make you feel when they put him out there?

….I feel that is not cool,i feel bad.i feel people should try to respect other peoples privacy.my husband is not a celebrity so i wonder why he is news.there have been insinuations that we have broken up because he doesnt come with me to parties.that shows that he really doesnt want to be out there.the truth of the matter is that sometimes he does come out with me but he doesnt walk in with me,hes a very private person and wants it to stay that way.

18-People are whispering that your marriage is shaky,is this true?

….Let them whisper all they want,i dont need to keep explaining that its not true.every relationship experiences its ups and downs and thats what makes it unique and blossom.if anyone is wishing for that to happen by whispering it they will have a long time waiting so they better take a seat and sit down.people who spread this kind of lies,i wonder what they stand to gain really.

19-When they write negative things about you,does it affect your marriage?does your hubby react negatively or are you both at a stage where you just laugh about any thing negative written about you?

…No we do not laugh about it,its not funny at all,oh it doesnt affect my marriage at all,we have been married for 14yrs known each other for 15years,we know each other very well,if you are an outsider and you are writing something,you should know that you are writing about people who already know themselves.it is just very uncomfortable reading such reports when you know that you are a role model to a lot of people.

Also when these writeups are done,we get responses from a lot of people so its not funny at all.i really worry about these reports,its very painful when you work very hard to comport yourself in a good manner and someone just comes from nowhere and uses hearsay to tear this down.

We talk a lot about everything so i guess communication helps us survive the negativity of any writeup.

20-Do you have any message for you fans?

…Thank you to everyone who has believed in me over the years,its been hardwork but when someone believes in your dreams it gives you wings to fly.thank you,i will never let you down.

21-Words on marble?

….Live and let live.