How I became Queen of Uke kingdom -Tayo Sobola

By Damilola Fatunmise

Nollywood star, Tayo Sobola, also known as Sotayo Gaga, recently spoke with Saturday Sun about her experiences as a new mother, her ascension to the queen mother of Uke kingdom in Nassarawa, her upcoming film projects, and much more.

Enjoy!

About two years ago, you announced that you were fully back in the movie industry and up till now, we haven’t seen you on our screens; why the delay?

Honestly, I am back. I am ready for my movies and other people’s movies too. The thing is, I thought I was back early last year, but pregnancy humbled me, and I obeyed, and now I am just four months old as a mother, so I am ready.

Now that you are a mother, what has changed about you?

Nothing really, I am still that Tayo you know way back. Trust me. Just one thing that I noticed about me is that I think I am softer now; there were some posts I wouldn’t give a deeper look at before, but now that I am a mother, I pay attention to posts related to minors.

Are you giving the cinema project any shot soon?

No! 

Why?

I don’t have the money and energy for that now.

Is Arewa Oni Ijongbon your first big movie project?

Yes! That was my first major project.

It’s now a trend in the movie industry that most people are bringing out projects related to their mother-titled movies, as seen in the likes of Funke Akindele’s Jenifa…, Toyin Abraham’s Alakade… Should we be expecting anything related to Arewa Oni Ijongbon or Bella?

Well, based on my personal beliefs, I don’t think a classic movie needs a rebranding. Leave people to their memories about your old jobs, not you trying to repackage a character that has already dawned on them. I am not trying to talk down on any of my colleague’s jobs, but just letting out my ideas.

Are you truly married to an Emir?

No. Not at all…

So, who is your husband?

My husband is a man, a very well-raised man who speaks English like you (laughs).

Rumour has it that you are married to a Hausa man, hence all these royal accolades; how true?

I am not married to any Emir, just that I am the queen mother of the Uke kingdom in Nassarawa.

How were you able to attain the position of Saruauniya in the Uke kingdom?

Hmmm… do you want to hear the full gist? The thing is, a man came to me to extend my charity donation to a kingdom, and initially I wasn’t ready for it. The guy was all on me that I should try. I decided to follow him, and when we were ushered into the visiting room, which was a big place, I went straight to a seat I never knew was meant for their late Queen Mother. I noticed people were coming in to whisper into the ears of the Emir, and I was wondering what was going on. I was later told to leave where I was sitting to go sit next to the king. The king had to tell me that the seat I went to sit on when I entered was for their kingdom’s Queen mother, and it had been said that their next queen mother would walk in at the appointed time, and all the signs they were given, I came in with it. I was shocked and started chatting with the people that I was afraid. The king made it all clear at that very moment that I couldn’t leave their palace without being crowned as the Saruauniya of the Uke kingdom. I was crowned, and I later went to the celebration. I would say it’s just been ordained that I will become their Saruauniya, which is a post next to the king himself.

Can you tell us how you were able to switch easily to their ways and culture?

You already know me, Dammy; I have always loved to represent royalty, and all these aren’t just now. It’s just that it’s more celebrated than before.

When you were absent from the screen some time ago, people were thinking you left acting for politics; how true is that?

I never left, I just took a break for some reasons, and yes, you will still see me in politics soon. Just watch out. I can’t go to school to study it and not put it into action.

Can you start as a special adviser to any of these big politicians, or do you have your plan of coming out all big?

Why not? If I am offered that position, I will gladly go for it. I can say I can because I know what I stand for. Look at Damilola Marsha now, she represents her boss very well because she is well read, not all these SA that don’t have any idea of what they stand for . There’s always this saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day. You start from somewhere and then to the top.

Can you still give video vixen a chance?

Very well, so far they are giving me money, I will.

You mentioned earlier that you do not have money for cinema projects, is that really true?

You see all that competitive energy, honestly I can’t deal and again I feel cinema is for the rich. Looking at our grassroots people who can barely have three square meals, how will they buy a ticket of N10,000 and above, transport themselves to and fro to a cinema just to watch a movie when with your cheap data you can sit in your comfort zone and enjoy a well detailed YouTube movie. I am always for the masses, come rain come shine. I look so deep into society and dish out what will be of good reach to as many as possible.

Looking at recent movies in the industry, do you think indigenous movies are back and better?There will never be a better time to do indigenous movies. It’s our culture and we can’t rule it out. The fact that most of my colleagues, both the ones who can speak the real Yoruba language and the ones who can’t, are bombarding us with it. Let us enjoy it while it lasts. Very soon, attention will be shifted to something else.

What’s up about your charity Foundation?

Funds and I mean it, I need money. I have personally been sponsoring my foundation all along. I am open to sponsorship. I visited my office a while ago and saw all the gift items that I wanted to give some schools last year before I realized I couldn’t visit those schools while heavily pregnant you know but on the low, I never stopped making an impact. Even if I didn’t do the well-known distribution, I do my own giving all the time.

Are you proud of the movie industry at the moment?

Very proud o! It’s a thing of joy that our works are rated well. I am super proud of us honestly. We are doing well.