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Veteran Actress, Mama QUEEN
Veteran actress, Evangelist Esther Oluwayemi, popularly known as Mama Queen or Yeye Itura in some quarters, is still one of the recognisable actresses that graced our screens several years ago. She will always be commended for her roles in movies such Efunsetan Aniwura in which she played the lead role, Efunsetan on stage, and her role in Moremi Ajasoro too remains indelible in the minds of those who have seen the film. She cut her acting teeth under the tutelage of late prominent actor and dynamic movie producer, Isho Pepper. She said she learnt a great deal from him, especially his work ethics. Anyone who knew Isho Pepper knew he was a thorough bred professional and a disciplined one too.
The very beautiful Evangelist Esther Oluwayemi aka Mama Queen, who still looks gorgeous for her age, also featured in the much talked about Doyin Amodu movie, Ojo Ale. She is also featured in some Africa Magic series currently on DSTV such as Iturs, The Wrath of The Gods, etc. She was present at the premiere and City People’s WALE LAWAL (08037208290) had a brief chat with her.
What are your thoughts about this movie project produced by Doyin Amodu that has brought all of you veterans together?
Thank you very much. I was very happy when Doyin invited me for this project. She reached out to many of the veterans, many of whom I had not seen in a long time, and brought us together for the project. I am happy that she did this basically for us the veterans, so that hypertension will not cut short our lives because many of us have been abandoned by movie producers who believe we have nothing more to offer. On the platform she put us, its always joy and happiness when we get on the platform. When she saw me today, she said, ah, mother, and you say you don’t want anybody to toast you and marry you, see how beautiful you’re looking. She has been a wonderful child to all of us, I pray that she too would find favour in her old age.
It’s been like how many years that you have been acting?
I think I have been in the industry for about 42 years now.
How did you join the industry?
I joined through my late boss, Isho Pepper, may his soul continue to rest in peace. It was with his group that I started. I actually started out as a professional photographer. Everyone used to call me, Aunty Yemi Photo back then. I was known in several places. I used to take still photographs. My boss was looking for somebod who could take beautiful black and white photographs and I said I could do it. And I took some photographs and went to show him and he was very impressed, that was how my boss brought me into the industry. He took me everywhere the group went. Then, gradually, I began taking one scene, two scenes and then finally became a full fledged actress.
How many years did you spend with Isho Pepper? Were you still with him at the time he passed away?
Yes, I was still with him till the time he died. I must’ve been with him for about 16 years. I remember I was with him when we did the reversal of Efunsetan Aniwura. I was with him when we did Ogun Laye, I played the role of one of the kidnapopers in the movie. There are also several films that I featured in back then. I was with Mama Efunsetan when they did their own film, and featured in other popular movies as well. But the movies I did in the last couple of years have made me even more popular. I was in Moremi Ajasoro, I played Iyalode in the movie. I featured in the movie being premiered today, Ojo Ale, I acted in Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti produced by Bolanle Austin Peters. I am also in ITURA, produced by Africa Magic, its presently running on DSTV. You will also find me in The Wrath of The Gods. I have featured in a whole lot of movies. I also played Efunsetan when we acted it as a live play at the National Theatre. I pnly pray and hope God will continue to lift up our heads.
When you look back at all you have put into the industry, would you say you have any regrets going into acting?
Oh, yes, there were few moments that one felt like that because there was a period that I anticipated that things would begin to get rosy for me career wise but it didn’t. When we expected people to call us for jobs, they didn’t. People like me are truly talented. God gave us this gift of acting, not man. I just can’t explain what happened. You would see poducers call less talented people for jobs and despite that they are making mistakes and messing up their production, they will continue to call them at the detriment of people like us.
But somehow, with my job as a photographer and the fact that I am an Evangelist doing God’s work, God sustained me.
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