Popular Nollywood actress Folashade Omoniyi Adewale aka
Lepa Shandy who left Nigeria several years ago to start a
family has returned home after her rumoured marriage crash.
The beautiful mother of two who returned to Nigeria in May
has maintained a low profile since her return.
See excerpts from her recent interview with Encomium Weekly
What has been happening to your career since you returned to
Nigeria?
Have been away for like a year and also off social scene for
quite a while.
Was child bearing the reason why you haven’t been featuring
as much as you used to?
Lets be sincere with each other, it’s not only me. It’s the
same thing with almost all my peers. As there are seasons in
life so there are seasons in the industry as well. When we
came in, we pushed some people out of the way, so when
others came in, we also had to give them chance. I thank God
of still being recognized in and outside the country. Last year
when I came back, I still did some jobs before returning to the
UK. I thank God Lepa Shandy has become a household
identity within and outside the industry. God himself has
turned me into a brand.
Since the last two months you returned, you have been lying
low why?
Yes I came in around May but I didn’t want people to know I
was back. I thought I could hide a bit but unfortunately, I
couldn’t. I got some invites to social functions which I tried
not to attend just to get accustomed to the weather here and
people around before I start attending events.
What would you say is the problem of the industry?
Piracy has always been our major problem and we have been
saying this very long ago, but it seems there is no hope
concerning curbing it. And as it’s rightly said, charity begins
at home. For us to fight piracy and succeed, we also need to
tidy our home first. Take a look at what’s happening in the
Yoruba sector of the industry, we have many associations;
people are not ready to work together under one umbrella. I
was an advocate of one Nollywood. Now, we are still thinking
of how Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), ANTP and NANTAP will
come together as one and present ourselves as one
association before the government.
If we work together, the better but now you can see how
many associations we have in the Yoruba and English sectors.
The more we are being segregated, the worse the situation of
the industry is going to be. Until we come together under one
body, there can’t be any way forward. We should all speak
with one voice. But if some of us are fighting piracy there are
some among us busy collecting bribe, how can we now fight
piracy and succeed.
How would you describe your career since you became a
mother?
A lot of people will think my career is dwindling, that natural,
but personally I think I am going higher. It’s all about what
you believe. When you achieve some things, you realize that
every other thing follows. I excelled in my career before I got
married. There were some problems in between, I overcame
them. And I am very happy now. Left to me, happiness should
matter first. I think am very okay with my home and career. I
am joyous and I give glory to God
Are you saying it never took a toll on your career?
Mere looking at me now, you will know I am a very happy
person and I have succeeded. Just expect something bigger
from me now by God’s grace. Jobs are coming in now.