Star actress, Ronke Ojo has made her mark in Nollywood especially in the Yoruba sector of the industry. The thespian became a household name in 2000 when she acted in a movie, Oshodi Oke, from where she got her stage name.
The actress who recently celebrated her seventh wedding anniversary opened up on how she and her husband split up and then reconciled after three years. She also talked about her forthcoming movie, Osun, the Yoruba Goddess.
Tell us about your current project?
I’m working on ‘Osun, the Yoruba Goddess’. I am also working on a true-life story. And don’t forget, I am still working on my music. I do universal music because I am a role model and so many people are looking
up to me. I want to reach out to the youth;; I want them to have fun and at the same time, learn.
What inspired the movie?
The Yoruba race is losing its culture. Some say Yoruba gods are fetish;; I don’t agree with that. I am a Christian and I know Jesus came to this world for everybody, and for me especially.
And I know God sent Prophet Mohammed, but if Christianity did not come from Jerusalem and Islam did not come from Mecca, what will you and I be doing now? Of course, we will be with our traditional gods.
Are you telling me that our forefathers were not talking to God in their own way?
I just sat down and said to myself ‘if I don’t do this, who will correct those who feel that Yoruba gods are fetish?’ Is it all pastors that will go to heaven? Or you do you think all babalawos (herbalists) will go to hell? God doesn’t judge anybody; you just do what you feel makes you happy. I have not been to India but I watch Indian films a lot. They still practice the Hindu religion and there are Christians and Muslims among them. The Chinese have churches but they still do their cultural thing, so why are we shy about our gods? It really baffle me. The film is almost done now and I want people to see that God wants us to be who we are. God also wants me to be Yoruba and that is why I was born and brought up in Yorubaland.
If God wanted me to be an American, he would have made sure I was born there.
Recently, you celebrated the seventh anniversary of your marriage. Against the backdrop of rampant marriage break-ups in the industry, what things have you put in place to safeguard your marriage?
I am not saying that my marriage is the best but what is trending now is marriage break-ups. We
hear about celebrities because they are in the limelight.
Even when I was pregnant, they said ‘Ronke is pregnant.’ Why shouldn’t I be pregnant?
Am I not a woman? If they see me eating with my hands, they would say ‘Ronke is eating with her hands.’ Am I not a Nigerian? Before a man and woman say ‘let us go to the altar,’ they must have given it a lot of thought because they feel that they are compatible. But if something happens and they decide to go their different ways, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Like my husband and I broke up for almost three years, and when we came back, he said ‘Ronke, this is what we should do now’. I know where I went wrong and he knows where he went wrong too.
What is your tolerant limit for a man?
It’s when a man raises up his hand on me.
For every other thing, no problem because I am a Yoruba and also an African woman, I have people who are looking up to me. And I want them to listen to me, because when my mother is talking to me, she always gives example of herself.
Can money be enough when it comes to marriage?
No, no, no. Money is like 10 percent in marriage. Money is good, it has to be there, but it’s like 10 percent in marriage.
Today, lots of celebrities get married to men with high financial status. What is your take?
Excuse me sir. You see, that is what celebrities do but I am sorry, it is not right.
If that person is not a celebrity, he would do the same. It is everywhere.
After seven years in marriage, do male fans still find you attractive?
Yes, they do.
Could you tell us about the experience?
It is not a crime for anybody to come near me. There are ways and manners you tell a male fan that you are not available, but if he keeps coming, then I will put him in his place. (Sunday Sun)