By Damilola Fatunmise
Actress Bimbo Afolayan, formerly known as Bimbo Ogunnowo in the movie industry, got married to renowned Nollywood director, Okikiola Afolayan. Besides acting, she is a hotelier, skincare therapist, and fashion entrepreneur. Bimbo took a break from acting after getting married to a man she fondly calls her friend.
In this interview with The Entertainer, she reveals why she took a long hiatus, her plans, and her recent activities.
Enjoy!
It feels good to see that you are back to acting, why the long break?
I went off-screen immediately after I got married because I wanted to focus on my home and take care of myself and my husband. I just wanted to be okay. Naturally, I am a business woman. You know, managing businesses and a new marriage with acting, I didn’t know how I was going to cope and I don’t like to fail in whatever I put myself into. Again, you know that my marriage is very important to me because, hmm.. all year round, the important thing I love to feel is to be loved and as soon as I found someone ready to give me what I wanted, I had to make up my mind on enjoying it. So, I took that break to build myself and get stable before coming back.
What are you up to now?
I have a number of productions that I am working on at the moment. My YouTube channel, I need to upload my movies on it and again, if I am not mistaken, I think I have about 30 scripts ready for production. So, it’s all about Bimbo Afolayan’s brand now and it’s a new brand entirely. I have been working more on stories that have to do with marriages because I am a lover girl. I believe so much in the institution called marriage. I know it’s crazy out there, but as much as the craziness is flying around, I still believe that marriage works. I know a lot are living with the fear of the unknown about marriage with all the bad stories about marriages that we read on a daily basis.
Are you planning any cinema projects yet?
No, I am not planning any cinema projects for now. I want to focus on bringing my face back. This is the first time I will come out as Bimbo Afolayan and not Bimbo Ogunnowo, which you all used to know. My team and I are working hard on projecting the brand first. So, the cinema project is not happening soon. Not this year, not next year yet. For now, it’s all about the brand called Bimbo Afolayan and the acceptance will make its journey on the next move.
What has marriage stolen from you?
Ha! No, marriage hasn’t stolen anything from me o! It’s been an absolute blessing to me. Look at me now. I am sure you can see that I am more beautiful, yummy, blessed and fulfilled. And I pray that anyone who is experiencing shortcomings in their marriages will see God’s face and mighty hand to enjoy their desires at home.
How best do you relax after so much hard work put into your crafts?
I travel a lot! I love to travel. I am always in the U.S. or London. Whenever I feel exhausted, I just jet out of the country and once I’m back I feel rejuvenated.
Have you ever thought of relocating out of Nigeria?
Yes! I thought of relocating before I got married. I think that was seven years ago. I had already packed my bags that I was leaving the country for Houston because I have like half of my family there. I was so ready then. But looking at the amount of staff I had working for me, I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to render them jobless. Imagine having over 33 people working with you. My career, my mentees, so I decided that you know what, don’t let me do that. I stayed back and it’s all joy after all.
How do you feel about marrying one of Nollywood’s directors?
Well, I got married to my friend. Okiki is my friend but it’s just a blessing. Being married to somebody as playful and cheerful as my husband is God’s gift to me. I think God just crowned all I have gone through in life to bless me with him. It’s like God feels I deserve to be at peace, so I can’t thank God enough. With the stress in the country, your home should be a place to rest not the other way round and yes! I have a home that is so peaceful and all thanks again to God.
Some of your fans thought you’d quit acting for your several businesses, can anything stop you from acting?
Nothing can stop me from acting. The break was just needed to put so many things together and I am back now because I know I have already fixed things and am all ready to take over (Laughs).
What has changed about you in the past years?
I think differently now, seriously. I am more understanding, and patient. I see life in another way, like I do what I can do and leave the rest for God.
Any regrets so far?
No, I think anything that comes my way now, I just feel that’s the way God wants it. I will pray and ask for help from God. You see, when they say “every disappointment at times is a blessing “no regret so far to the glory of God.
When counting your blessings, what is that thing you will count twice?
Ha! I count my husband three, four, five times because he’s good to me. Everything I have been able to achieve in my six years of marrying him is amazing. My marriage is going to be six years by October. With him, we have built empires. Trust me, some we bring to social media and some we don’t but with him, we’ve pulled magic. I will count him over and over again.
What would be your advice for those who look up to you?
I will say be yourself no matter what. People will talk the least you can’t imagine but be yourself.
Like they say on the streets of social media “What did you put in your stew” Can you tell us the secret of your success?
It’s God and hard work. I always pray to God to continue helping me. I’m a very focused human being and anything I set my eyes on is always a goal for me. I put all my energy into anything that represents me.