CELEBRITY NEWS
Despite the controversies surrounding Nollywood actress Foluke Daramola's marriage to new hubby, Kayode Salako, the duo seem to be growing stronger.
And in a new interview with TheSun, Foluke explains she shouldn't be blamed for her new husband's failed former marriage. That she's just a young woman trying to find happiness for herself. Excerpts:
At what point should a married woman give up on marriage?
Why I didn't continue with my first marriage was because I found out that everything about it was wrong - emotionally, physically and otherwise. I wasn't only affected; my children also were affected. As a film producer, I have seen and heard many stories of how a strained relationship can affect the kids. Even though, people were thinking that maybe I was following the footsteps of other celebrities, I just had to take the decision.
What caused the strained relationship?
I don't know, my self-esteem wasn't there. Though, I didn't apportion blames because I know that I have my faults. I just knew that it wasn't working and I just put an end to it. I blame myself also because I felt that I was in a hurry to get married, because my friends were also into it. The fact that I stepped off my marriage doesn't make me a bad person. People will always talk, they will just criticize me, and perhaps, I had died in the marriage, they would have asked why I didn't take the bold step to quit the marriage. My husband also came from a marriage where his wife took the bold step to quit. Now, I shouldn't get the blame. I feel that everyone has the chance to be happy and avoid what people will say. Even Jesus Christ who did well all his life was criticized and killed.
How did you meet your new husband?
After my marriage broke, I waited for like five years before I entered into another marriage. I didn't start a relationship with my new husband, no, he was my colleague; we were both activists. I realized that we shared the same ideology and he was like a best friend to me. At a point, I decided that since I derived happiness from staying with him, I should just give it a try.
How will you safeguard your marriage so it doesn't turn into something you never bargained for?
I have a marriage principle; the only reason I will leave my marriage is for physical abuse. I won't compromise it again. It makes someone to be dead spiritually because you lose your self-esteem and die inwardly. I can deal with infidelity but not physical abuse because I might not live to tell the story.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Flavour has been accused of abandoning his close friend Mc Loph's now late mum and son after his death. But in a recent interview, Flavour broke his silence and cleared the air about his relationship with the late singer.
Excerpts: The death of your colleague, MC Loph, generated a lot of controversies; it was alleged that you abandoned his mother when he died.
MC Loph and I weren't as close as people thought. I met Loph through Mr. Raw when I came to Lagos. He wanted me to produce for him the same way I was producing for Mr. Raw. Somehow, we came together and we did the Osondi Owendi song. We later found out that we came from the same village.
Was there an issue after the song was released?
I played a very big part in the song. People would always want me to perform the song. But I couldn't. What is the essence of collaborating when you cannot play the song? It didn't make any sense. He said people told him I was performing his song. I felt, 'oh, it is now your song?' That was the last time we really spoke to each other. I decided to 'free' him.
So he told you not to perform the song?
Yes. He didn't pay me to feature in the song. My voice was significant in the song. He was more popular than me in Lagos then. But I was more popular in the East. So if I was called to come and perform at shows, I would tell them to call MC Loph and pay him since I couldn't feature the song. I did a song with Tiwa. I don't mind if she performs the song. People would think of Flavour if she performs the song. That is the essence of collaboration. I don't even rap. I wouldn't have tried to take his line because I don't know how to rap.
Did you ever meet his mother?
I met his mother just once in my life. We went for a show at Nnewi (Anambra State) and we passed through our village. He got down to see his mother and I followed him. I greeted her and I gave her money that day. She was very happy. We left. I was surprised when people started saying I abandoned his mother when he died. It is not fair to talk about this since he is no more.
But then, I feel it is time I became honest and open up because people have said a lot of things about me. It is not fair. He never greeted my father one day, let alone visiting him. But I couldn't confront him because of that. I felt he didn't have any business with my father. He could choose to greet him or not. We were not related, we just came from the same village.
Are you saying you people were not friends?
We were not friends at all. We just did a song together. People just had a misconception about the whole thing. I never told anybody this before and I still insist it is not something we should talk about.
Why didn't you attend his burial ceremony?
I had a show. My mother went on our behalf. Some members of my staff went as well. In my place, they say condolence never expires. I can still walk up to that family and condole with them. My brother died and I wasn't there. We had a show as well. It wasn't anything personal. My father understood that I couldn't come for my brother's burial because I wasn't around.
