Encomium
‘No young lover is taking care of me’
‘I am now a Muslim’
ON Sunday, July 6, 2014, ENCOMIUM Weekly cornered pretty and famous thespian, Moji Olaiya at an event in Ebute Metta, Lagos, where she opened up exclusively on issues that revolve around her life and career, including why she converted to Islam, alleged car gift from a younger lover, among others.
What’s the situation of things at the moment as regards your career?
I give God all the glory for He has been good to me all the time. He has blessed my career, and everything is moving fine.
What are you working on right now?
I have a lot of projects I am working on now. I just finished an Islamic gospel song with Okiki Films. The job is in collaboration with Islamic gospel singers, including Ere Asalatu, Aminat Omotayebi, Rukayat Gawat and others. Also, I just finished a production concerning marital problems.
What informed delving into Islamic song?
I guess my marketer just wanted me to try something else. I felt he just wanted me to feature in the album. And it was a very nice and wonderful experience.
But you’re not a Muslim?
I am a Muslim now, Insha Allah.
Are you interpreting a script or it’s real?
I am saying the truth. It’s not a make-believe thing. I am now a Muslim.
When exactly did you convert to Islam?
I don’t want to go into details now. But right from birth, I have always had a Muslim name, Rahimat.
But you were known to be a Christian, how did you come about Rahimat?
My mom was a Muslim before she converted to Christianity after marrying my dad. She was even an Alhaja.
That means, you will soon become an Alhaja also?
Insha Allah.
What are the things that really attracted you to Islam?
Honestly, Islam is a peaceful religion. The aspect I love most is that you don’t need any pastor to get closer to God. You don’t really need anybody to pray for you. You can always pray on your own and Almighty Allah will answer your prayer without any intermediary. I have been doing that since I became a Muslim, and it has always worked for me.
Have you been observing your five compulsory daily prayers (Al-solat)?
Yes, of course. I thank God for that. I don’t find it difficult at all.
But people will think you have gotten a new lover, who is a Muslim and that perhaps is the reason you converted to Islam…
(Cuts in quickly) That’s the problem I have with people. When you say you’re doing something, they believe a man must be responsible for it. No man influenced my decision to identify with Islam. I have just said it, my mother was an Alhaja before she converted to Christianity. Islam has been a religion I have always loved. I have been in-between Christianity and Islam but just recently I decided to embrace Islam fully and there is no regret doing so.
Would you say you’re fulfilled now being a Muslim?
Yes, I am most fulfilled now being a Muslim. I thank Almighty Allah for that.
At what time did you embrace Islam fully?
It’s about two years back. But one thing is that I have never been steadfast. Anytime I went to church, I would still come back home and pray. It’s like a year ago I decided to stay in one religion, which is Islam. And I thank God, it has been a wonderful experience. I am okay.
Do you now find it convenient covering your head?
I am very comfortable doing that.
What’s your take on the situation of things in the Yoruba movie sector right now?
The only thing I know is that the industry generally needs a rebirth. Forming parallel associations may not be the solution. But if we all come under the same umbrella, speak with the same voice, I believe the industry will move forward. The association of a thing is a minor thing. Those forming new associations also mean well for the industry. Maybe they think they can move away from the wagon that has been tying us down for quite a long time to a new one. Left to me, I think the motive behind creating new associations is about the overall success of the industry.
Where do you belong now in the sector? Is it Association of Nigeria Theatre Art Practitioners (ANTP), The Movie Ambassadors (TMA) or Theatre and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPPAN)?
I need to think very well before joining any association. I am a member of TAMPPAN right now but I am still waiting because there is another one, The Movie Ambassadors. But my prime goal is to identify with success. So, whichever one that will change the situation of the industry for the better will surely be my choice.
Let’s go a bit private again. It’s no longer news that your marriage has packed up, how have you been coping all this while being alone?
I have never been alone because one with God can’t be said to be alone. I am okay. I know very soon, the right man will come, Insha Allah.
Are you now saying there is no likelihood of you reconciling with your ex?
No, that has become history. But as I always say, I leave everything to God.
But no matter how, there must be a man rocking your life, is that not true?
My brother, let’s leave that aspect for now. Let’s concentrate on my career. That’s the most important thing right now.
What’s your reaction to the tale that there is a younger lover who is lavishing attention on you at the moment, and that he has just bought a car for you?
That’s not true. I have always been a very hard working person. I plan my life so well. I get whatever I want to get, I don’t look at people. Getting my jeep was through my solo effort. There was never a man that has given me any car recently. The only man that gave me a car was Francis Aiyegbeni, and there was nothing attached. That was when I started acting. He saw me singing highlife, and he said he wanted to encourage me so that I can be in his band, which I thought would be so tensed for me then because I was at the peak of my career. I felt I wouldn’t be able to choose between music and acting. But willingly, he just gave me the car and nothing was attached. That was over 10 years ago. It was a two-door car, just for me to move around. I have been working for my money. I bought my car myself.
We learnt you’ve also moved into business, what do you deal in?
I sell men’s articles, women’s lace fabrics and a lot of things on fabric. And I also do aso ebi right now.
Where is your shop located?
It’s at Gbagada, Lagos.
What informed the business?
I have always been in business. I cherish buying and selling a lot. And I would say Alhamdulillahi because it’s working for me.
It’s like acting is not really paying off, and that’s why most of you are venturing into other means of livelihood, what’s your reaction to this?
Not really. Whether we like it or not, it will get to a stage that we won’t be active as we are now because as time goes on, the roles you get reduces. And whatever you’re doing for yourself is what you will fall back on. And that’s exactly what I have done.
Is it not affecting your career?
Not at all. When I get a job to do on location, I get there, record whatever I want to record and get back to my house.
What’s your take about piracy which is killing the industry?
Yes, it’s really killing the industry. But one thing is that if you’re passionate about something, at times you don’t care about money. You don’t care about whatever circumstances surrounds it. You just care about it, this is something you love doing, one will just continue doing it, believing that one day there will be a headway. So, the industry is facing a lot of crisis, and piracy is the major problem. The second problem is fund. People don’t come to assist because they see us as if we’re not serious. We have finance companies that can give us money, and say be productive. But it’s just the lead that people are really waiting for. So, the industry is not really being productive anymore. But whatever is keeping the likes of us and some other people that really have the interest of the job at heart is just because of the passion they have for it.
How many years have you put into your career?
That’s 15 years, steadily.
How has the experience been like since then till date?
The road has been rough, heady and smooth. I believe you’re aware of the fact that there is never a smooth road all through. If you say you want to walk or drive on a smooth road all through, you should know you’re going to face the rough edges at later end of your journey. The journey has not been really smooth. There have been challenges and all that but I thank God for everything so far.
-TADE ASIFAT
