I disguise, avoid other Nigerians abroad after relocating – Lepa Shandy

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Veteran actress, Folashade Omoniyi-Adewale, popularly known as Lepa Shandy, speaks to EMMANUEL OJO about her career and related issues

You were shot into the limelight with the name ‘Lepa Shandy.’ How did the name come about?

My name is Folashade Omoniyi, now Folashade Omoniyi-Adewale, because I’m married. I’m popularly known as Lepa Shandy.It happened that I was offered a role in a movie by Gbenga Adewusi, Bayowa Films and the title of the movie was ‘Lepa Shandy’ and the funniest thing was that the name of the character in that movie was Shade, which is also my real name. So, after the movie, some began to call me ‘Lepa Shandy.’

I can recall that even before I took that role, I had a friend who used to call me ‘Lepa gawu.’ He took the name from a popular song that trended then. I was so mad with him each time he called me that. When I then acted that movie and it became a brand, that friend of mine was the first person to comment about it. There is a saying that there is power in the tongue and I will say that I am a testimony to that.

What is the meaning of ‘Lepa Shandy’?

The name of the character in the movie was Shade, but because of the business she was doing in the movie, they gave her ‘Lepa Shandy’ and it was because the character was a slim person. ‘Lepa’ means slim while ‘Shandy’ came from Shade; so, it means slim Shade.

You’re a slim person and incidentally your name is the same as that of the movie character. Was that why the producer gave you that role?

You see this life, you never know where God is taking you to or why God made you the way you are. You can never tell because nobody knows tomorrow. My growing up was funny — without shape. I was so slim. Even my dad got worried at some point, although he knew that I’m a light eater.

When I came into the industry and I was asked to play that role, I realised that God had a purpose for it. If I tell you the names of seasoned actresses that auditioned for that role at that time, you will agree. I was relatively new in the industry then and I was not popular. People that were known and had the name already at that time auditioned for that role but didn’t get it. Many things happened before I could get that role and it was just God.

It’s been decades now. Are you still as slim as you were in those days?

(Laughs)…… No. I have added a little more flesh now. I’m still not fat but just added a little more flesh here and there. At a point, some people accused me of not deliberating trimming down to preserve the brand that I created after the movie role. They said I didn’t want to add weight so I would not lose relevance. I just laughed. But I’ve added some weight now. Maybe then I was using size eight, now, I’m between size 10 and 12.

Do you now object being called Lepa Shandy?

I don’t have any choice. It has become my second name. Most people don’t even know my real name. If I go to any event and they introduce me as Folashade Omoniyi, it won’t ring a bell, especially when people cannot recognise me, but once they hear Lepa Shandy, they start roaring. So, I don’t have a choice than to stick to the name…