Kemi Afolabi
Background
My name is Oluwakemisola
Afolabi-Adesipe. I’m an actress. I hail from Ogun State but I was born
and bred in Lagos. I’m the first in a family of three. I had my primary
and post primary education in Lagos. I’m a law graduate from the
University of Lagos.
Growing up
We were neither poor nor wealthy. I am
from an average family. We grew up with a very strict father but I have
always been mommy’s pet.
Studying law
My parents did not influence my choice of
law as a career. I have always wanted to be a lawyer. When I gained
admission into the University of Lagos, I was given the opportunity to
study English. I studied English for a year but I still went back to
write Joint Admissions Matriculations Board exams, making sure that I
obtained the cut-off mark for law. I was not called to the bar. I
could not create time from my acting job for that.
Journey into acting
Somebody introduced me to acting in my
final year as a law student. I had gone to relax in the student
pavilion when this guy walked up to me and told me that he had a drama
project and he wanted a new face to feature in it. I declined but he
persisted. When I told my parents about it, my father did not think it
was a good idea but my mother said there was nothing wrong with it. The
first script I got was written in Yoruba and I could not even pronounce
some words very well. But they encouraged me because I had potential.
I have done over 50 movies so far.
Movie industry
The industry has grown compared to what
obtained in the past. There are improvements in technical quality and
quality of script. I entered the movie scene in 2004. But I had a break
in between when I got married and relocated to the United Kingdom in
2008. I have a beautiful four year-old daughter.
Marriage
I met my husband at a family function. I
was not popular as an actor then. When he saw me, he felt my face was
familiar. He did not know that I was an actress. We were friends for a
while before we got married. The admiration grew gradually. He is an
engineer based in England. At present, I shuttle between Nigeria and
England. There is no distance between us. He knows I am working. If he
needs to see me, he will come over. If I need to see him, I will go over
there.
Between English and Yoruba movie genre
I have never thought of switching to the
English movie genre. The Yoruba movie genre is where I gained my first
entrance. It is very rich in culture and you have a lot to learn from
the movies. If the English movie producers call me, of course I would
work with them. I have done a few soap operas in the past.
Fame
Sometimes I don’t even remember that I am
an actress. I just want to be free. It is not easy nowadays because
when I go out people recognise me and I cannot do all the things I did
in the past.
Scandals
I have never been involved in scandals.
My career has been scandal-free. On the story of fighting with a fellow
artiste over a man, I have never come across that story. To tell you the
truth, I just finished shooting a movie with the lady in question.
People just go on the blogs and write things without corroborating the
stories. I am not a controversial actress.
Typical day in my life
I have my schedule but most times I’m at work.
Happy moments
The happiest moment of my life was when I
gave birth to my daughter. Also, I am happy at the thought of the
husband and family that I have.
Style
For me, style means comfort and I am not a
designer freak. I would never wear a bikini now. I would have worn that
before I had my baby. But I am a mother now and I cannot wear bikini.
Fashion
I love wristwatch. I don’t wear jewellery except when I am working.
Social disposition
Most people think I am a snob. I have
learnt to keep to myself because I realise I cannot be everybody’s
friend. When I do that, people conclude that I am a snob.
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