Taiwo Akinwande, popularly known as Yetunde Wunmi, is one of the most notable actresses in the Yoruba movie industry. She joined the acting world in 1981 as an apprentice under Sunday Akinola (Mogaji Feyikogbon) but later left in 1989 to team up with the Tate Alade Aromire. The light-complexioned actress has appeared in so many movies that she has even lost count of them. In this interview with BAYO ADEOYE, the actress who was arrested, prosecuted and convicted for drug peddling, spoke about the challenges she faced on her journey to stardom, her views about the Nigerian movie industry and her ordeal in detention when she was arrested and jailed for possession of hard drugs at the Lagos Airport. How do you manage your family and your acting profession?I'm managing very well. I thank God that my children are grown ups and they are on their own. When they were still young during that time I told you earlier, I had a junior who was staying with me then and assisted in looking after them for me. Whenever I was away then, I would drop money for them to eat and equally bought food stuffs at home for them. Then, I could leave for two or three months before returning. I thank God that He gave me only two and I was able to take good care of them. So, how about your husband?My husband is alive but we are no longer together. What happened? It seems that most actresses don't keep their marriagesIt's this job. I love this job more than my husband. And you sacrificed your husband for this job?Yes, because I so much love this job. When you married him, was he not aware of what you were doing for a living?I'd married my husband before I took up acting as profession. In fact, I'd given birth. You children were born to your estranged husband; so why did you have to leave?It was when he didn't like this job and I liked it. It was what I could regard asf conflict of interest. So, you couldn't drop this job to save your marriage?No, I can't drop it for any man. Never! In fact, never ever! Except when God calls me home; that's when I can be[ done. As long as I'm still alive withouti any ailment, V11 keep going. So, you are not even thinking of quitting at a certain age?No, I^n not thinking about that at all. I'm not engaged in any other job. Could you recall your own movies you've produced?They are numerous. I did 'Odun Mejo' and Salawa Abeni played the major role in that movie. I did 'Opa Ajobi, 'Ade Ori', 'Omo Okunrin', 'Jawonlaya', 'Oro Omo Le', 'Aje Niyonu', 'Egbogi Oloro', 'Ori OIowo L'ori Mi' and so many others. After your brush with the law for being in possession of cocaine, how did you pick up your life from there?Muslims believe that if anything happens to them, it's only mere trial. May God not allow us to get into a trial that we won't end. So, it's only a trial for me and God just tested my faith. Even when God wants to test a Christian, He will give him a little problem and if the problem should go ahead and bring him down, that's where he will end his life. But if such a problem should arise and the person who is with it believes God brought it, he can pray that God should lift it without looking here and there; and I believe that God will put an end to the problem and that particular person will stand on his feet once again. What were you thinking then; was it a plot by someone?No, I didn't see it as a plot by anyone. I just saw that while I was in detention, I was thanking God that He kept me for a certain purpose because I didn't know what happened. Who knows maybe if I were to be out there, I would have died. So, I kept thanking God and I couldn't even think anybody was looking at me. I thank God because I snouted onto God and He answered me. It is God that called me to this job and not any human being. While in detention what was actually going through your mind. Did you ever think that you would come out or be j ailed?I was only praying to almighty Allah to forgive me and protect me through the ordeal and He did. What really pushed you into that act?Maybe I allowed my love for money to get too much over me. I was actually very broke at that time. Then? I could not boast of N10,000 in my savmgs. It was that bad. It was actually a temptation. And I thank God for His mercy. Didn't you face stigmatization and dejection even from your colleagues when you returned?No, not at all. They were very supportive. Alhamdulilahi, they stood by me.
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z£dd to€¥ | 5/27/2012 2:40:53 AMUuuuuuuu? U can lie o! Reply this thread
Mrs Akudo | 5/27/2012 10:52:15 AM |
U talk say na poverty push u abi? Poverty na truck pusher? Wumi u b barrow wey poverty dey push u? ok,as poverty push u why u no push am back? hmm! O ga adi kwa kpoo kpooo o! ok Wumi,u talk say u luv ur acting job more dan ur husband nd na im make u leave ur husband.Wumi since na like dat,why u come leave dat luv of ur life (acting)come dey push cocaine,abi na cocaine push u? chiyoma | 5/27/2012 11:32:12 AM |
hahhahaha,don't mind her,it is greed that pushed her to drugs,the same greed pushed her out of her marriage.Kposhikposhi Mrs Akudo | 5/27/2012 11:44:57 AM |
Chiyoma nwa nne m,can u imagine Wumi talking wetin man pikin no understand.O di kwa egwu o! hapiiiiiiii | 5/27/2012 1:01:32 PM |
dis is r*****h....wumi,u cn say dat to d birds lolo | 5/28/2012 12:00:37 PM |
she is simply SHAMELESS The Enforcer | 5/28/2012 5:29:22 AM |
@Mrs Akudo, good questions you ask. Ewo o poverty is being blamed for person longer throat imagine. Anyway Nne, enjoy yourself and love to family. Mrs Akudo | 5/28/2012 7:50:42 AM |
Bobo Enforcer how u dey nah? Our iyawo nko? No just mind Wumi abi na Wugi,if dem don act akpuruka finish dem go dey blame devil as if devil na thier personal advicer. Cheny | 5/29/2012 7:40:34 AM |
I think desperation is d word cos it can lead to anytin. but dont judge r so dat u dont find ursef in r condition.
................. | 5/27/2012 2:46:52 AMI love this woman's acting,she is soo soft spoken,the world is like that you only have to learn from your mistakes,just take things easy in life and pray to God for life and guidance. Reply this thread
z£dd to€¥ | 5/27/2012 2:49:56 AMU were broke an cudnt aford 10k's stuff bt u got almost 500k 2 travu out of d country? Are u kidin me? Comon drop dat s**t u'er nt gud at it at all. Reply this thread
lolo | 5/28/2012 12:03:40 PM |
do u know how many time she had done it till she was caught..it is the same with all of them when they are caught they will say it is their first time..nonsense
Dudu | 5/27/2012 3:10:25 AMEven though i like her actings but i hated her 4 involving is that mess.though almost all d actors/actresses get involve in it.God will save us. Reply this thread
abuvivi | 5/27/2012 3:16:02 AMI beg make owna leave this woman. Alone nigeria had ooo na only good go save us and the woman nA good woMan Reply this thread
utu nkita | 5/27/2012 3:43:08 AMnow i love u more for this few wise words u said,some people out there have done terrible things more that u hv done,may allmighty JAH protect an provide for all ur need.any body wey try u again i go nak am akpako. Reply this thread
bayo | 5/27/2012 4:35:16 AMwunmi, dont let anybody bring you down. you are a great woman and a very good actress.What happen has happened. live ur life d way it sooths you but get out of anything that will make d devil bring shame to u and ur family. I love d way u act, keep it up.cheers wunmi! Reply this thread
BUSOLA | 5/27/2012 4:55:57 AMPls jus be prayerful nd dnt let satan 2 use u again Reply this thread
LONDON BOYA | 5/27/2012 12:12:51 PMOGUN KILL ALL OFF UNA....MAKE UNA MIND UNA BUSINESS...MAKE UNA LEAVE THE MAMA ALONE.....UNA MAMA OWN DEY HER BODY...AWON AMEBOOO OLORI KORI Reply this thread
Yorubas are useless | 5/27/2012 1:15:57 PM |
Look at useless yoruba people.just because the woman is a yoruba,you people are now supporting evil instead of condemning her evil act. When will you yorubas stop being tribalistic. Oj | 5/28/2012 3:13:33 AM |
U dis usless anima callin d yorubas useless.: Ur lineage is useless, ur family is usless, ur life is usless, ur brain is useless... i***t Adekunmi | 6/1/2012 10:17:33 AM |
Nobody is supporting Wunmi n l think she don realised her mistake,biko try 2 4give n 4get.YORUBA,HAUSA N IBO we are all one.
abbey | 5/27/2012 9:25:38 PMWunmi u r gud in lyn oooo why u dey lie like dis...u don't av just 10k dat's why u push drup abi but where u see moni for AirTicket, BTA and wht abt d house u complete and the brand new car u just buy b4 poverty push u...Ole Reply this thread
lolo | 5/28/2012 12:07:28 PM |
no mind her ,when they caught her she claimed it was her first..meanwhile its been on going on smaller scale
Sexiest guy alive on planet | 5/27/2012 11:57:56 PMI love u wunmi,dnt mind those amebo people!Follow me on twitter@effiongwisdom Reply this thread
lolo | 5/28/2012 12:06:14 PM |
to follow u on twitter so that u can arrange her another drug?
Apple | 5/28/2012 1:12:51 AMWunmi it is not poverty that pused you, it is greed, and you also have criminal tendency, a lot of people are poor but they will never steal, so you see the thing dey your blood. you said you left your husband because you love your job? Big lie! many women are doing the job they love and still dey with thier husband. Reply this thread
jasmine | 5/28/2012 2:50:46 AMif poverty can push you to do that as an actress i wonder what poverty will make you to do if you are a tomato seller.(rituals). Reply this thread
BIGILO | 5/28/2012 4:29:52 AMwunmi let me advice u more it is not poverty or hadship its greedy and criminal tendency it run in ur blood thats wy u left ur husband.so that u will be fleating around with men luke at u useless superstar who nos wether u have children at off weldluck. Reply this thread
helen | 5/28/2012 9:28:45 AMi disagree with u wummi, if is poverty what where u doing in an internation wing of the airport dat is 4 d rich . na your greed nature and not poverty. u better hide urself in shame Reply this thread
john | 5/28/2012 4:40:00 PM |
U pple r just hypocrites,as if u r all perfect.dats is d problem with humans,dey like 2 condemn without looking at their own fault."She is a grt actress and a legend.d fact dt she made a mistake does not take anything away from her greatest.we 'fall' in life and we av 2 rise up again,dat is greatest.'He who is without sin should cast the first stone'.we r so apy 4 u,thank God u r back!
agege | 5/28/2012 6:06:10 PMAll dis ofenmanu people r supporting dis woman cos she's ofenmmanu..shameleSs pipo.after una go sey na yibo like money pass..awon yoruba jati-jati Reply this thread
Gbemzy | 6/1/2012 1:06:41 AM |
Hw dare u say yoruba jatijati, wht does tht implies. Among d yorubas n Ibos, who loves money most, u pple tht u re fond of rituals. Its nt a must 2 comment n if u feel u wnt 2, accuse d offender n stop generalising. And 2 d rest yoruba says 'gbogbo wa lole eni ti ile ba mò mo ni barawo thks.
mrchef | 5/29/2012 12:27:29 AMhaaaaaaa, u even disaster my attention 2 all ds r*****h dat happened 2u, as a gud muslim, dont let poverty push u, wot av u see in poverty dat prophet muhammed never see during his life time all of his children dead nd d last one after his death too die, so wot a poverty av u see dat is making u do such a big sin, so wumi be warn. May God help u ooo. Make u refrain 4rm ds habit. Av a cool day.......... Reply this thread
Momoh Yusuf | 5/29/2012 9:42:20 AMShe day mad, how can u leave ur husand becos of film, is film more important than ur husband or children in future, do u know dat ur husband can build more than film, since u can leave him becos of film automatically u can leave ur children as well. Reply this thread
Yusuf Chester | 5/29/2012 10:45:05 AMThere is no poverty or film dat make u disown ur husband, pls collect ur misstake. Reply this thread
watch Man | 1/23/2013 10:08:59 PM |
Absence of core will make anyone drift with the wind.1st she left her marriage to pursue acting ,2nd she left her children for months at a stretch to catch up with acting and now in old age she abandoned her self respect and reputation if pursuit of drug money. It shows you have no limit to what you can do or not do. You could not stand up for your marriage, you could not stand up for your children, you also could not stand up for the FAME you pursued at all cost and indeed you could not also stand up for the career which you claim to be your sole motivation. Indeed it is clear that since you cannot stand up for something, you will fall for everything.
OGEDENGBE | 5/30/2012 1:08:24 AMUNA EVIL PASS HER OWN, SO MANY OF YOU ARE STILL HIDINE BEHIND ONE FINGER SOONER NEMESIS WILL CAUGHT UP WITH YOU. YOU DAT SPOKE YOU THUGHT YOU ARE BRAVE IT REMAIN LITTLE DAT YOU PROBLEM WILL, AND WE SHALL HEAR ASSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reply this thread
lea | 5/30/2012 3:25:15 AMI keep saying peoples love for money will kill them...i dont get it,everyone wants money and likes it to a certain extend but nigerian just LOVE money.Its c***y how someone can love her job(money) more than the man she married and meant to love.Well many people marry for everything else but love its obvious,thats why its so easy to give it up.So wrong..anyways may God help her and her family. Reply this thread
UCHE | 5/31/2012 4:06:36 AMpoverty pushed you into drug peddling, why not go back to your husband and make peace with him b4 poverty push you again. yeye woman Reply this thread
Smart | 6/1/2012 6:28:05 AMWumi god w b wit u nd ur family stay srong ok, dnt maind dat yeye way dey call dem self igbo dey jst rn dere mouth? Reply this thread
Olabissy | 6/6/2012 9:34:39 PMAll of una dey talk as if say u dey holy!! 1 or d othr,all of us na sinners.Make u no condemn or judge humans.U b God? Sme of una dey steal,sme dey drnk alcohol,sme dey bacbite,smme dey do ashewo,sme dey do exam malpractice.Soi,wetn u cme dey talk as if u dey holy.U no holy @ all.Wash ur tongue b4 angel Gabriel strike una mouth!!! Wunmi,I love u sooo much!!! Reply this thread
Jh L MEDOSKY | 6/9/2012 8:07:02 AMFunke u ar so ENDOWED, dat z why sum pple ar jealous of u.:-D Reply this thread
Divine | 6/20/2012 7:28:03 AMmy advise to all Yoruba actors and actresses both old and upcoming ones, there is no life in Yoruba movies is only frustration , the only good thing for them is that they knows how to bleach , f**ls Reply this thread
Talantalo | 6/21/2012 12:42:50 AMYou are a big i***tic intractable f**l 4 calling yorubas jatijati. Next time, if u don't ve something constructive 2 say,just shut d fcuk up and go hug transformer. Mtchewwwwww Reply this thread
Swt2 | 7/16/2012 5:46:04 AMYou're a disgrace to your children.................. you packed out of marriage because of acting. look how irresponsible you are even to your state. Justice does not prevail in Nigeria people like you are to be sent life imprisonment. shameless old punk. Reply this thread
fishro | 7/20/2012 10:32:11 PMWunmi kip going jo......may almight allah continued 2 guide u. Reply this thread
Karess | 8/21/2012 7:02:19 AMThanks for your thoughts. It's hleepd me a lot. Reply this thread
OLAIDE | 8/25/2012 11:38:45 PMWe thnk God 4 evrytin dat has happend bcos i knew dis is a trial but mind u mrs.yetunde wumi i want u 2 knw dat ''ONE'S FALL IS NT D END OF HIS LYF" May God be wit u nd ur family. Reply this thread
Shakhirah | 9/15/2012 6:31:38 AMThats alrigth by all of you. She will not do it again. Reply this thread
Shakhirah | 9/15/2012 6:32:13 AMThats alrigth by all of you. She will not do it again. Reply this thread
Edowu | 12/4/2012 11:53:35 PMPerson dey insult yoruba, ibo usless language maa dey insult, wetin una dey do e no pass more than dat, u no know say ibo na animal 4 us in nigeria anu offia, una be slave too, una no get common sense, usless tribe Reply this thread
Edowu | 12/5/2012 12:06:39 AMIbo go dey claime say dem get sens, everybody don know now say, dem get nothing ofole mu, no be una brother spoil dis nigeri, may una dey think b/fore una go say something, where u want enter wey u no go see the brain, educate many thin of yoruba, gree f us yoruba na baba, even watin sister yetunde do is a part of brain, boldness, dont mind dem jare, god will be with u and us amin Reply this thread
Chuddyk49ja | 12/6/2012 8:58:57 AMWumi i'm very sory 2 say dis u rili disapoint me but sha dere is nobody God cant test but u beg u desist 4rm dis act dont do it again dats 2 bad of u.. U shoulbd b a role model nt a criminal,pls. Reply this thread
Chioma | 1/24/2013 6:37:50 AMYoruba people are good pple and pls stop ds tribalism stuff,ibos also have their's.no one is above mistake,yoruba actors&actresses love and cares for one anoda unlike d so called english bla bla bla.we ibos are not a saint Reply this thread
Arole eledumare samuel | 2/23/2013 9:06:38 PMBi omode ba subu awo waju,bi agba ba subu,a wo eyin,ko si eniti o wa laye,ti ko ni ri adanwo,adantan ni kolorun maje kawa ri,oju oro ni nleke omi,osibata ni nleke odo,wa leke gbogbo isoro lase edumare,ranti pe bi esin ba dani,ama tugun nii,ati wipe,adiye tiii koku,osi ma je agbado,kosi bi omi sele bori ile to,igba ni nbori omi,wa bori isoro lase edumare,amo ye finu re han eda ko maba jin si koto,ore odun mefa o to gbojule,to ba lore tose perin re o mo,yera fun iru won,ki won maba ti e si konga,ye bole sore,koju maba ti o gbeyin,oro pupo iro ni nmu wa,orisa itage a gbe e soke(amin,pls ma,i wish to see you for some personal discussion : 08169076925 Reply this thread
Olododo | 4/21/2013 11:36:45 PMGod will never guide whoever chooses to misguide himself.wumi,u will continue to make obvious and punishable mistakes not until u succumb to your husband wish. The truth is always bitter but later prevails. Imaging yourself acting half naked displaying arm and chest tatoos in a movie(sussy mama) u produced. What a stigma!. No one is holy anyway but the opened mistakes should be corrected Reply this thread
Ultimateguy | 6/4/2013 3:51:03 PMMy pipu,let us have d fear of God.more so, mat. 7:1 says judge nt so dat u will not be judged. Leave everything to God. meanwhile,mind ur business {ari teni mo o wi afi apaadi bo ti e mole}. MAMA dont relent in ur effort cos we love ur mode of acting,Make sure u dont involve urself in such mess again.GOD BLESS U.Mrs Taiwo akinwande. Reply this thread
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