By Christy Anyanwu
Fausat Balogun, also known as Madam Saje, is a Nigerian actress who stars majorly in Yoruba movies.
She starred as Mama Saje in a 1990 television series titled Erin Kee Kee. Fausat has starred in over 80 movies. She is cherished and admired by viewers for her creative and distinct character in any movie she’s featured in.
Balogun is married to actor Rafiu Balogun. He was her boss before they got married.
She hails from Oke Ode in Ifelodun Local Government Area, Kwara State. By the time she was famous, her children were adults.
Her eldest son is a director, and her youngest daughter is an actress.
At the recent opening of Bojas World in Lagos, she spoke with Sunday Sun. Excerpt:
You have been in acting for a long time, what makes you happy?
It is the acting itself that makes me happy because I enjoy doing it and I’m excited about it.
What is the secret, you still look elegant?
There’s nothing to it. No secret at all. All these things we are doing, like going to parties, dancing and all that, are part of exercise. So, it is nice to take good care of yourself.
Do you have special meals?
There are certain foods that I don’t eat. You know that once someone is hitting 40 years, there are some foods you should not eat. For instance, I don’t eat eba, but I eat Amala. I don’t drink chilled (cold) water, even in this party, they went searching for room temperature water for me. It is almost 15 years that I took chilled (cold) water last. Also, I don’t drink soft drinks (soda) anymore.
Some people are of the opinion that actresses are very proud and look down on people, is that true?
I don’t know if any actress does that, but whoever that does that is just deceiving herself. Without the media, we can’t be seen or heard. When you see us acting, and you love our film that means you enjoy and love our acting, so why should we behave in that way? God does not create us same way or equally because there are some artistes you will greet and they behave funny. I don’t know what they are up to. You people are the ones giving us hype for us to remain in business. For instance, I’m just coming from another event in Abeokuta and as the celebrant heard that Mama Saje was in the house, she rushed out to embrace me, and said, for many years, she has been watching my films, but that she has not seen me in life on one on one. She was so happy to see me and we both took photographs. She prepared tea and asked me what I would eat also, but I told her I’m alright. So, she ended bringing tea.
Going to the market, how do people perceive you?
They greet me and some of them would come to hold me and take photographs with me. Some will draw my clothes.
Do they hike their price?
Once I get to the market, I quickly tell them don’t inflate price for Madam Saje and despite that, they will still increase the price and even tell you boldly that they would inflate the price, but I will jokingly tell them that I will not buy from them again.
Journey into acting, how did it start for you?
I saw one of my sisters acting when I was living in Idumota because I grew up there. That was my first attraction to acting. I started acting in the 70s and I will soon clock 50 years in acting.
You don’t look your age?
It is God’s grace.
You are known for acting good characters, what informed that?
It is what the producer wants that I give out. I play all kind of roles, good ones and bad ones.
Which of the play brought you to limelight?
I started acting on NTA 10, and later moved to LTV 8, where I acted Abeni in Abeni Ajagun, but in 1990, I began to answered Madam Saje.
Why were you called Madam Saje?
It was Baba Suwe that nicknamed me Madam Saje in a programme I featured in on NTA 7.
How do you start your day?
I pray in Islamic way, then I drink water at about 8:00a.m to 8:30a.m before I take my breakfast. I take early breakfast.
What informs your kind of dressing?
I love dressing to look good at any time. I dress to suit any occasion I’m attending.
What is your take on indecent dressing of ladies, women these days?
The world is changing and we have said it on different platforms that women should dress appropriately. However, this depends on individual preference. We have said a lot about dressing well in public, but God will give them the power to reposition the industry through modest dressing for the good of everyone.