The Veteran Actress, Bukky Ajayi loves what she does for a living with passion. She converted to Islam in the early eighties and choose the name Zainab. Her love for the theatre started as a young girl when her father used to take her to the cinemas.
"I used to tell him that one day I am going to be like one of those actresses, but unfortunately he never lived to see me become an actress,it’s a pity but that’s God’s will. When I was a very young girl, my interest was so much that I used to do a cardboard sort of cinema for children, and I used to charge them half a penny to come and watch".
Later, the opportunity came for her to study in England. She was abroad for six years, as a Federal government scholar.She left England and came back to Nigeria after her education in 1965 and started out working in Nigeria Television as a presentation assistant in 1966.
"Then we had an extremely good leader in Dr. Christopher Kolade, who was always monitoring what we do.
Back then,we had this Thursday meeting, which all announcers all over the states must attend, and this kept all of us on our toes.
Then it was not a question of being glamorous, because unknowingly, you will be recorded off transmission the night before the meeting, the tape will now be played back on that day whilst we are having the meeting, and the best part is that, a younger person who is just coming in will be asked to criticize you, so that kept all of us on our toes.”
Afterwards, she became a presenter and then a news reader.She presented a couple of children’s programmes and ‘Nigeria’s Sketches’, a programme which was all about Nigerian culture, and Diran Ajijedidun of blessed memory was her producer.She was later transferred to Port Harcourt and later back to Lagos, and it was at that time she started her acting career.
She started with the ‘Village Headmaster’ in the 70’s,and she later got a role in Amaka Igwe’s ‘Checkmate’. She has featured in so many home videos that she has lost count. Shooting of international film Critical Assignment in South Africa, is one of the events of her life that she will never forget.
"It gave me an opportunity to see how it is done elsewhere, other than Nigeria,where a movie is shot in five days. I went round the country. I saw how a star is treated.For once in my life, I was a star, I was treated as a star, and I believe I am a star.I had my own caravan with my name on it, my own car with a driver who doubles as my security man. And on days when I am not working the car is there to take me wherever I want to go. I had a lovely time, I enjoyed it and I said to my almighty Allah that Hollywood is the next step.”
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2016 edition of AMVCA, which held on Saturday March 5, may have come and gone, but it left us all with beautiful memories that will linger on as it turned out to be the best so far. From the decor, to stage, fashion statement made by guests and the delivery of performers, everything was on point.
The high point of event, which has been the major topic on social media sphere since Saturday March 5, 2016 when veteran actress, Bukky Ajayi was announced the winner of this year’s AMVCA Industry Merit Award.
The Industry Merit Award was given to her alongside another veteran actor, Sadiq Daba for their contributions towards the growth of the Nollywood.
Standing ovation greeted the announcement of the 82-year-old actress as she was wheeled to the stage to receive her priceless award. With tears rolling her cheeks, the octogenarian actress pleaded with anyone she has offended to forgive her just as she has forgiven anyone that has offended her. Her speech was emotional as silence enveloped the hall while it lasted.
In celebration of the talented role interpreter, we bring you 14 things you must know about her.
1. She was born a christian but converted to Islam in the early eighties and chose the name Zainab.
2. Her love for the theatre started as a young girl when her father used to take her to the cinemas.
3. She used to tell her dad that one day she’s going to be like one of those actresses, but unfortunately he never lived to see her become an actress.
4. When she was a very young girl, her interest for acting was so much that she used to do a cardboard sort of cinema for children, and used to charge them half a penny to come and watch.
5. Later, the opportunity came for her to study in England. She was abroad for six years, as a Federal government scholar.
6. She left England and came back to Nigeria after her education in 1965 and started out working in Nigeria Television Authority(NTA) as a presentation assistant in 1966.
7. Afterwards, she became a presenter and then a news reader.
8. She presented a couple of children’s programmes and ‘Nigerian’s Sketches,’ a programme which was all about Nigerian culture, and Diran Ajijedidun of blessed memory was her producer.
9. She was later transferred to Port Harcourt and later back to Lagos, and it was at that time she started her acting career.
10. She started with the ‘Village Headmaster’ in the 70s, and she later got a role in Amaka Igwe’s ‘Checkmate.’
11. She has featured in so many home videos that she has lost count.
12. Shooting of international film ‘Critical Assignment’ in South Africa, is one of the events of her life that she will never forget. It gave her an opportunity to see how it is done elsewhere, other than Nigeria, where a movie is shot in five days.
13. Bukky Ajayi’s popular movies include Mother of George, Indecent Girl, Diamond Ring, Witches, Thunderbolt among others.
14. She’s Jazzman Olofin’s grandmother-In-law.
15. One of her sons is Abounce (Olakunle Fawole), a veteran rapper. Abounce is one the founding fathers of the Nigerian Hip Hop culture. He is also a music producer and actor (a trait he got from his legendary mother, the sensational screen goddess Bukky Ajayi). Abounce has featured in films like Diamond Ring, Apostle Kasali, Cash Money among others.
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