Nigerian actress Aisha Lawal has recently offered insights into her decision to maintain a low-key presence on social media, diverging from the trend of some of her peers who are more open about their personal lives online.
Lawal attributes her reserved online behavior to her disciplined upbringing and a desire to avoid actions that might potentially embarrass her children in the future.
Having grown up in Ibadan, Oyo State, Lawal wholeheartedly embraces the Yoruba adage that “what is hidden has more prestige.”
She emphasizes her identity as a “typical Yoruba girl” and underscores her mother’s role as a retired school principal who instilled in her strong values and discipline. Lawal underscores her intention to refrain from engaging in any online activity that might cause embarrassment to her children down the line.
In a conversation with Saturday Beats, Lawal expounded on the significance of maintaining an untarnished image in the entertainment industry.
In her own words;
“I am a typical Yoruba girl. I grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Yorubas have a saying that what is hidden has more prestige. Also, my mum is a retired principal, and she does not take nonsense. I try as much as possible to avoid anything my children would be embarrassed to read about in the future.
“There is a saying in the industry that every publicity (whether positive or negative) is good publicity. But, I think having a clean record is also good. Whatever one writes on a clean blackboard would be clearly seen, but if there are a lot of jargons on the board, whatever is written on it won’t be too clear.”
While it's commonly believed that any kind of publicity is advantageous for one's career, she underscores the importance of maintaining an impeccable reputation.
Drawing a metaphor, she likens a clean blackboard to a clear record, suggesting that an unblemished slate results in greater clarity and understanding.
The actress, renowned for her role in the acclaimed film “Jagun Jagun,” provides insights into her criteria for choosing roles.
“There are scripts that one would receive, and it would be evident that they hold great potential. That’s how I felt when I received the script for the movie. Whenever I receive a script, I assess how challenging my role would be. I then consider the storyline and ask myself whether it's something I'd want to be a part of.
Lastly, I consider the compensation. Most actresses in my age group shy away from epic movies, perhaps due to the inclusion of incantations and other elements. But, I embrace challenges,” she elaborated.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the current state of the Nigerian film industry, Lawal notes the emergence of high-quality productions.
She observes that the industry’s storytelling prowess has always been present but previously might have been somewhat concealed.
“I feel positive about the caliber of films being released these days. I've always known that we (Nollywood) possess storytelling prowess, though it might have been under the radar. However, the industry is growing, and we're here to stay,” she concludes.
