It was naira reign when former Kannywood actress Fati Ladan and her Husband Yerima Shetima, renowned activist, politicians and president general of Arewa Youth Congress celebrated the naming ceremony of their daughter, Aisha Humaira. The ceremony attracted A-class players in Kannywood including Sadiq Abbas, Adam A. Zango, Al-ameen Buhari, Abubakar S. Garba, Usman Uzee, Zahradeen Sani, Kabiru A. Zango, Buzun Kaduna, A A Rasheed, Mansura Isa, Fatima KK, Fati Al-ameen, Asma’u Sani, Maryam Aliyu, Wasila Ismail, Hadiza Kabara, Hussaina and Hassana Yusuf, among others. ALIYU ASKIRA was there and spoke to the new mother.
Many people have the notion that Kannywood actresses’ marriages do not succeed, what is the secret behind your successful marriage?
When I married my husband my intention was to stay put no matter the challenges. We love each other passionately and I decided to build a bridge between me and home breakers. It is only when you see me that you will gossip to me about my husband.
You see, if I am not in school or doing one business or the other am always at home taking care of my husband though he is always extremely busy.
Were you under pressure from your husband’s family when you didn’t have children six years after you married?
Well, before my daughter Aisha Humaira, we had a baby boy but he died at birth.
Also, my husband’s parents are very understanding and they believed that God’s time is the best. In fact, I was actually worried but my husband always advised me to take it easy. Thank God that today we are blessed with bouncing baby girl.
Why are you hardly seen at events organised by your former colleagues in Kannywood?
It is true that I don’t attend many events organised by my colleagues in Kannywood and I am glad that most of them graced the naming ceremony of our daughter.
When I got married my intention was to be a film producer, but I later discovered that I married a man who was extremely busy. I also went back to school and started some businesses. But I can tell you that I am still very close to my mentor in Kannywood who assisted me when people were running away from me.
Who is that your mentor?
My mentor is the King of Kannywood, Ali Nuhu. When I joined Kannywood my former husband bribed some people in the industry and they refused to feature me in their films claiming that I was still married.
However, when Ali Nuhu featured me in the successful movie Adamsy that opened doors of success for me and producers started running after me to feature in their films.
Along the line, I meet Yerima Shettima and we got married. So, I said bye-bye to acting and Kannywood.
Your husband has had several confrontations with security agencies, he was even declared wanted immediately after he married you. How do you cope?
When I met him I had heard a lot about him, however, he sat me down and told me that he is a human rights activist, a politician and youth leader as such I should be prepared for the worst, if it comes. I told him that I was ready to be with him no matter the challenges.
If you come to our house always you see people coming for one issue or the other because my husband’s hands are always open to help people. However, he hates begging. So, if you are the type that continues to disturb him, begging for one assistance or another he will easily close his doors against you.
I have over the years learned to live with his way of life, and I can tell you that this marriage is destined for total success.
So, if your husband decides to marry another wife, will you accept to live with another woman?
Will I accept to live with another woman if my husband decides to marry again? The answer is yes and no! No because no woman wants to share her husband with another though Islam allows for four wives. However, honestly speaking I am prepared to give him the type of love that is second to none so that I will have him to myself only for life. That is why I maintain few friends to avoid back stabbing.
2
Hardship taught me to be wise – Patoranking
Stories by Ozomata Halimat with agency
After a few years honing his craft as an underground musician, popular dance-hall music singer, Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, a.k.a Patoranking, recounted his journey into the Nigerian music scene. According to the dancehall singer who named his sophomore album after his first daughter, Wilmer, “Hard work together with smart work pays. Focus and consistency are key to a fruitful career and growth in all you do must reflect. Don’t get carried away with the hype, it takes much more to succeed and music is our next oil. I have learnt that Talent is just 1% and it takes way more to make a star and maintain stardom. It has also taught me the importance of tunnel vision and the fact that I can’t please everyone.”
He added that based on the principles of life he has since adopted, he has never had to regret any action he took or decision he made. “There’s never regret, always a lesson. However, I have many wishes and one of them is that I got a chance to finish school”, he said. Speaking further, he noted that unlike many young musicians who lose focus due to youthful exuberance after tasting limelight, his sufferings in the past have always guided his actions. “Anybody who has suffered in the past should be wise.”
3
I’m not bothered about making hit songs anymore – Ice Prince
Elite Nigerian rapper Panshak Zamani, widely known as Ice Prince, shares his current priorities as an artiste and indicates he isn’t interested in making number 1 songs anymore.
The Super Cool Cats boss he speaks about his relationship with M.I, Jesse Jagz, marriage etc. Being one of Nigeria’s biggest rapper based on his achievements, the BET Award-winning music star said he has gone past those days he had an urgency for making a hit record. Now he is more about making songs.
As an artiste you need to get to the point where it’s beyond dropping hit records, it’s beyond dropping number one records. Sometimes as an artiste I want to make a song and talk about my late mom.
I know that song would not be a number one song but I want to put it out’ he said.
The ‘Oleku’ crooner says he misses making music with the former Chocolate City crew. On marriage, he stated that he isn’t mentally ready to settle down just yet but would eventually in the future.
Before being known by his current moniker he told his host he was known as Gbanks in the past. He has published a new book ‘The Nigerian Dream; The Ice Prince Story‘ and it’s available on digital stores.
4
Why I learnt carpentry – Runtown
Douglas Jack Agu is a man of many parts. Better known as Runtown, he is a good songwriter and vocalist that seems to have the formula necessary for churning out hits. With songs like Lagos to Kampala, Bend Down, Baby Answer and Mad over You in his repertoire, he is fast stamping his feet on the Nigerian music industry.
The singer has also shown that he possesses some other talents and skills apart from music. He said “Carpentry is one of my interests because I like creating things. I don’t like to stay idle and that is why I decided to learn carpentry. It is important to equip oneself and I believe that no knowledge is lost even if you never get to use it. Besides, all those skills tend to increase your value.”
On if he still has time for carpentry these days due to his hectic schedule as an artiste, he said, “To be honest with you, my schedule right now is crazy and I don’t even have time for myself. However, the good thing about such skills is that nobody can take it away from you, so far you brush it up over time.”
5
I’ll never marry musician, actress – Chinko Ekun
After tasting what being a celebrity feels like, rapper Chinko Ekun has drawn the conclusion that when he eventually decides to settle down it will not be with another celebrity.
In his view, musicians and actors are one of the people with the busiest schedules one can ever think of and, that has informed his decision about choosing a marriage partner in the near future.
Even more, he says he cannot stand the sight of “another man caressing or kissing my wife all in the name of making a film”.
Chinko Ekun said: “I don’t chase after women; I would prefer a lady who is intelligent. I can’t marry a musician or an actress because it is not easy to be a celebrity. The life is not easy to keep up with.
“I face a lot of stress; I just want my wife to be able to take my children out normally without any form of paparazzi. I prefer to do the ‘hustling’ (running around for money); my children need their mother’s attention.”
He adds: “I am an Ondo man and there are some things we don’t take. In my videos, I don’t even run after women, I am more of a gangster. In fact, I have turned down romantic movie roles because I don’t want any woman to begin to have amorous attractions towards me on set. When girls try to seduce me, I place my focus on heavenly things. The flesh may want to use me sometimes, but I just ignore it.”
