Many Nigerians have left the nation and many others are preparing to “japa.” It seems even performers are not free from this. Here are three Yoruba movie industry icons that still reside and work in Nigeria yet whose families are located elsewhere.
Sanyeri Family
Many people don’t appear to take actor Olaniyi Afonja, alias Sanyeri, seriously, likely in part due to the humorous characters he frequently performs in movies. Sanyeri has been purposeful in raising his family and giving them access to possibilities, despite his on-screen shenanigans.
Their two boys, Boluwatife and Olasunkanmi, as well as his stunning wife Omolara, all reside in Canada.
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Many Nigerians were amused by the children’s foreign accents in a video that recently went viral on the Internet.
That was especially so because their father mainly speaks in Yoruba, and cuts the picture of one who has never even travelled outside the country. In the video, the kids urged fans to subscribe to their father’s YouTube channel and other social media accounts.
Explaining what fatherhood means to him, Sanyeri said in an earlier interview, “Fatherhood means being the head of the home, a husband to a wife, a father to children and fulfilling the obligations and responsibilities that are expected of a man to his wife and children.”
Speaking on how he felt when he welcomed his first child, the actor said, “There is nothing so special about one having a first child. For someone who needs a child and has a wife, when God gives them the gift of the first child, they will be happy and full of joy. Children are gifts and those who get them should be grateful.
“I believe that the best investment I can make in life is for my children to be successful. I cannot jeopardise their future for anything. Either I have much or otherwise, I will do everything within my capacity to ensure that my children will not have any cause in the future to abuse me or describe me as an irresponsible father.”
In an earlier interview with Sunday PUNCH, the actor had stated that he was so poor when he married his wife that the only thing he had to his name were his tribal marks. However, they stuck with him, and over the years, he has grown to become a prominent actor and filmmaker.
Mr Latin Family
Another popular humorous actor is Bolaji Amusan of the Amusans, also known as Mr Latin. Although Mr. Latin’s business is located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, his wife Ronke and two children—a son and a daughter—reside in Dublin, Ireland.
In 1999, Mr. Latin wed Ronke, and their union has grown stronger over the years.
The actor, who currently holds the office of President of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria, openly admits to having a special affection for his wife.
He explained in an interview from a few years ago why he chose to keep his family abroad, saying, “It was the concept of the two of us.
There was a long strike by teachers at a time and we thought such would not give our children what we really wanted for them. We decided to relocate but because of the nature of my job, I cannot stay over there with them.”
On how they have been coping with a long-distance relationship, Latin said, “We speak almost 10 times every day. I wake them up with telephone calls in the morning to speak with my wife and children till they are off to school. We also chat on WhatsApp and have video calls almost every day. I visit them as well, and they come to Nigeria too.”
The actor also stated that he had never been tempted to marry another wife despite his wife not being in the country with him. He said, “I can never marry another wife. My wife is my mother, sister, friend and confidant. She is a very loyal and trustworthy person. I don’t have any reason to marry another wife.”
Okunnu Family
Even without speaking, actor, Wale Akorede, aka Okunnu, send his fans reeling with laughter because of his funny mannerisms. Though he started his acting career in 1984, it wasn’t until some years later, that he started getting the much needed recognition in the industry.
However, despite the carefree character he usually portrays in movies, Okunnu does not joke with the welfare of his family.
His wife, Wumi, and three kids— Jumoke, Hassan and Modupe— are based in Canada. At a time, the actor also used to live in Saudi Arabia, but he returned to Nigeria after a while.
Speaking on why he left Saudi Arabia, he had said, “Yes, there was a point my life when I relocated to Saudi Arabia, but after giving it a second thought, I realised there is no place like home. Nigeria is my country and no matter the challenges (here), we just have to make it work. I don’t regret coming back to my country.”
In an earlier interview with Sunday PUNCH, the actor stated that he was attracted by her beauty and the fact that she was hard to get. He had said, “It was her beauty and the fact that she was hard to get (that attracted me). I don’t like cheap ladies. Her tough stance made me continue to ‘trouble’ her. I also prayed and all what I saw in my dream was what she also saw. I was surprised and that also propelled me to go ahead.”
However, though his family lives outside the country, Okunnu is not immune from the hardship in Nigeria. In a social media rant some months ago, the actor lamented the sorry state of the country. Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “If we keep watching and don’t speak up, it is because we don’t want to things to spoil. Nigeria is bad. Whether men, women, children or elderly people; all those who have a hand in making the nation what it is today, their lives will also be bad from generation to generation.
“The country is really in a bad condition. I can’t say there is a particular sector that is working optimally. If we cannot enjoy our country as citizens, then we’re like foreigners.”
Sharing his thoughts on why many celebrity marriages don’t stand the test of time, he said in the same interview, “Marriage is not something one jumps into. One needs to pray well and be sure because it is for life. Any marriage can collapse and it is not only celebrity marriages that don’t last. People talk about marriages of celebrities because they are famous people.”
Credit: Punch NG