Veteran actress, Toyin Adewale, is the mother of MAYORKUN, the music star. She herself is a star and one of the few veterans who have remained very relevant in the movie industry, featuring in movies back to back for over 3 decades. She joined the industry, professionally, in 1988 and has featured in over 200 movies and still counting. She is not just a successful actress, but a producer and established businesswoman. She has produced over 10 movies and still counting. Despite her long stay in the industry, she has maintained a scandal. A free career. A few years ago, she relocated to Maryland, in the U.S and has remained in the news for positive reasons.
In this exclusive interview with DR. SEYE KEHINDE, she talked about her career, how it all started, how the movie, “Irepodun” by Sunday Soyinka shot her to the limelight, what she has been doing since she relocated, and she also talked about what every parent needs to do, if he/she wants his/her kids to go into the entertainment industry, why she never supported her son initially for going into the music industry and why she still monitor him daily, despite his fame and age.
Below are excerpts of the Live Chat with her.
How has it been and what have you been up to?
I have been here, I give glory to God. I have been good and doing my stuff that is it.
Have you been acting?
Yes, I have been acting one in a while, though not as it was when I was in Nigeria, but when I am invited to movie production, I always go.
How long have you been acting?
It’s been long, I started professionally in 1988.
What were you doing before then?
Then, I was in school, I finished from school in 1985, then after school, I went to learn hair dressing, before gaining admission into school, but along the line, I started acting.
What was the attraction, why did you decide to go into acting?
I have always loved acting, I started acting when I was in Nursery School. Later, when I got to primary school, I continued, same went on in my secondary. My teacher keeps telling me would do well in acting, so acting has always been part of me, it has always been in my blood.
How have you found life abroad?
It’s okay, but there is no place like home so Nigeria is still the best.
What message do you have for your fans and friends?
I want to tell you I love them all, thanks for your support and love, thanks for being there, I promise not to disappoint you and if there is anything I am doing wrong, kindly let me know.
What is your main line of business now?
I have always been into buying and selling, so I am still doing it. I buy and sell ladies stuff, I also do souvenirs for people having parties, but that is on hold for now, owing to Covid-19, because people are not having parties for now.
How did you react to the Covid-19 pandemic, when it came this year?
Everybody was scared and we are still scared and that is why we take to precaution, wear a mask, sanitise my hands, I don’t want anything to happen to me, my family members and friends, the pandemic is very scaring.
How did you come about your stylish aspect?
I am an Ijebu girl, my mother was a very stylish woman, so I took after her. She was very stylish and always there, so, I took after her, and being an Ijebu girl added to it all.
How does it make you feel being the mother of a superstar (Mayorkun)?
It makes me proud and I am happy about it, I never knew Mayowa will go into music. He used to be a junior choir master while in the choir, but never knew he would go this far, because he has always been a very quiet, easy-going person. He is not a loud guy, but you know God’s ways are not our ways, so when he started, I became very happy and proud of him.
But were you afraid initially?
Yes ooo! Very afraid, I didn’t even give him my blessing, I said I have been in the entertainment industry for long and I know what it entails, so I didn’t support. It was his father who said Toyin, let’s give him a chance, he studied banking in school.
So, I was like why not go and work with your certificate then do music alongside but my husband convinced me. So, we decided to give him our blessings and today to God be the glory.
Do you listen to his music and follow his progress on social media?
I know all my son’s music from A to Z, word for word, I know his songs very well, I follow and monitor him all the time. In fact, if he has the power to send me out of Instagram, he would have done that since, because I am always on his page every day, I recently told him I want to join Insta story he said ‘no’, that Instagram was okay for me.
What is your advice for parents who want to go into the entertainment industry?
First and foremost, they have a lot of work to do. They should allow their kids to follow their dreams and at the same time, they should follow them with prayers and monitor them because children of these days always come up with different things. If I show you my phone you will see different pictures that I screen munched from his page, once I see anything unusual, I snap and call his attention to it, he will be like mummy, please give me a breathing space. I would say no ooo, I monitor him always. So, any parent, who wants his/her kids to go into the entertainment industry, should be prayerful and be their guide.
Are you still in touch with your colleagues in Nigeria?
Yes, I am, we will always remain friends, I still keep in touch with them in fact, I want to shoot a movie now just waiting for the Covid-19 thing to be over. So, when anyone comes around, I would feature them.
Are you starting work immediately?
Yes, immediately after the pandemic, I will start work.
How many movies have you produced?
They are over 10 movies.
Tell us about the one that shot you to limelight?
It is entitled: “Irepodun” by Korede Films owned by Sunday Soyinka, very educative and emotional movie. It attracted a lot of people to me, and I got a lot of gifts featuring in that movie. And I will always thank Kunle Afod because he was the one who introduced me to Sunday Soyinka then because we were together at Kakaki Performance then.
There was even someone who was supposed to play that role, so, I got there very early and got the role. I played alongside Yinka Quadri, Ogogo and others.
How can we improve the movie industry in Nigeria?
First and foremost, we need to work on our scripts. We need to get standard scripts, good directors, then support from the government, if they could build a theatre village, all these will go a long way to help, money could be made from the industry. Take for example, the quality of movies on Netflix, provided you deliver good scripts, you will make money.
Which movie stars would you be working with in your next project?
Hmm, I want the likes of Muyiwa Ademola, Kunle Afod, Peju Ogunmola, if possible Iretiola Doyle, though, I have not spoken to them yet.
How do you see the industry today?
A lot of changes had happened in the industry, we see people deliver good scripts and jobs, we see our artistes living large. When we started, it wasn’t like this, people are diversifying and the industry has changed.
What is the secret of your flawless skin?
Thank you for my skin therapist, Susan Chanell. She has been taking good care of my skin. She knows the food that is perfect for my skin.
What have you been doing to remain ageless and beautiful?
In the morning, after my prayers, I do exercise, I eat healthily, I drink a lot of water, vegetables and take vitamins.
How do you keep busy where you are?
After work, I rest then spend time with friends.
Where are you based now?
I am based in Maryland in U.S.
Do you have plans of visiting Nigeria soon?
Yes, I do, don’t forget my kids are still back home, Mayowa and Ayobami are still back home, so once the coast is clear, I will visit home.
Any regret so far in the movie industry?
No, not at all.
What is your message for your fans watching you?
I love you all, thank for loving all I do and please patronise me, please follow my page on Instagram and patronise me. Then to my colleagues in the industry, I miss you all, I love you and please don’t disappoint your fans.
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