Nigerian actress Yetunde Wunmi revealed that her decision to pursue a career in acting was the reason her marriage ended. She shared this story during an interview with BBC Yorùbá.
The 64-year-old actress started her journey in the entertainment industry in 1982 as a member of Sunday Akinola’s theatre group. Her passion for acting grew significantly after she encountered renowned filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan.
Recalling the experience, she said, “Adelove brought the stage drama to Danjuma Film near my home. I remember that day vividly; he wore all white, even his shoes, and stepped out of a white car. Everyone rushed toward him, and I joined them, just wanting to touch his clothes. It made me so happy, like I had touched something precious. That moment sparked my love for the theatre. I eventually lost my marriage because of this passion.”
Yetunde Wunmi emphasized that despite the challenges, she never regretted choosing theatre, feeling grateful for the opportunities she had.
She also recounted a significant memory from her early days in the theatre group. At the time, she was caring for a baby less than 41 days old. One day, while taking a stroll, she saw her theatre group rehearsing and learned they were planning a trip. Without informing her husband, she told him she was visiting her mother in another town but instead joined the group on their journey to Ilorin for stage performances.
“During the performances, whenever I had to go on stage, I would wrap my baby in my costume and hand the child to someone, then take the baby back after my performance. The next day, my baby developed a high fever, so I went to the pharmacy for medicine,” she shared.
A few days later, her boss suggested she return home due to the baby’s condition, but she chose to stay. She received N16 as payment, the same amount she had spent on her child’s treatment. Despite the challenges, she was content just to be part of the performance.
Tragically, the baby passed away at the age of one year and ten days. “The most painful part is that the child did not get to share in the success I later found in theatre. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever,” she said.
