Two Nollywood actresses, Olubukolami Olufunke Amodemaja, and her rising star daughter, Fisayo popularly known as Abebi, 16, who just gained admission to Lead City University, Ibadan, capital of Oyo State had accidental entrance into the Nigerian Yoruba acting profession.
Starting with the daughter, the 16-year-old actress Abebi’s journey into acting began unexpectedly, shaped by an unanticipated encounter and the unwavering support of her mother, who was begged by a movie producer who was shooting a movie in the hotel she was working to help in acting a role since there was nobody they could use for the role, marking her own entrance into the industry.
Abebi, during a chat with Talk to B on YouTube recounted the day her life took a dramatic turn. “It was my mummy’s driver who picked us up from school that day instead of her. We went to her workplace, a hotel, and found out a movie was being shot in another lodge. We were put in a room which constrained me from moving around. At a point, my mummy’s phone started ringing. I thought it could be business calls, I decided to go and give it to her where she was. I didn’t know what was happening; I just wanted to give my mum her ringing phone. I walked onto the set and said, ‘Mummy, take your phone.’ The director, Mr. Tundeola Yusuf, was shocked and charmed. He asked me to play the role of a sick person on the spot.”
To her surprise, her impromptu performance impressed the director, who saw raw talent in the young girl.
Recognising her potential, he persuaded her mother to enroll Abebi in a six-month acting training programme. “I was already acting in church, playing roles like Mary, the mother of Jesus, so I was excited,” she said. “I completed the training, got my certificate, and decided to pursue acting and producing.”
Her mother, an integral part of her journey, ensured that acting didn’t interfere with her education. Abebi balanced her career with her studies, acting only from Thursdays to Sundays. Her determination paid off as she passed her Senior WAEC exams on her first attempt and recently secured admission to Lead City University.
Abebi’s first major production, Abebi, was funded by savings initially meant for her birthday celebration, a decision she made with her mother’s guidance. The movie went viral, launching her into the spotlight and solidifying her place in Nollywood. During the premiere of the movie, the proprietress of her school gave her a full scholarship to complete her secondary school education.
Abebi described the day she was given scholarship as her happiest day.
Speaking to younger Nigerians, Abebi advises, “Be yourself and make your parents proud of you. Whatever you do, let it bring joy to your family.”
She also had a heartfelt message for her mother, saying, “Bestie, I love you more than words can express. One day, I’ll show my gratitude by doing things you never expect—building you a house, buying you cars, and placing you on a salary. You are the strong woman who shaped me.”
Abebi’s mother, Olubukolami, during the programme, vividly recalled the highs and lows of her tumultuous marriage to her estranged husband, whom Abebi revealed about, “I don’t feel that my father is not around.”
Despite her heartbreak, Olubukolami painted a complex picture of a man she once deeply loved.
“Daddy Abebi is a caring and kind person, but his stubbornness knows no bounds. At home, he was shy and reserved, letting me handle visitors while he stayed away,” she said. However, beneath his quiet demeanor lay a violent temper that ultimately led to their separation.
Their story is one of love turned sour, complicated by domestic violence, financial struggles, and religious differences. Olubukolami spoke candidly about the first cracks in their relationship, which began with frequent fights.
“He would get angry and beat me. One day, he boasted that he would leave me when I was at my lowest. That statement kept ringing in my brain,” she recalled.
The violence escalated to the point where she feared for her life. “It got to a point where I was always scared when he was coming home,” she said.
The breaking point came in 2012, after an argument where she fled through the kitchen door and sought refuge at her elder sister’s house.
Although her husband returned briefly, the separation became final in 2014 when he left without a proper goodbye. “I stayed in the house we shared for five years after he left, hoping he would come back. But he never did,” she said.
The final blow came in 2017 when she learnt he had remarried and moved to the United States with his new wife. Despite never receiving a divorce letter, she knew their marriage was over.
For Olubukolam, the pain wasn’t just personal—it deeply affected her children. Her son Ayomide voiced his concerns about her remarrying, fearing the psychological toll it would take on the family.
“I wanted to remarry and have more children, but Ayomide said, ‘What surname will the new child bear?’ His words made me pause. I didn’t want to cause them more pain,” she said.
Despite the heartbreak, Abebi’s mother acknowledged her faults in the marriage. “I wasn’t patient enough. When he abused me, I would respond. When he left me, I never begged him to come back because I felt I wasn’t wrong,” she admitted.
She also cited their religious differences as a major challenge. “We did both Nikkah and a church blessing. He was a Muslim, and I’m a Christian. I tried to adapt, even employing a cleric to teach me about Islam, but he eventually became a free thinker. When he stopped me from taking the children to church, I felt lost,” she said.
The separation pushed her into depression, especially after leaving her job in 2022. However, she has found solace in faith, her children, and her decision to forgive her husband.
“My father asked me to forgive him, and I have. Many people want me to fight back, but I see no point. The children are my priority,” she said.
