Yetunde Wunmi: I lost my marriage, newborn baby due to passion for acting

Yetunde Wunmi, the actress born Taiwo Akinwande, has opened up about the sacrifices she made during her nearly four-decade-long career in theatre.

In an interview with BBC Yorùbá, the 64-year-old said her career as a stage performer began in 1982 under Sunday Akinola’s (Feyi Kogbon) theatre group.

She revealed that her passion for acting sparked after meeting the late legendary filmmaker, Adeyemi Afolayan.

The film star also revealed that her marriage ended due to her passion for acting.

Wunmi recalled taking her one-month-old baby to a performance in Ilorin, Kwara state, despite the child’s illness. She said the child unfortunately passed away at one year and 10 days old.

“Adelove brought the stage drama to Danjuma film close to where I lived then. I cannot forget the man. He wore all white that day. He wore a white shoe and came out from a white car,” she said.

“Everybody ran towards the man and I also went closer to make sure I touched his clothes. I was very happy at the time. It felt like I touched a gold. That was when my interest in theatre started to grow. I lost my marriage due to my love for this theatre.

“I never regretted doing theatre since then because God has been gracious to me.

“One experience I cannot forget was when I joined my boss’ group. I was nursing a baby who was still under 41 days. One day, I said let me stroll out but I saw my group having rehearsals. I asked if there was an outing. My boss’ wife then told me the troop was traveling. I did not tell my husband the truth. I only told him I was going to visit my mother in another town. I followed the troop to Ilorin where we started the stage performances.

“Anytime I was called to the stage to dance, I would use my costume to wrap the baby and give the child to someone and get the child back whenever I was done. The next day, the child was having a high temperature and I went to the pharmacy to get drugs for the baby.

“Two days later, my boss told me to return home due to the baby’s health but I refused and told him I was staying back. I was eventually paid N16 — which was the exact amount I spent on treating the child. I was not concerned because I was just happy to have been a part of the show.

“The most painful part of it was that the baby died after a year and 10 days old. So, the child did not enjoy the success of theatre with me. It is something I will never forget.”

Details about Wunmi’s romantic life are currently unavailable.