Ashionye Michelle Raccah is a lady with an infectious smile; an affirmation that she is enjoying a great balance with her career, family and social life. She shared with YETUNDE OLADEINDE her achievements, challenges and plans for the future, including the launch of her new movie, Journey to self.
WHAT has been happening to you? I run a company called Alleykat Media which worked with Fressia Entertainment to produce the movie, Journey to self. Basically, I wrote and produced the film, while the executive producer is Fressia Entertainment.
It is my first screen play and I also featured in it with Katherine Obiang, Nse Ikpe Etim, Dakore Akande and Tosin Sido. Of course, there are other support and cameo appearances.
It is an intense story of friendship, sacrifice, empowerment and self-respect.
Four childhood friends, Regina, Nse, Rume and Alex, get the news that another long time friend of theirs, Uche, has died.
Uche was the magnet that pulled her friends together and over the years had become their shoulder to cry on, so much so that she never felt she could tell them about her own problems.
As part of her last request, the ladies travel to Uche’s home in Abuja for her funeral.
The four ladies, on arriving at Uche’s house, find that she has left a series of letters in which she speaks to them from beyond the grave. The letters provoke her friends to open up on emotional baggage, as secrets and fears are revealed, leading to a journey of self discovery. For Regina, Nse, Rume and Alex, the weekend they spend in Uche’s house becomes an emotional roller coaster as individual characters are tested.
Why are you interested in doing this?
Basically, I have been interested in empowerment. If you look at my journey so far in entertainment, you would see that I am passionate about women and children. When I was writing the screenplay, I was interested in the happenings about a year ago. The stories of the women in Journey to Self are actually the stories that I read about.
Personally, I felt there was a need to read about their stories.
As you’re probably aware, I’ve always been a proponent of women’s rights and female empowerment in the past, the ‘Girlpower’ series being one of my initiatives. It was natural, therefore, as I set my mind to writing scripts, that one of the first I wrote would deal with some of the issues women face in their relationships both with men and in there friendships with other women.
Are the stories positive or negative?
They are positive stories and it is a family movie. It is basically talking about the problems of five friends. It is a journey of struggles; things they go through are things that affect other people in their lives. It could be their children or their husbands. I believe that it is a story real people would like to watch. These are real issues that affect real women not just in Nigeria but all over the world.
Talking about family and friendship, many believe that it is difficult sustaining marriages these days. Those who are married are not sure of what to expect. What do you think of the trend?
I played the role of a character who is married to a banker, played by Kalu Ikeagwu, with two children. She is in an abusive relationship. A lot of women today in Nigeria and in the world can relate with that.
Basically, we are using the movie to send out a message, that whatever the situation you are in you can find a solution. If you have been in an abusive relationship for years, you don’t necessarily have to be there suffering in silence. There is someone out there who is ready to listen to your story.
Personally, you are married. How has it been like?
It’s been fantastic, my husband and I are like friends; we are like brother and sister more than being husband and wife. We don’t have secrets, we share everything together. I believe that is what has been keeping the marriage going, So far we have been married for three years plus and we have a son who is two years plus as well. We thank God for the journey so far, and we are praying to be together till we are grey and old.
What about the challenge for women having to drop their jobs or identity after marriage; what advise do you have for men?
I don’t think marriage should change that aspect of a woman’s life. For a man, you are dating a woman, and if she is an actress, you met her in that career or job, you should let her keep that job. Fine, you can have restrictions. You could give restriction, like no kissing on set or doing certain things on set. Restrictions of that sort, I say restrictions for a better choice of words. This, because I know men are jealous, African men. Nigerian men are jealous. But it does not mean that you can limit your wife and ask her to stop the job she loves.
Yet the men do all kinds of things…..
Well that is another topic for another day.
From my angle, I am lucky to be married to someone who is also in the business, who enjoys it. There are no restrictions he believes in professionalism. If he calls for whatever, I have to do it but we sit down and discuss it.
And if I personally feel that I can’t do what I am asked to do on set, then I have to let the director know that we have to twist this thing a bit and find a way around it. We did that on the set of Journey to Self for Dakore Akande.
When was the turning point in your career?
In my career there have been lots of turning points. I have been doing this for about twelve years and it is what I have always wanted to do. I am happy that I am using being a celebrity to touch people’s lives.
Are you going to be doing this for ever? Or do you have other dreams like moving into public life?
Politics? No, not at all. For now I am not thinking about it. Maybe, never say never. But right now there is no politics on my agenda.
Yes I want to do this for the rest of my life. I want to do music, I want to do acting and want to do more of production. As I said before, I have a production company called Alleykat Media. I want to do more of this, for film and for television. This would be the very first of loads of things to come.
Talking about women’s empowerment, do you think we have gone far since Beijing?
Yes, we have gone far but I think there is still a lot more to be done. There are loads of areas that need to be touched but I believe it should start from home. I think charity should begin from home. I believe every woman should build a happy home and spread out. I think there are lots of women that go through battering in their homes. I don’t think any woman should go through battering in her home.
