Opeyemi Aiyeola, a well-known performer and producer, took a decade off from acting after her marriage. In 2017, Aiyeola returned to acting, but she told Saturday Beats that a lot had changed in the industry since she left in 2007.
She emphasized that in those days, success in the industry was defined by merit, but that currently, climbing the path to popularity is riddled with partiality.
“Nollywood used to be a talent-driven industry; unfortunately, when I returned, I discovered it was no longer a viable career path for talented individuals.” It is now about social media. It’s more about how much money a person has to spend on things like publicity.
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“These days, a lot of people earn unwarranted honors. Outside of the movie set, the industry has devolved into a fantasy land. For instance, everyone expects me to perform photo shoots for birthdays and Valentine’s Day, and I’m always curious as to why that is. I, on the other hand, have duties and children to care for, so I can’t do everything.
“As a Yoruba woman, I strive to speak Yoruba to my children, and we prepare more Nigerian dishes at home; I’m not a big fan of Western cuisine.” I don’t have a favorite meal; instead, I drink a lot of garri and groundnut every day, and I guess I’m addicted to it,” she explained.
When asked about the impact of marriage on her profession, she explained that she left at a time when things were improving.
“Marriage had a significant impact on my career since I left at a time when things in the industry were improving in terms of endorsements and other factors. In my opinion, there is always a cost associated with everything. It costs some individuals money, while others lose their jobs; it’s all about making sacrifices. Given my age at the time of my marriage, doing so and having children was more important to me. I’m not going to crucify or judge anyone for their decisions; it’s a personal race.