Women born into Christian or Muslim homes but who sincerely cherish marriage may not have any permanent religion until they get married.
Some men, no doubt allow their wives to continue with their ‘born-into’ religion if they are both not in the same religion before they got married and are not fanatical.
Example of such men are former Lagos governors: Babatunde Raji Fasola and Bola Ahmed Tinubu who are muslims while their wives are christians till date. Recently Bola Tinubu followed his wife, Remi to RCCG camp when she was being ordained as a Pastor.
When this is not the case, the wife usually convert to her husband’s religion.
Below is a list of Nigerian actresses who converted to Islam:
1. Moji Olaiya
Late Moji Olaiya was born to Christian parents and closely related to the legendary Nigerian Highlife singer, Sir Victor Olaiya. She was brought up in Christian ways although her mother was a Muslim before converting to Christianity.
She ended converting to Islam after suffering a few marital woes. Moji had been married twice and both marriages came to a halt. The mother of two stated that Islam gives her more power and inner peace.
In one of her interviews before her death which occurred as a result of illness, she confessed,“Honestly, Islam is a peaceful religion. The aspect I love most is that you don’t need any pastor to get close to God.
You don’t really need anybody to pray for you. You can always pray on your own and Almighty Allah will answer your prayer without any intermediary. I have been doing that since I became a Muslim and it has always worked for me.”
2. Vivian Metchie
Nollywood star, Vivian was born to a Catholic father and a Deeper Life Mother. She married a man who was a member of the Redeemed Christian Church but the marriage eventually failed leaving her with four children.
According to her, she switched religions because at a point in time, she got confused as various Christian churches had something bad to say about one another
Explaining her actions, the screen diva said, “It is a personal decision. I understand the Koran more than the Bible…
I was probably looking for peace. Yeah! That was what I was looking for and I found it in the Koran.” Vivian adopted the name Fareedah as her muslim name and according to her, her parents were supportive of her decision to switch religions.
3. Liz Da Silva
Popular actress, Liz Da Silva was known to be a Christian up until the time she allegedly had a child for former NURTW Oshodi boss, Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo. When things did not work out between them, she married a Muslim man named Olaoye. Because of the birth of her son, Roheem and her new family, Liz became a Muslim and adopted the name Aishat.
“In case you want to know I have a good relationship with my baby’s father and that is why I had to convert to Muslim and got a new name Aishat before the baby was named.
I am a Christian, but I had to convert to Islam because of my baby,” Liz Da Silva revealed in an interview.
4. Liz Anjorin
Lizzy, real name Elizabeth Anjorin is a household name as far as Nollywood is concerned. She was brought up in a Christian family however she found solace in Islam. In 2013, she came out to state categorically that she is a Muslim and soon after her revelation, she jetted off to Mecca for Hajj.
Addressing her faith to critics, Lizzy explained that she has always had ties to the Muslim world judging from the fact that her mother is a Muslim. She once said in an interview, “Although my name is Elizabeth, which is the Christian name my dad gave me because he was a Christian. Then, I also have a Muslim name, Aishat, given to me by my mother, who was a Muslim.
Also, some from my mother’s family members also named me Sekinat. Even my daughter’s name is Rufaidat. So, I grew with the two religions.”
She added, “ Islam has been in me for long. I only kept it to myself. It is my private life.”
However, certain unconfirmed sources suggest that her conversion happened after a relationship with a certain Alhaji in Lagos.
5. Laide Bakare
Super actress, Laide Bakare was Christian up until the time she left her Christian husband and started dating an alleged money bag in Lagos named Alhaji Tunde Orilowo fondly referred to as ATM.
la!de had to convert to Islam after marrying him and becoming another one of his wives.
6. Lola Alao
Light complexioned Lola Alao is the newest convert in town. Her switch to the tent of Islam was broken by an Islamic scholar on Facebook and she will now be known as Rohdiat.
A perusal of her Instagram page shows that she now sends out greetings in the name of Allah.
In 2013, Alao wedded Wale Ajibola, her second husband, in the United States after her marriage to Dare Ogunlana came to an end in 2008.
According to sources, her first marriage crashed as a result of accusations of infidelity and fetish acts surfaced. We don’t know whether the accusations were against her or against her former husband.