Despite her passion for acting, she has added another feather to her cap as the publisher and the CEO of Central Star magazine. Mariam Omolara Barake, actress, is a mother of three. In this interview with SEYI SOKOYA, she speaks on why she ventured into magazine production, her take on the Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (ANTP) crisis and her fashion preferences. Excerpts:
Why I kept a low profile.
I agree with you that I kept a low profile in recent time. It was my decision to focus on another things and I don’t have any regret that I am still in the industry. I think it was high time for me to take such step since I had already registered my face in the minds of my fans and it was a thing I have been longing for years back. To me, what I am doing at present is still part of entertainment. I now produce a magazine called ‘Central Star magazine’. Despite all odds, the outcome is really impressive. The magazine focuses on the entertainment industry, both up-and-coming and stars, legends of the industry, entertainment events, behind the scenes, culture and tradition among others.
Weather I am tired of acting.
I can’t be tired of my passion. It is just that I had to purse for a while. It got to a stage that I had to mellow down to focus more on my family. I discovered that my family needs me more, so I had to make a u-turn to attend to my home diligently before any other thing.
How I discovered acting.
Unknown to me, I had the talent right from my tender age. Back then, I made people around me laugh and happy. The way I pronounce some languages, even in Yoruba amazes people, but indirectly it was funny to them. Though, I am a quiet person, I feel I love to be in another world. Gradually I discovered myself and I am proud to be part of the stakeholders of the industry. The experience has been interesting and I feel glad to be a professional actress. Nobody had really influenced my career because my talent was revealed to me.
Growing up.
It was fun. I was brought up from a mixed family. A Hausa and Yoruba background; my father is Hausa man from Kano precisely and my mum is from Ifon in Ondo State. My dad is a retired officer and a business man, while my mum was a banker at the Union Bank until she retired. It’s always an interesting family; I have three sisters and a brother.
Challenges in the industry.
I don’t see challenges as a stumbling block, it is part of what you should expect when you want to achieve a result in whatever you lay your hands upon. I am always ready to face anything I come across. I am used to it in my previous businesses. I was into auto mobile business. I travel to neighbouring countries like Togo and Mali to buy and sell cars. I am also into treasure stones businesses. These businesses had prepared me to face any other challenges I might come across later in life, especially in the entertainment industry. Whatever I experience in the industry today is not new to me. I love to meet and relate with different people every day because that is the only way to learn. I have encountered lots of challenges. I could remember what I faced when I featured in one of the movies that shut me into limelight. There were lots of discrimination against uncle Jide Kosoko’s auditioning. Some people tried to poison his mind not to use me because I am not a Yoruba person, but he insisted and at the end, God had His way; he eventually picked me. But the joy is that I have been able to impact life positively with my talents.
My favourite film.
I have featured in several movies and I have also produced couple of movies too; three precisely. In fact, I have one that I am working on at present titled ‘Omi’ (water). I have done ‘Se o tan,’ ‘Igba ara,’ and ‘Obirin rere.’ All are my favourite because I like to share experience, act different roles as well as meet different people.
My take on ANTP crisis.
I want to use this medium to charge everyone that wants progress for this association to look inward on the things that will bring it back to its right. I am really interested in the progress of the association and that is one of the reasons I support the vision of President Ashaolu. I think we should all join hands to support his vision. He had carried out a lot of landmark projects and reasonable activities to foster unity in the association. He is really fighting actors that are lacking behind. He is trying to bridge the vacuum and create equal right among all actors. There are large numbers of talented actors suffering due to neglects; these are the set of people that are very punctual in meetings and strive to pay their dues. Ashaolu is standing against these bad ideas and I think we should join hands with him to restore oneness that would lead this association to our promise land. It is sad that we are yet to have our own office as an association. Currently he is creating harmony between the Yoruba actors and others in the movie sector. He is also making efforts that ANTP could also have access to the funds government gave the industry. It is high time we all reason together and have collective minds to move ANTP forward.
I agree with you that I kept a low profile in recent time. It was my decision to focus on another things and I don’t have any regret that I am still in the industry. I think it was high time for me to take such step since I had already registered my face in the minds of my fans and it was a thing I have been longing for years back. To me, what I am doing at present is still part of entertainment. I now produce a magazine called ‘Central Star magazine’. Despite all odds, the outcome is really impressive. The magazine focuses on the entertainment industry, both up-and-coming and stars, legends of the industry, entertainment events, behind the scenes, culture and tradition among others.
Weather I am tired of acting.
I can’t be tired of my passion. It is just that I had to purse for a while. It got to a stage that I had to mellow down to focus more on my family. I discovered that my family needs me more, so I had to make a u-turn to attend to my home diligently before any other thing.
How I discovered acting.
Unknown to me, I had the talent right from my tender age. Back then, I made people around me laugh and happy. The way I pronounce some languages, even in Yoruba amazes people, but indirectly it was funny to them. Though, I am a quiet person, I feel I love to be in another world. Gradually I discovered myself and I am proud to be part of the stakeholders of the industry. The experience has been interesting and I feel glad to be a professional actress. Nobody had really influenced my career because my talent was revealed to me.
Growing up.
It was fun. I was brought up from a mixed family. A Hausa and Yoruba background; my father is Hausa man from Kano precisely and my mum is from Ifon in Ondo State. My dad is a retired officer and a business man, while my mum was a banker at the Union Bank until she retired. It’s always an interesting family; I have three sisters and a brother.
Challenges in the industry.
I don’t see challenges as a stumbling block, it is part of what you should expect when you want to achieve a result in whatever you lay your hands upon. I am always ready to face anything I come across. I am used to it in my previous businesses. I was into auto mobile business. I travel to neighbouring countries like Togo and Mali to buy and sell cars. I am also into treasure stones businesses. These businesses had prepared me to face any other challenges I might come across later in life, especially in the entertainment industry. Whatever I experience in the industry today is not new to me. I love to meet and relate with different people every day because that is the only way to learn. I have encountered lots of challenges. I could remember what I faced when I featured in one of the movies that shut me into limelight. There were lots of discrimination against uncle Jide Kosoko’s auditioning. Some people tried to poison his mind not to use me because I am not a Yoruba person, but he insisted and at the end, God had His way; he eventually picked me. But the joy is that I have been able to impact life positively with my talents.
My favourite film.
I have featured in several movies and I have also produced couple of movies too; three precisely. In fact, I have one that I am working on at present titled ‘Omi’ (water). I have done ‘Se o tan,’ ‘Igba ara,’ and ‘Obirin rere.’ All are my favourite because I like to share experience, act different roles as well as meet different people.
My take on ANTP crisis.
I want to use this medium to charge everyone that wants progress for this association to look inward on the things that will bring it back to its right. I am really interested in the progress of the association and that is one of the reasons I support the vision of President Ashaolu. I think we should all join hands to support his vision. He had carried out a lot of landmark projects and reasonable activities to foster unity in the association. He is really fighting actors that are lacking behind. He is trying to bridge the vacuum and create equal right among all actors. There are large numbers of talented actors suffering due to neglects; these are the set of people that are very punctual in meetings and strive to pay their dues. Ashaolu is standing against these bad ideas and I think we should join hands with him to restore oneness that would lead this association to our promise land. It is sad that we are yet to have our own office as an association. Currently he is creating harmony between the Yoruba actors and others in the movie sector. He is also making efforts that ANTP could also have access to the funds government gave the industry. It is high time we all reason together and have collective minds to move ANTP forward.
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