Encomium
Top actor cum film maker, Yomi Fabiyi has debunked the rumour that he has perfected plan to quit his marriage to his British wife. He added that it’s nothing but a mere fiction. The Abeokuta, Ogun born entertainer told ENCOMIUM Weekly in an exclusive interview, a couple of days back, that they are warming up for the second anniversary of their wedding very soon and more.
What is new about your career?
I have two movies which are coming out shortly. Father Moses and Metomi. And recently, I started an NGO alongside some of my colleagues to play our part in nation building, starting with the movie industry.
How did your journey into acting begin?
It started about 13 years ago, when I had to look for means to mingle with film makers so that I could kick start my passion. And luckily, I took the first step through Alhaji Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe).
How many films have you produced so far?
I have produced many movies, including Omi Adagun, Pajawiri, Mofe, Oba Abayo, Father Moses and Metomi.
Most of your movies are star-studded what is the secret and why?
It is hard work, patience and relationship you build with your colleagues. You must also have taste for quality and excellence. And in getting these, it may require a high level of patience, maturity and human relation.
You no longer feature in movies, why?
Everything is time. To retain yourself in the industry for long and still maintain some level of quality and class, you must be able to make yourself scarce and invariably available. One way traffic ends a career so quickly. But I act, provided I see some scripts or producers that I cannot dodge. Normally, I don’t make myself available for quantity. It doesn’t have long standing value, though it could work well for others.
Looking back at all the movies you have featured in, which one can you say is your favourite and why?
I have to respect the producers, script writers, and directors of all the movies I have featured in. And if you check well, each movie enjoyed relevance in its time. So, there is no basis for comparison though Mofe seems to be a breakthrough for me.
Between acting and producing, which do you find more fulfilling?
That is a technical question but there is more challenge in producing, you combine all factors of movie production which acting is just one of it. But both keep me fulfilled and going.
What would you say have been your achievements in the past six years of acting?
My simple achievement is fans appeal, which has increased tremendously. I cannot go anywhere unnoticed, especially in the south-west unnoticed.
The rumour is that you want to divorce your British wife, how true is it?
I don’t know why a post on my twitter account will necessarily mean I am referring to my marriage. I saw a quote and I copied it on my twitter, I didn’t know it will be blown out of proportion. At a point when I was about to marry same woman, same people said I wanted to marry her because of money and British passport.
In as much I will not marry a woman because she has witchcraft, I have made it abundantly clear I didn’t marry because of such but the present economic situation in Nigeria which I am an obvious victim will make it difficult for a whole lot of people to believe.
She wanted me to move to the UK, I resisted the temptation because that was not what I had on my mind. Honestly, I like oyinbo, their simple life and independent reasoning. When I met this woman, I was lonely and emotionally down. I will never have canal knowledge of her, take her money and run.
And I went on with the marriage when a friend retorted “What will people say”. Since it is my life, I went on because I don’t live on people’s opinion. The same friend has tried to hurt me and leave me unhappy severally.
How long have you been married to her?
We are celebrating our second anniversary shortly.
Has the union produced any issue?
Not yet, hopefully soon. That is in God’s hands.
As a famous actor, how do you cope with female admirers?
The most important thing is to realize and abide by the fact that the role the female folk plays are vital and you should not mistake their affection for want of sexual relationship. Even where you notice such, wisdom is needed so you won’t make them look stupid while you decline.
You let them know you place them high as admirers and anything short of that will expose the relationship to dirty risk. I respect every fan in my life, male or female.
What is your opinion about the state of the industry in Nigeria?
My opinion doesn’t really matter. I act on facts and as you can see, it’s obvious that we the practitioners are not doing so many things right, and externally the marketers in areas of distribution are not helping matters. Promotion is lagging behind.
All hands must be on deck and we should accommodate new ideas and visions for restructuring. It doesn’t necessarily have to be from the stars. We must all erase it from our mind that championing the revolution that will better the industry is competition. If you do not have the vision, you can as well access the mission from others. If its for good, do not contest it, support it so we all have a good lease of life.
– NIKE POPOOLA
