Yinka Olukunga made her debut in Wale Adenuga Production’s Superstory as Nnenna. The actress, model and singer who has become a household name for kids and teenagers, in this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, speaks about what has kept Nnenna and Friends going, the power of dealing with children and why she has not featured in any other movie.
IS there any new project you are working on for your fans?
There is something new cooking at the moment. But it is going to be unveiled next year January. Nnenna is working on something, it’s been long I did that. Trust me, it is going to be bump, amazing, and very educating too. And we are also working on the end-of-the-year show, coming up December 15, 2013.
Talking about your love for children and putting up shows for them. What has kept the passion going?
First of all, I will say God. And secondary is my love for children, which I also got from Him too. I love children to a fault, I love them. For me sometimes, I sit down and ask myself, why do you love children? And I just can’t place it. My love for children and patience has been what has kept us going. And the company, Wale Adenuga Productions, has been wonderful and supportive because they believe in it.
Knowing some children can be stubborn, how do you handle them?
How much patience can you have? One thing you must know when working with kids is you need to be very patient with them. They can be very sweet when they want to be sweet, and they can be very naughty and stubborn, and that can be very frustrating for you. But as guardian, you need to be able to put in that patience, because you can’t treat them harshly.
You can’t, because you won’t drive your point across to them. You have to come down and talk to them, make them your friend. That’s how I do. Thelma, she is the brand manager. And rehearsal has started. Somewhere along the line, they did something, and I had to talk to them, and make them understand that I am hardly with them, and if she didn’t love them, she would have called their bluff. And that is what we do, we guide them. You will be amazed when you see them walk in and hear them greet Aunty Thelma how far? Aunty Nnenna I look older than you. You build that relationship with them.
Have you been in a situation where the kids confide in you?
Yes. We have that several times. Some parents would call and say their kids won’t get up from bed because I have not called to wish them happy birthday. Some parents would call to say, please talk to her, I know she will listen to you. Some would call to say today is my birthday, I want to give you a gift. That means, they want you to call them or give them something. And that is why I try my best to be there for them.
Tell us about the trip to Disneyland
It was wonderful, amazing, fantastic, and beautiful. We had fun. And response from parents have been encouraging, they have been supportive too. When it comes to Nnenna and Friends, we actually have support from parents. And that is because they know we are here to teach morals to the children. In our own little way, they know we will not lead the children astray and we are trying to help them build a future.
Was it Superstory that gave birth to Nnenna and Friends?
I would say it was an opportunity, because I have always been a lover of the children. I have always known I was going to do something for children, but I didn’t know the platform it was going to take. And the last form I felt it was going to take was Superstory. Because that was acting, I never saw it as a means to making that dream come through. Because Superstory is acting, it was different from my love for children. But somehow, God brought everything together and it was an opportunity for me to express myself.
How have you been coping with looks when you are in the public?
I am used to it. Before, it was strange, but now it is different. So I do that freely now. Many times, most time for me is children and teenagers. A child sees you and next she just runs up to you to cuddle you. You can’t toss the child away, you need to give it back. There was a day on location, a woman just ran up to me and just hugged me. It took me aback and I was like wow, you are a mother, why would you just hug me like that?
Do people know you are a Nigerian?
I guess. (Laughs) Maybe because of the way I look. But I do a lot of explanation even to children. A woman still told me recently, your hair is like my baby’s hair, your nose and eyes lashes are like my baby’s own. So I said, in other words, I am a baby. She is just six years old. So I have that a lot from children.
Would you say your stature is an advantage or disadvantage for you?
It is an advantage for me (laughs). I don’t mind really. It is still serving the purpose. My friends, the children, still see me and feel we are the same. One said to me recently, what class are you? And I was like I am done with school. And she looked at me and said, really? And some parents see me and say ‘Nnenna ojo ye ko lo ti da gba baye’. I was never young like that. I was young when I started Nnenna, but not the picture people have. They thought I was probably 16. But I am comfortable.
You are always carrying you natural hair. Is it that you don’t like extensions?
What else will I add to this one now? (Laughs) Just the easiest I can do with it is to pack it into a pony tail. And sometimes I just let it breathe. I can’t plait my hair because it is very soft, if I do it starts to hurt and I start having bumps. It is not as if I have not tried it, but it just didn’t work. I was not comfortable with it, it was itching, I just wanted to get it off. The heat, God, I can’t stand it.
Why are you so attached to the MFM sticker on your car?
(Laughs) Nothing personal, really. I attend Mountain of Fire. It is nothing, seriously. They wanted to remove it and I said no. it is like every normal person that has a sticker on their car.
How religious are you?
I don’t know o. I try my best possible to serve God and do that which He has commanded us to do. But like everyone else, I am a sinner, I sin every day, but then I go down on my knees to say, Father forgive me. I just try my best to be good.
What did your parent say to you when you chose acting as a career?
My father has always been somebody that will give you a free hand. He will definitely guide you, but he will let you do what you want to do. But when he sees you are going forward, and sees it is not the way, he will bring you back. My dad does not force things on you. In fact, I would say that my dad really saw it coming. Because when I was in school, I wanted to do science, but I remember him telling me, he didn’t see me doing sciences. That I should go for the art, so that I can study Mass Communication. But I said I wanted science and then he left me. And then I am back. But I relate with both of them. But it gets to a stage where you start relating with your mother, that’s when you start seeing yourself becoming one too. You start getting close to your mother and that’s when you start getting advice.
Why the preference for floral materials?
Floral materials, I don’t know. But there is this thing I get, the feeling. I just love it. It is babyish, it’s colourful. You hardly see any flowered materials coming in one colour. I love colours, I’m a colour freak. And it has this innocent look.
As a bundle of talent, when did you discover you could also sing?
It is a long story. But we were writing the proposal for Nnenna and Friends, the chairman said, Nnenna, Yinka Olukoya, an actress, a model, a singer, and I screamed and said I was not a singer. My boss, I really can’t describe that man. But as an elderly man, he saw what I didn’t see. And it is actually working. I sing for children only.
Any plans to become a professional singer in the future?
If I do, it will definitely be for the children, songs that will inspire them. And I can also inspire adults too.
Why did you say you can’t expose your body?
I can’t do it. I don’t think I should expose any part of my body for me to be known. I should be known for what I do best. How talented I am, how many lives are touched. Not by showing off what I have. There is even nothing to show off.
Apart from the WAP cast, do you communicate with other actors?
No.
But how do you get them to be part of your shows?
That is the work of the Brand Manager. But when I see them, I acknowledge them for being part of the show. And that is it.
How strict are you with these?
We try as much as possible to let them know what they can do now and what should be done later. You can see one of the teenagers that came in now. She was asked to go and report herself for using make-up. That is what we do. But we don’t do it in such a way that they will feel embarrassed. You communicate with them in such a way that the message can get to them. She was told to go and report herself playfully, but I’m sure the message has been passed. I tell them all these things you are eager to try out now, you will get tired. So, just wait till the right time before you start exploring, even my siblings at home.
It is believed that complexion like yours is not easy to maintain
Yes. But I try my best to take care of myself. Some use toning creams. But I won’t do that. Toning creams, I feel no matter how, I don’t know. Maybe if I was using it, I would have been fairer. I just use baby oil and body cream.
Are you all like this in your family?
No, just me.
Did your parent ever tell you their reaction when you came out looking different?
It was not strange to them, because my grandma was like this when she was alive. So, when I came out looking like this, they were like Oyinbo la bi. They were excited that she came back again.
Looking different from your siblings, what was growing up like?
There is a resemblance when you see them. We all grew up like normal kids.
As an actor, are you restricted to Wale Adenuga Produtions?
No, I can do for other production. But it’s all about timing. My project does not give me time to do other things. We were supposed to be in the studio, my manager had to reschedule because of timing. We are also planning for the end of the year show, so when I feel I’m through, something else comes up again. I don’t think I have that time. It is not as if I don’t do anything outside WAP, but we have to work with a time schedule.
Have you been getting scripts from other producers?
Yes. Currently, it is the timing. And the story has to have morals. I don’t want to be in a movie that people would watch and at the end of the day ask which moral lesson they have learnt. Even if it is comedy, you should be able to get out something from it in a joking way. So, the story goes a long way too.
