In the days of Yore, there were many actresses in the country who commanded respect, not only because of their talent but also because they combined brain and talent. Then, these actresses were well respected because they were married and were under a man who controlled them.
They were the likes of Esther Idowu Philips (a.k.a Iya Rainbow), Lanre Hassan (a.k.a Iya Awero), Fausat Balogun (Saje),Wunmi Yetunde, Barbara Soky, Liz Benson, Clarion Chukwura, Racheal Oniga, Sola Shobowale, Tina Mba, Toyin Adegbola, (Asewo to re Mecca), Gloria Anozie Young and Regina Askia. They were all married at a time, even though some of them later opted out of their marriages for one reason or the other, but the point is that they were married.?
But enter the new era; they came, they are beautiful, sexy, educated and of course talented. It is exciting watching them. But one thing is not getting going for them; they are not ready for that seven letter words called marriage.
For no reason, it was becoming something like a curse as the actresses are not ready for marriage, and even the ones among them that are married are opting out.? Ucheria Anunobi,? Lola Alao, Bukky Wright, Uche Osetule, Steph Nora Okeke, Shade Omoniyi (Lepa Shandy), Faithia Balogun, Foluke Daramola, and? Clarion Chukwura are examples of those who could not cope with the married life and decided to take a leap.
And people’s perception of actress as being irresponsible begins to tick as no man was forthcoming for their hands in marriage. But like a thunderbolt from nowhere, the music changed and the Romeos are now coming not in one or two, but in droves, and trust people again, they are now singing another song. “These actresses are wife materials afterall.”
And like a rejected stone that eventually became the cornerstone, Nigerian actresses are now known wife materials. And this year alone, we have witnessed nothing less than eight marriages in Nollywood. Sola Kosoko, the daughter of Prince Jide Kosoko, started it all when she married her lover of almost 15 years in simple ceremony, attended only by her family member and that of her husband with few of her professional friends in the film industry.
The news was still being circulated when news flipped in that Mosun Filani had decided to call it quit with spinsterhood by marrying her lover in Ibadan, Oyo State. Then the beat started, Chidi Mokeme, weeks after he celebrated his 40th birthday, decided to quit bachelorhood by marrying his U.S.-based lover Jean Chinwe, in an elaborate and colourful wedding reception at the MUSSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
While Mokeme was preparing for his honeymoon, another star actress, Stephanie Okereke, was in Paris saying “I do” to Linus Idahosa. Not to be outdone, Sola Asadeko, the actress that got her breakthrough in a film entitled Abeni, also got hooked to her man, just like Abiodun Okeowo aka Tolani Osinrin was also having hers secretly somewhere in Ogun State.
And as if to tell Doubting Thomases that really this is their time, last week, Uche Jombo got married to her U.S.-based lover, just as Funke Akindele was announcing to the world that come May 26, 2012, she would be joining the exclusive club of married women.
And for those of them who are yet to marry, time will tell if they will be able to continue the music.