Nollywood Diva, Adekemi Taofeek is one of the hot babes rocking the make-believe industry. She is hot. She is sexy. She is one Yoruba actress who has retained her natural colour. She is jet black. And her skin glows. Her ways of delivering her roles has won many people’s heart to her side. Of a truth, Adekemi is a professional at what she does. Her peculiarities are out of this world. She speaks well, she interprets her roles well in any movie, no wonder she’s a toast of many directors and marketers, even her producer colleagues. She has asserted herself in the Yoruba sector of the movie industry as an enterprising producer, who has produced many blockbuster movies to her credit. Her word, “If you don’t produce, you will never gain respect from producers. Second, it is a good way to showcase your talent because you are able to give yourself the role you desire which you may not be able to get from another producer. In most cases, as an upcoming actor, you don’t get more than five scenes from other producers.
Adekemi’s journey into the movie industry didn’t just start. It started over 10 years ago. Her passion for acting starts right from when she was in school; many of her friends in school then testified to it, as a matter of fact, that, made one of her friend to invite her for an audition. After the audition, Adekemi was given a script with production date, a production that made her to act alongside with movie stars like Francis Duru, Chika Ike, Ali Nuhu, Majid Michel and many others. She started acting professionally in 2008 under Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) but joined the Yoruba sector in 2012, under the able leadership of Segun Ogungbe and Bose Aregbosola of Igi Aloye caucus in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Adekemi Taofeek hails from Abeokuta in Ogun State. She is the first born of a family of five. She is 2015 Business Administration graduate of Lagos State University. Apart from being an actress, she is also into buying and selling of clothes, hair and cosmetics, a passion she has also grown over the years, even before she started acting.
Recently, this epitome of beauty opened her new business line, called Mat_Divas clothing in Egbeda, Lagos, where she sells all kinds of outfits for both male and female, accessories, perfumes, sunglasses, belt and many more. City People Assistant Editor, SUNDAY ADIGUN and BIODUN ALAO was at the event, interacted with her and she revealed why she started a clothing line business. She also talks about her father been a disciplinarian, who has always been on her check not to misbehave and stay out of unnecessary drama that is very rampant in their industry.
What brought about Mat divas clothing. Everybody knows you as an actress, why going into business?
First of all, this is not my first business. I have been doing business for the past 10 years, even before I started acting. I love business, I love buying and selling. I do go to cotonou to buy bags, shoes, clothes we call them okrika. Then, I do sell to my school mates, colleagues and my housemates. Few years ago I just felt I needed to do more, I need to upgrade, I need to do more. This is not what I actually dreamt off. My dream is to have a complex to myself, but one need to cut is coat according to is size. But today I thank God. I’ve been dreaming of this for months, years and today to the glory of God we are here at Mat divas clothing’s. I actually got the store since December before I travelled for shopping. The rent has started reading since January. But I have no choice because I have to travel to get quality goods; I needed to give my fans, my customers something special, something unusual. Mat diva is a Unisex boutique. When you think of fashion think of Mat clothing; it’s all about fashion. And talking about how it has been, it has not been easy combining business with production. I have to think of how to produce and at the same time run my business. But trust me I’m the happiest being on earth today.
Why clothing?
Because I love fashion;my dream for here is, if you have any party; just call on us; we would dress you up. If you can’t come, we would come to you. From your hair, your make-up, your dress, your shoes, your purse, your nails, even sunglases. Everything about you; that’s what Mat clothing is all about.
How did you come about the name that is similar to one of the top actresses’ business name?
My names are Muibat Adekemi Taofeek and that is where we coined Mat from. Though people do call me AtM as well, but I felt ATM with this business won’t be okay. That is why I have to go for MAT. So MAT is different from MAG. The CEO of Mag Divas is wonderful, she’s very supportive, and she has been supporting me from Day 1. She has always been my mentor. She is someone I always run to for advice and councel. At a point she was the one that gave me courage to open this place, when I told her my shop is small. Business wise Aunty Mercy has been supportive. May God bless her for me.
How have you been able to stay off drama despite your success? You are one actress that doesn’t really have much scandal, how have you been doing it?
I’m a drama queen myself; I make always make sure I’m not doing anything that you want to talk about, the negative aspect. What many people don’t know is that I am been monitor 24/7. I got a father that does not take nonsense from anybody, be it; his children or relatives. My father is a practicing police officer. He’s on Facebook, Instagram, e.t.c. My mum and siblings are also on Instagram, and I’m the first born of the family, so I need to be careful. I must not mislead my sibling. I must not soil my father’s name. There is nothing I post on Instagram that my father doesn’t see. So if you try to step on my toes all I need is just to adjust. Because I have a disciplinarian father, all he needs to do is to call me “are you okay! S’oriepe?” My father is somebody I fear a lot and that has made me to be free from those negative stories. I was brought up in a different way. I can’t even dress anyhow, forget the fact that I’m of age or I’m successful. The fear that my father is going to see my post or any negative stories; be it on Instablog or Gistlovers made me stay off scandals. And my siblings too, I’m like a mentor to them, like a godmother, so I need to stay off the drama. Secondly, I need to let people know that not all actresses are the same. My father never supported me going into acting, so, I need to make him see we are different, that the way he brought me up is different from the way others were been brought up, and that is why I am me AdekemiTaofeekMuibat. I always think twice before I post anything. Not that some people don’t get on my nerves, but I would rather call and warn that person than washing our dirty linen in public.
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