Men don’t see actresses as marriageable, they see us as toys - Omoge Campus

Aisha Abimbola Musa is an actress and she’s popularly known as Omoge campus because of her lead role in the Yoruba movie titled Omoge Campus released in 2002. The graduate of Hotel Management and Catering, and mother of two reveals in this interview with www.angeladaviesblogspot.com that a lot of men don’t see actresses as marriageable. She also spoke on other matters of interest.

Tell us briefly about the movie Omoge Campus

Omoge campus was one of my first lead movies and a very challenging one at that. I was a bad girl from the beginning to the end of the movie. That was in 2002 precisely.

I believe you are a wife and a mother

Absolutely

How do you combine your role as a wife, mother and acting?

It is God. When you have an understanding man who is also encouraging you, you try to balance these three areas so that none suffers.  The little time I have at home I make sure my kids feel me to the maximum. I spend lots of time with my kids, every little chance I have to spend with them, I don’t compromise. If I am going out, I go with them, if I am going to see friends, we go together. I make my presence felt with my kids whenever I am not working.

What is your definition of fashion?

Fashion to me means elegance and decency. It does not mean one emptying one’s bank account just because you want to look good. In as much as you want to look elegant, you have to put in mind decency and modesty. You don’t have to go naked just because you want to look good. So, I don’t subscribe to exposing things that are not supposed to be exposed all in the name of fashion. Look good but still cover up the things that ought to be covered.

How do you feel when some married women, even some celebrities, reveal their cleavage all in the name of fashion?

We have our individual differences. I guess they feel comfortable with it. If I should go semi- nude, I won’t feel comfortable. There are lots of things I do that my kids are aware of. Before I wear a cloth, my kids must have seen it. They are very inquisitive that when I bring out clothes, they will ask me, mummy is this a good or bad cloth? And you will be embarrassed. So, anything I can’t explain to my kids, I don’t do and I don’t wear.

 I can see that you have lali beautifully designed on your hands. Is this part of your fashion statement?

It is good to go traditional sometimes. I just got tired of having artificial nails so when I went for my niece’s wedding on December 15, I saw lily on everybody and I asked for and see how beautiful it turned out. It is something natural and traditional. It makes me feel Nigerian, African and I love it.

What do you have at the back of your mind when dressing for a red carpet event?

It is making a statement which is being gorgeous and decent. I have to be gorgeous so that when I appear on the red carpet, people will go wow, who is she? I have got the height and I wear high heels too, that is another plus. I make sure that whatever I wear must complement my physique, height and colour. Also, the outfit must be decent, that is very important for me.

What is the misconception you think people have about you?

People think I am rude and arrogant because of the roles I play most times. And for that, I don’t like to be stereotyped. However, because of my physique and voice people tend to be comfortable with me playing the role of a bad girl. Unfortunately, people have misconstrued me to be bad, arrogant and always snobbish but that is not me. But with the new roles that I have played of recent, people are trying to get acquainted with my real person, trying to separate me from whom I really am in movies.

So, can you please describe your personality?

Aisha Abimbola is a humble, extremely down to earth, God fearing, kind and gentle hearted.

How was growing up for you?

Growing up for me was really tough because I lost my mother two months to my 11^th birthday and I had to live with my father.  Well, living with a man there were lots of things about a growing girl that he didn’t understand and I missed my mum. And in 2002 when I should be graduating and having fun, my father too passed on. But I thank God because He said He will never leave me an orphan and He has been true to His word. God has been there for me and I am grateful for that.

How did you meet your husband and what was the attraction?

The attraction was what made us friends initially. He was a member of my church, Christ Embassy and we started talking about Pastor Chris, that was where the attraction started and we became friends. Months later, precisely on November 2, 2004 he asked me to marry him and I said we are just friends, no dating and no courtship. However on February 3, 2005 we were married.

What do you do to keep your marriage intact because a lot of celebrity marriages have crashed?

(Laughs) Na God, nothing pass God. A lot of men out there don’t see actresses as marriageable, they see us as toys. They see us as women they can just come to, gamble with and go. Imagine a man betting with his friend that I can date that actress, even marry her and have kids from her. And once he is done, he is gone. Before I was married, I had different impressions about marriage but now I know better. There are quite a number of women, even actresses who want to be married but when a man batters a woman and she is at the point of death, do you want her to still stay? A lot of actresses are facing this just that they cannot come out and say this is what we are facing. Some have tried maintaining a loveless marriage, they tried holding on to it and some of them are dead now. And I am not an advocate of such, if it is not working, don’t die there, instead of you to die and leave your kids as orphans, please leave and take care of your kids.

How do you cope with fame?

I prayed for fame and it is here so I try to handle it with care. I don’t over do it and I don’t allow it get into my head because my pastor said praises from the people should be taking as chewing gum. You take the sweet part and throw away the other part. When my fans see and greet me, I respond.  Some even call me on phone and I just answer like any other call. But the truth is that I don’t let it get into my head.

What puts you off people?

Liars and dirty people put me off. I love people being neat and clean. You don’t need to be rich to be neat. If you have only two or three shirts and you look clean in them, you will stand out. I like neatness; they say cleanliness is next to Godliness. Also, I like people telling the truth no matter how bitter it sounds.

What is the worst rumour you have heard about yourself?

I have been scandal free so to speak because I have never read any scandalous story about myself.

 When you feel low, what do you do to get your spirit up?

Sometimes I get hold of the bible, read my rhapsody of realities, listen to tapes and sometimes I go dancing to forget everything even though I am not a fantastic dancer but I learn new dance steps.

I believe you pray. What do you tell God when you pray?

I ask quite a number of things from God but everyday, the most important part of my prayer is thanksgiving and worship. Of all the children that were born in Idumota, of all the children that were raised by single parents, of all the children that were raised by no parents, he singled me out. That alone is something to thank Him for. I do thanksgiving and worship more because it is a privilege to be alive and not as if I am better, bigger or finer. It is just God being faithful to me.

Where are you from?

I am from Lagos State

What is your field of study?

I read Hotel Management and Catering at the Lagos State Polytechnic and graduated as a hotelier. I served in 2002/2003 at Yola, Adamawa State at the Nigeria Army Barracks, officers Mess.

How did you get into acting?

For me, acting is a passion. It is a talent and I cannot allow it to die even though I still go into my hotel business, and still do MC for my hoteliers sometimes.