The increasing rate of failed marriages among artistes in Nigeria has become a source of worry to many. In this write up, AJIBADE ALABI examines the issue.
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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, including man. When He saw the need and importance for man to have a companion, He created woman out of the ribs of man, say the Holy books. A woman it is said ought to be submissive to her husband and do his bidding. And as the saying goes what God has joined together let no man put asunder. But these days, it is the female artiste who is always threatening this injunction.
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In the days of yore, there were many female artistes in the country who commanded respect not only because of their talent but also because they combined brains and talent. Even then these female artistes were held in contempt.
The average parent saw nothing wrong in watching the likes of Esther Idowu Philis (a.k.a Iya Rainbow), Lanre Hassan (a.k.a Iya awero), Fausat Balogun (Saje),Wumi Yetunde, Barbara Soky, Liz Benson, Clarion Chukwura, Racheal Oniga, Sola Shobowale, Tina Mba, Toyin Adegbola, (Asewo to re Mecca), Gloria Anozie Young, Eucheria Anunobi, Regina Askia, but would not allows his daughter to become a bloody actress. Not in this world, most of the parents would swear. It was all excitement for parents listening to the music of likes of Christy Essien-Igbokwe now late, Carol Bridi, Dora Ifudu, Oby Onywa, Onyeka Onwenu, Vero Marioghae, Princess Bunmi Olajubu, Uche Ibeto, but would not allow their daughters to become a “bloody singer”.
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A properly trained girl, they would insist, should endeavour to acquire good education and get married to a dashing young man. The thinking was that no girl from a good family would parade the stage singing before people, or acting on a stage.
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Enter the new era, they came, they were beautiful, sexy, educated and of course talented. It was excitement watching the likes of Bimbo Oshin, Lilian Bach, Ann Njemanze, Ayo Adesanya, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Lola Alao, laide Bakare, uche Osetule, Steph Nora Okeke, Bukky Wright, Shade Omoniyi(Lepa Shandy), Bimbo Akintola, Sandra Achums, Opeyemi Aiyeola, Faithia Balogun, Oby Edozieh, Foluke Daramola, Susan Patrick, and so the perception of parents gradually changed and some began to encourage their daughters .
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Today, our ladies, young and old are proudly doing their thing in different genres, with yet emergence of more stars in the last couple of years, like Stephanie Okereke, Genevieve Nnaji, Bisi Ibidapo -Ibe, Rita Dominic, Oge Okoye, Ini Edo, Tayo Odueke (Sikiratu Sindodo), Ayiisat Omoge Campus, Moji Olaiya, Uche Jombo, Bimbo Adesanya, Funke Akindele, Monalisa Chinda, Ronke Adesanya, Mosun Filani, Kemi Afolabi, Abiodun Okeowo, Lizzy Anjorin, and pronto the parents are supporting their daughters all the way to join the league of super stars , who are already swimming in good life.
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But that is how far the sweet tale goes. The issue of single -parenthood and crashed marriages stick out like a sore thumb. Marriages of artistes like music celebrities including Dolly Patron, Mariam Makeba, Madonna and others were widely celebrated before they crashed.
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Back home, a case in point is the marriage between Waka Queen Salawa Abeni and Fuji music star, General Kollington Ayinla, which was well celebrated for several reasons and several seasons. And when things fell apart between the two musicians, it came with stories of infidelity, dishonesty and other vices. Of course, in such situations there are always two sides to the story.
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In recent interview with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Queen Salawa Abeni who recently celebrated her golden jubilee year, blamed her failed marriage that produced four children on luck. “it is not my wish not to have settled down with a man, but circumstances did not warrant it. Many wish to be married but cannot do so due to one reason or the other. But people see us as if we do not want to live with a man. I want to, but I can not call a man on the road to come and marry me” Salawa told this reporter.
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Not keeping a marriage among female artistes in Nigeria is not only in vogue, but is also becoming the orders of the day as the ones that are married among them are opting out for reasons one cannot fathom. Monalisa Chinda, late last year walked out of her marriage without any concrete reason. Before her, Foluke Daramola after much denials of problem in her marriage finally called it quit with her marriage, just like Eucheria Anunobi called it a day with her marriage citing lack of love from her husband, she in fact told this reporter that she went to the marriage blindly.?
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The marriage of Ronke Ojo ( Oshodi Oke) which was ordained two years ago, is already consigned to history as she parted ways with her husband. It is the same story with the marriage of? Folashade Omoniyi, the one her fans passionately called Lepa Shandy. Her four years-old marriage has crashed due to what she called irreconcilable differences with her husband. Ditto to Lola Alao, the beautiful sexy Ebira, Kogi State actress, she called it quits with her husband due to distance between them. Report reaching us also indicates that all is not well in the marriages of Laide Bakare, and Moji Olaiya, though when this reporter put calls to the talented actresses they both denied it, we pray it will not go the way of stars aforementioned.
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And as if those of them who are not married are afraid of the murky waters of marriage, those of them with love child (ren) are not ready to go back. Iyabo Ojo, Genevieve Nnaji, Tayo Odueke (Sindodo), Lizzy Anjorin, are few examples of those who are still scared of being “hooked”. Sindodo on her part has many lovers to choose from but she has declined (That was before sickness).
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And for those of them who are yet to marry time will tell if they will be able to break the jinx and bell the cat.
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