Motilola Adekunle is an actress and producer. The graduate
of Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife, Osun State, speaks
with TAYO GESINDE on her acting career, how she handles advances from her male fans
and her fashion preferences. Excerpts:
Growing up
I grew up in Akure, the Ondo State capital and it was fun.
My mother, a disciplinarian, had the burden of raising three girls alone
because we lost my dad while we were very young. She was a very busy woman as
she had to juggle her timber business with her teaching career. She taught us
to be very independent and bold. I must say that I am grateful for that.
Despite being a widow, she made sure my sisters and I went to the best schools,
from primary to university. I am a
graduate of Philosophy from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, my elder
sister is a seasoned journalist just like my father, Chief Bamikole Akinlami
and my younger sister is a lawyer. My mother did a great job raising us and
whatever we are today, all credit goes to God and mummy.
Foray into acting
My acting career started in 2000. I had a friend called
Rogers Ofime, he was older than me but we were good friends, he would put up
plays at the Adegbemile Cultural Centre and we usually got paid for them. Then
we were only doing stage plays. I got on the big screen with Basorun Gaa. I
fell in love with acting since I was a child and I have never stopped since
then. I’ve been a costumier, a temporary make-up artiste, an actress and now a
producer.
My first experience on set
It was fun because I loved every bit of it, I wanted to play
for the camera and act like we used to do on stage where you have to say your
lines loudly and move quickly and all that but the director cautioned me and since
then, there has been no cause for alarm.
Challenges faced
My major challenge was that as an up-and-coming actress,
nobody knew what you could do; you are yet to open up yourself to a world of
varieties so people couldn’t believe in your talent yet. It is therefore your
job to convince them and say look, I am for real, my passion is unequalled and
my talent is polished. The only way to do that was to take whatever jobs you
get and give it your best shot. That was the challenge. However, once they are convinced
that you are good, the journey gets a little less rough than it was initially.
It is a process that every actor has to pass through.
Role models
I am someone who admires and learns from a lot of people but
I do not believe in modelling my life after one person, I pick a lot of things
and then add my own to it and that is how you get to be unique. I admire Binta
Ayo Mogaji’s talent, I admire Toyin Aimakhu’s talent, I admire and learn from
Kunle Afod’s drive, I admire Kunle Afolayan’s boundary breaking ability, I
admire Mercy Johnson’s flawless delivery. All these things I intend to pick in
bits and pieces and add mine to become a hybrid.
The journey so far
Well, for me it’s been tough and rocky but every time there
was a challenge that moved me to tears believe me, I have cried quite a number
of times, I always remember the words of
Tai Solarin “ may your road be rough” and Yoruba people will say “ Ikoko t’o ma
je ata, idi e a gbona.” So, I would take it as a sign that I’m on the right
path.
Coping with competition
It’s healthy to have completion in an industry like ours but
I believe in the words of the Bible, what I know, I know, it says “you cannot
take it away from me.” My mother raised me to believe very strongly that there
is something I have, a certain flavour I add to everything that I do and that’s just being yourself.
Hard work also pays off, so I’m not worried about competition. Whatsoever my
hands do, I’d do it well and always give my best.
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