-culled from City People Magazine
Bola Adebayo is one of the babes currently shaking the movie industry in Nigeria. For her, she joined the industry about a decade ago when she was an I.T student at the Galaxy TV and she was offered some roles in a weekly TV series showing on the station. Thereafter, the Ondo state-born thespian enrolled at the South Africa Film Academy to study Theater Arts and Film Directing. The sexy actress recently launched a movie titled Scarred which addresses the issues of child abuse. The movie was premiered at 10 Degrees Event Center, Oregun Lagos, penultimate Sunday. City People’s GBOLAHAN ADETAYO spoke with the actress and she explains what really influenced her to produce the movie among others.
What influenced the story line of your new movie,”Scarred”? For me, child abuse is an important thing that we need to focus on. 90 out of 100 children get assaulted on daily basis and I see this movie as an avenue to lend my voice and campaign against it. I am aware of it and I need to educate people about it. I know we can’t eradicate it but we can minimize it by trying our best and that is exactly what I am actually doing right now.
Are you also a victim of child abuse?
Not at all! I have never been a victim of any but I just need to scream about it because it is a good cause and everyone is trying to create awareness about it. I have seen it happening to some of the people I grew up with. I have seen it on TV and also in the midst of my neighbours and I felt that I should kick against it through the movie. For me, there is no way you harass a child that will not be abusive, as long as the child doesn’t have a voice of his/her own. Whatever you say to a child growing up goes a long way, especially those who say negative things to a child. So, it is not about you touching a child alone, you can abuse the child via your speech.
What impact do you think this movie will have in the lives of people?
It will go a long way because I believe media is like the best way to preach the gospel. So, this will impact on people, create more awareness on child abuse and I believe people will listen to my voice by watching the movie, and they will try to stop it in whichever way they can.
What is your relationship with Oga Bello?
I am not in any way related to Adebayo Salami aka Oga Bello. I am from Ondo State while Oga Bello is from Kwara State. So, he is our boss in the industry but I am not his daughter.
What influenced you to join acting?
Acting for me started from my childhood days. I was part of drama group when I was growing up in school and also in church. My mother can testify to it. They usually call me the drama queen. Professionally I joined the industry about a decade ago. I have been in and out of it. My parents were like you have to finish your school first and when I finished my degree in 2012, I decided to take it up by going to South Africa to study theater art and directing. Nobody brought me into acting.
How did it start?
When I was doing my Industrial Training at Galaxy TV, and some guys were doing some TV programmes and they were like Bola come and take some roles because you are good at entertaining us and that was how I started. The journey has been good and great since I started.
What has acting done for you since you started?
Acting has affected me positively. It’s being a great experience for me positively. Acting is about new experience and I don’t see anything as a challenge. I am an African, issues come every day and we face them, so nothing is challenging for me. The biggest mistake I ever made was not starting my career early.