‘Life’s taught me nothing is permanent’

Taiwo Akinwande would hardly ring an immediate bell. But mention her stage name, Yetunde Wunmi, and a lot of faces would light-up instantly. The Ogun State born actress who is celebrating her 35 years in the industry today, tells Medinat Kanabe the highlight of the day is the launch of a book that chronicles her life since she started out as a thespian and the challenges.

FOR top Yoruba movie actress, Alhaja Taiwo Akinwande a.k.a Yetunde Wunmi 35 years old as an actress is huge and worth celebrating, having started professionally, in the 80s. Yetunde Wunmi as the 55 year old actress is fondly called began her career with the Abalaye theatre group. The group, which had Chief Sunday Akinola of the Feyikogbon fame as the leader then ruled the TV world with the popular Feyikogbon series, a weekly soap opera.

How does it feel clocking 35 on stage? ‘It feels great.  And I am very grateful to Allah who has been with me since day one. It’s not by my power or might. A lot of people started that same time but they’re no more. Some are just there.  I am not saying this to sound arrogant or mock anybody; I am just praising Almighty Allah for His love and mercy on me and my family.

She continued; I wasn’t shot to limelight via any movie but a TV serial popularly called Feyikogbon. That was where I was given a stage name, Yetunde.  Then when the home video of a thing started some years after, I was given another name, Wunmi. So, the combination of the two is what people now call me, and that’s Yetunde Wunmi’.

So what makes the 35 years anniversary special?’The highlight is the launch of my biography. It is a book that chronicles my life since I have been in the industry. It captures all the experiences so far both the good and the ugly ones. The event will also feature presentation of acknowledgment awards to prominent people who have made great impact in my life. Among them are Chief Sunday Akinola (Mogaji Feyikogbon) and the late Muyideen Alade Aromire who pioneered the Yoruba home videos and movie industry. Other awards include Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MCOluomo)  and Sunday Igboho.

Top  Fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma will  also entertain  guests. It is just to thank God for making it possible for me to get to this level in the profession spanning more than three decades. I am particularly grateful to God, including my numerous fans who appreciate what we do.” She explained

35 years is no doubt worthy to roll out drums, the Ogun state born actress however will never forget her cocaine trafficking saga which almost ruined her career. Today she said, she has learnt her lesson and thank God that it has become history.

‘It was a shocking and sad experience. But despite that, I still held on to my God and He didn’t disappoint me. He only used the incident as a lesson for me. I believe strongly in God, that’s why I conquered. It’s not an easy experience at all.  I lost almost everything. For instance, I lost my privacy. I lost my popularity that I have worked hard for, for about three decades. I lost some of my close friends and my relationship with many people broke-up as a result of the sad incident. Nobody would like to relate with an ex-convict. But, honestly, some of them showed great concern and understanding. They saw my problem as a phase in the course of my career and life as well. They really gave me hope that time heals all wounds and that eventually came to pass.  But one thing is that if God loves you, He would chastise you. Even after the cocaine incident, God really showed me He really loved me.  Many people started blessing me left, right and centre. It was like a miracle. I would say I was even better blessed than before the incident. Even, it was after the occurrence that I went on pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, courtesy of Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya a.k.a MC Oluomo. She noted.

So were you able to overcome and get back to your feet again? ‘It was difficult for me to cope, initially, but one virtue God gave me is humility. And that helped me a lot. Even before the sad incident, I was a very humble person. For me, popularity didn’t get to my head. I don’t brag about anything, but I know quite well that my humility actually helped me a lot during the trying period. I was humble after my humiliating experience, and I felt real great remorse for what actually happened to me. I regretted, and still regret it. In the end, I saw it as my destiny and the sad experience actually humbled me in life. She pointed out.

At 55 and 35 years in acting, what special lesson would you say life has taught you? ‘Life has taught me not to rely on fellow human beings. Don’t think you have friends. Make God your only friend because if anything happens to you, those you think are your friends will be the first to run away. They will just abandon you to your fate. I learnt that nothing in life is permanent, that there are no permanent friends and enemies. During my travails, I learnt lessons about the ups and downs of life.

First published in The Nation of June 07, 2015