Halima
Abubakar needs little or no introduction, she’s one of the most sought-after
actresses in the movie industry. The screen diva and multiple awards winning
star recently turned 29 and as expected she threw a lavish party
that had high profile celebrities in attendance. Enquirer Faith Irabor had an
interesting time chatting with the Kogi state born actress who spoke on issues
you would love to read. Come along.
What ’s been
happening to Halima lately?
Yeah,
good things and of course work! Been shuttling from one location to another and
we bless God for that. Then I also just finished shooting my personal movie
though still at the editing stages.
So who are
casts and who directed it?
It was
directed by Stanley Ebonile of Mode House Productions. As for the casts I have Yvonne Nelson, Mary Uranta, I have
myself, Bobby Michael, Ruth Kadiri and some up and coming acts in the industry. We just
finished editing and I’m still not satisfied, so I’m going to re-do some scenes
because we lost voices on some, so I am going to add more casts to it.
Oh really, so
what’s the story line about?
It
is about love, relationship, life and then games that’s all.
Your career
took a sudden shape for good recently and there are speculations that apart
from working more on your acting skills, your new sense of fashion contributed
to it, what’s your reaction to this?
Ok,
there’s no way I will put God aside when answering this question because to
some extent you’re right on the aspect that things are going well for me though
it can be better. As for the clothing aspect, I want people to see beyond that.
I am not going to win the biggest award in fashion if one is organized. What
I’m just saying is that no matter how much or how left or right I go with my
dressing, it’s the way I want to come out and the way I carry it that matters.
The fact is that I know fashion like others do but I choose not to dress the
way others do ; I just want to do my
thing in my own unique way whether they like it or not it’s something
that I’m happy doing, so I don’t think my fashion sense has for once affected
my career.
Do you mind
sharing one of those challenging periods in the industry when you felt like
quitting?
Yes,
sincerely severally. I was depressed for a long time; I was on medication of
different kinds, people just don’t know they were seeing just the outside and
criticizing, they didn’t know what I had to go through to be here today.
Can you share
one of such moments plus the sacrifice you made to be where you are today?
It’s
not easy oh, for over eleven years! I remembered one particular experience when
I was called for a movie, all the way to Asaba, and when I got there another
person was already shooting my scene, and I had to enter night bus crying all
the way back to Lagos. It was a painful
experience I must confess.
Waoh! But what
was the
excuse the director gave you?
I
don’t know, see I don’t want to expose the producer but definitely it was
because of one of those embarrassments that they expect to put upcoming
actresses to and I did not want to go through it so I had to come back to Lagos.
Mind you, I have encountered these several times, but now I’m glad because I
can say yes or no to jobs if some of them don’t want to give me, it will give
me time to rest and think about the future and what else to do; even if I’m not
acting truthfully I will still be successful ;
but I’m sure a lot of them are ashamed because of what they had to make
me go through; but I’m still glad for those who
trust me, invested and believed
in me, I have nothing to say than for God to bless and enrich them and they
will never lack; and for those who laughed at me during that period and
all that (laugh) today.
You recently
added a year, any resolutions?
Oh…
just to be myself, that’s my resolution and keep praying, my focus actually is
God and every other thing is secondary.
I heard you
celebrated your 29th but I seriously want to contend it?
(Laughs)
Sweetie, how old do you think I am?
I don’t know
it might be that you removed or added something and that’s why I am interested?
Ok,
no I’m not 30, I’m somebody that should be proud of my age because it’s not
easy, so I don’t have time to lie. My sister, that’s my real age o.
There have
been several speculations that you have properties here and there though some
have also help you denied it, so what’s the true situations of things?
I’m
a business woman and I’m proud of it so people should learn to understand that.
That has not
answered my question; ok what do you do aside acting?
I
am a farmer, a baker, I breed chicken, (laughs) I am a grandmother of so many,
my goats and sheep recently got delivered, so I’m into farming.
Is it true
that fire gutted one of your houses?
Yes
that’s in Kano
So what are
you doing to it now?
We
renovated the house but the business am doing there has been shot because of
the insecurity, I mean, who is going to patronize you when everybody is running
away from bomb, so we are relocating from Kano to a safer place.
Are you
planning to have one in Lagos?
Yes,
by the grace of God; I’m looking at an environment where they will like bread
(laughs) and cake before we start, I’m still looking around, we have seen one
or two though.
Then also
let’s talk about your personal life, a few of your close pals are of the
opinion that you’re not the serious relationship type?
I
just don’t share that aspect of my life, though it’s not true.
Is it that
you’re less bothered because of past heartbreaks?
I
have never and this is the truth, I don’t know how to lie about things like
this, I have never been heart broken in any way before; and secondly I just
think my career is what people should be interested in, my private life is my
business; of course I love the institution of marriage, you have to marry the
right man hence you`ll come out of it, I don’t want to come out and come to
think of it, it`s not that I’m even 30 yet, they want to marry me off or
something.
No, but at
least you should have a view that you are in a relationship and you are working
towards something positive?
Okay
, Yeah I have a relationship, I have a man and I love him, I just don’t want you
or anyone to know him, I hope you’re satisfied.
Is he in the industry?
Oh
God! No
If he
proposes to you today, will you say yes to him?
Oh
yes of course!
OK what was the attraction?
He
is funny that’s all
Just that?
Yes
Not money,
career and everything?
Money
keh, he his funny he makes me laugh he gets my jokes and I gets his even if it
is dry.
Are you
serious?
Yeah,
so we are just basically two funny people that clicked
So how long has
the relationship been on?
Two
years
Would you
consent to marrying a married man like some of your colleagues?
Like
I said everybody has destiny and a path, so theirs is different from mine.
But If it is
your destiny would you do same?
Oh
sure.
Are you
kidding me?
No
am not. it is destiny you say, but if it is my choice no.
But is your relationship
altar bound?
Sweetie,
I didn’t tell you he is my fiancée.
Sorry…is he
married?
No.
Can you quickly
run us through your educational background?
Oh
I’m educated in and out, period, I saw walls of University and more.
I also learnt
you’re going into publishing, is this a rumour?
No…
it’s not, see I need to invest more in businesses as a matter of fact I’m a publisher already I have my own magazine
it’s titled Mode House.
Do you have a
copy here?
No,
it’s not here.
What is it all
about?
It
is about me.
Are you
serious?
Yes.
As in
published by Halimah Abubakar?
Yes.
Is it life
style magazine?
Is
life style, chronic and everything that I am doing on the red carpet.
How are you
going to be selling it or is it for free?
Yes,
we are already selling it in Kwara State.
How much?
It
is 200.
Is it an all
coloured magazine style?
Yeah
it is all coloured.
And you are selling for that
cheap price?
Yes,
I want to make it affordable so that people can buy it.
But why are
you not making noise about it?
Automatically
yes because I want to bring it to Lagos but for now it is in schools.
Why Kwara
State?
Because
my younger brother is there
Ok, so that he
can be overseeing that aspect?
Yes,
he`s doing that already, he is only promoting the students of the school, the
upcoming musicians, actresses students coming up in various fields, soon we
will bring it to Lagos.
Probably to launch
it?
Yeah
to launch it, I want to launch it in
each local government, that’s the strategic plan am trying to work on right now
and make the necessary arrangements
before going fully into it. But trust me it’s not going to be a threat
to any magazine, it’s just Halima… don’t worry (laughs). Your magazine will
still sell and other magazines will still sell, I’m just excited.
So where is
everybody, your mummy and siblings?
They
are in Lokoja. My dad is in the farm not like farm compound, our farm is in the
farm house, so my dad is retired and he
is now taking care of the business, I’m
here trying to do as much as I can do;
and then my Mum is into the bakery, bread business so basically we are
now into the family business.
Where are your
younger ones?
One
of them was in Kano schooling but now she is in Lokoja till everything is cool,
she is the last in school any way. The rest are all graduates. My younger
brother is going for his service, and my elder sister is married with five kids
so my Mum is not in a hurry to get one from me.
For your fans
out there what do you have to tell them?
God
bless you, embrace Halima’s dressing if not leave me alone let me wear what I
want to wear and be happy with it.
And what would
you want to be remembered for?
Uniqueness.
It’s been nice chatting with
you
Thank
you so much.
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