One time popular actress Folashade Omoniyi-Adewale, aka Lepa Shandy,
who relocated to the United Kingdom for quite a while has returned to Nigeria.
Encomium magazine caught up with her recently and below are excerpts from their
interview.
Why she hasn’t been acting and featuring in new movie:
Let’s be sincere with each other, it’s not only me. It’s the same
thing with almost all my peers. As there are seasons in life so there are
seasons in the industry as well. When we came in, we pushed some people
out of the way. So, when others came in, we also had to give them
chance. We should just keep thanking God that we’re still there, being
recognized in and outside the country. That’s the most important
thing. When I came around last year, I still did few jobs before I went
back to the UK. I give glory to God that I am still being recognized even
outside the industry. For instance, a girl met me here today and said to
me, ‘Are you that Lepa Shandy? Are you this fine? Oh my God!’
I said, ‘What do you mean?’ And we just hugged each other and exchanged
contact. She was so happy and excited meeting me one-on-one. So,
it’s like that all over the place. I just thank God Lepa has become a
household identity within and outside the industry. God Himself has
turned me to a brand. Since I came out with that identity in the
industry, it has gone far and wide. Anybody that’s not fat is called Lepa
everywhere now. Even some parents call their slim children Lepa.
Lepa is not only a brand but a popular slogan that has gone beyond the shores
of Nigeria. So, I need to be very grateful to God for making me relevant
till date.
What has been happening to your career since you came back?
My career is fine. Even when I wasn’t around, over there I have been
active in some things though maybe off the screen. Even when the political
campaign was on in Nigeria here, I wasn’t here but I was also part of those
that campaigned for some of the politicians.
That means you’re also contacted for the campaign job despite not
being in Nigeria?
Yes, of course. Even both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contacted me and my colleagues as well.
But eventually, I campaigned for the victorious party, which is of course,
APC. That means I have been very active. If some powerful people in
the society can call me and say they still need me around, so I must be
thankful to God. And when I came this time around, I did a couple of jobs
and I am still planning to do another big one soon.
We learnt you have been around for about two months now, why have
you been lying low?
Yes, I came in around May but I didn’t want people to know I was back.
I thought I could hide a bit but unfortunately, I couldn’t. I got some
invites to social functions which I tried not to attend just to get accustomed
to the weather here and people around before I start attending events.
How would you describe your experience in the UK this time around?
There is no place like home. Everybody knows abroad is dry at the
moment. But the comfort and convenience there wouldn’t want you to come
back home. But like we people that make our money here in Nigeria, what
can we do now? In the UK, I don’t really work. I am just like a
full time housewife there. I only did some part time work there and I
made some money. At least, I still run my account very well. And
since I came back to Nigeria, I have been trying to settle down, thinking of
what to do. I still have my production on hold. I am yet to release any
job. Nothing has changed in the industry. I thought things would
have changed before returning to Nigeria but they are still the same, even
worse than I left them. Before I left, I wanted to sell my movie to a
marketer, but the amount offered was nothing to write home about, so
disgusting. So, I couldn’t do anything. I had to run back to the UK
thinking things would have been better by the time I come back but quite
unfortunate, the situation of things in the industry has not improved.
Instead, it’s getting worse by the day. But I want to believe with the
new government, things are going to improve.
How happy are you now that you’re a mother of two lovely children
after you have stayed without a child for some years?
Naturally, I have decided not to talk about my home because there is always
honour in whatever you have and you don’t make it public. So, I wouldn’t
want to go into that area.
But it’s public knowledge already, so talking about it can only be
additional.
Yes, you’re right that everybody knows about it but not until I say it
myself. But according to your question, from the bottom of my heart I
will say I am extremely joyous and I give glory to God. I say thank you
to God and to my fans out there because they have also been praying for
me. And God has answered their prayer. To be honest, I will say I
am very happy, physically you can also notice that in me. And not only
that, I am also happy, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically. It’s
a thing of joy and I will forever be grateful to God for that.
What was the step you took to have ushered in that change in your
life?
How would I know? It’s not by my power or might but the grace of
God. It has been God who has been with me all through. It’s not as
if I know how to do it. It’s not as if somebody advised me on how to go
about it. Fine, some people might advise you but it depends on whether
you will follow their advice. But I just left everything in the Hands of
God, and it really worked. That’s why I keep thanking Him.
Just like few of your colleagues, are you also wife number two or
three to your husband?
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Whether I am number one, two,
three, four, five or even 10, all I know is that I am happily married, period.
Going by what you have gone through in the process of looking on to
God for the fruit of the womb, would you share part of the experience with your
fans out there?
I really don’t think about it. Just like I said, it’s just by the special
grace of God, not that I am better than any other person. One of the
reasons I don’t bother thinking about it is that if you move from a bad
situation to the worse one, that’s when you will be crying up and down.
But if God has smiled on you and gave you no reason to think about the bad
past, you will not even remember to think of anything again rather than giving
thanks to God all the time.
For instance, when you become rich, you will keep wondering how you survived
the situation when you had nothing. You will not even be able to recall
the experience just because God has put smiles on your face. That’s one
of my interesting stories. God has really smiled at me and moved me from grace
to higher grace. I thank Him for that.
Can you tell the exact age you had your first child and how painful
was it then being your first experience?
I don’t want to comment further on anything like that. It appears
you’re stressing me too much, and you can’t force me to talk on it if I don’t
want to. Anyway, a lot of people have been asking me this question,
you’re not the first and I am sure you won’t be the last person to ask me a
similar question. But I think people should just take their time, keep
their fingers crossed on details about whatever they’re eager to know about
me. A movie is coming out that will encompass everything about Lepa
Shandy. I am sure they will all want to watch the movie. But for now, I
have decided to keep everything under wrap. They should just watch out,
everything will be answered in the movie, very interesting story of my life.
Now, you have been blessed with both male and female children, how
many more do you still want to give your husband?
(Laughs) As God wants it. But as for me, I am still looking on to God for a
set of twins, triplets, quadruplet and more (laughs). That means I want
to have many children.
Before God blessed you with lovely kids, have you ever had the
experience of people discussing your situation ill-fatedly at your back?
You should expect that, are we not Yoruba? Even, other tribes do that
also. Some would say it but not to your face but someone else will tell
you. Even those I call my friends. But that doesn’t mean I won’t
make friends with them again. They are still my friends. It’s
nobody’s business whatever happens in another person’s life. I think
things will be better off if people learn to mind their business. When
you see your fellow human being in a particular problem or situation, you don’t
need to laugh at the person but pray for him or her because what’s happening to
the person may not be his or her handiwork.
Now that you’re back to Nigeria, do you still intend to go back to
the UK?
Of course, yes. Are you not my friend? I think you should know
me better than every other person. Let me say UK will eventually be my
home. After all, my husband is there. I have got no choice.
Although, I am a Nigerian, I will still go back to the UK, even if it’s just
for holiday.
What next do you want your fans to be expecting from you?
Something big. A lot of my fans have accosted me on the road, asking
me what happened that they have not been seeing me. But I told them
everything is about the situation of the country. I keep telling them
they should just be expecting something big from me. My best is yet to
come, I will definitely make them happy.
Can you tell us the decision you regretted taking?
I have outgrown that. I don’t regret anything about the past.
Whatever you have done is your destiny. So, it belongs to the
past. There may be some mistakes you make and you will still move on
whereas if other people make some mistakes, they can’t come out of them
forever. So, I don’t dwell on the past. I have made some mistakes
but I don’t regret any.
Lest we forget, you’re once in a relationship which couldn’t work
and that’s what led to the second one, do you still communicate with your
ex-husband?
I will point out two things here. First, anything that we call past,
let it remain in the past. Secondly, anything ex also belongs to the
past. So, let it be where it belongs. I don’t talk about the
past. The past is gone forever. In fact, it’s dead and
buried. Please, let the past rest in peace.