+What MAYORKUN Told City People
Popular actress, Toyin Adewale has come out to thank God for not stopping her son Mayorkun from singing.
Toyin Adewale is a top Yoruba actress who now lives in the US. She is the mother of popular Hip-Hop star, Mayorkun. She celebrated her 50th birthday a few weeks back and City People asked her how she feels. We also asked her to tell us how she took her son’s decision to go into music 3 years ago and she responded accordingly. City People wondered why she has kept a low-profile and she explained that it’s because she has been living abroad all this while.
“Nothing much has really been happening to me all these years,” She explained. “I have been in and out of the country for sometimes. But I later decided to relocate for personal reasons. I still act. I have not left acting and I can’t stop acting. Never. It’s what I have a great passion for and I would continue to do it as long as I have the strength.
“Yes, I still act, but I stopped producing for awhile due to the fact that I am not around for now. And again, I am trying to study the market to make sure the market is stable, then I would know what project to come up with that would be acceptable by my audience. I can never ever stop acting. It’s what I love doing. Apart from the fact that it puts food on my table, it’s what I enjoy doing. Acting gives me joy.”
Is it true she has relocated abroad?
“Yes, I have relocated to the US”.
How did she take Mayorkun’s decision to go into music 3 years ago?
“I was initially hesitant. It’s because actually I’m a mother that loves her children to follow their passion. But at the same time, I fear for their decisions at times.”
“In Mayowa’s case, when he decided to go into music fully, I was a bit scared. I didn’t discourage him though, but I wanted him to focus more on his Banking Career and take Music as a part time thing because I am in the entertainment industry, I know what it entails. It’s more of hyping than the real thing compared to banking that surely at the end of the month, your salary awaits you. But to the glory of God, he was able to come in contact with Davido and before you could say Jack Robinson everything became blown”.
“The only role I played and I’m still playing in his career is just giving him my blessings and supporting him in every aspect.”
Though, initially I tried connecting him with few people that could help push him then, but how he got to meet Davido was through his own effort and God’s favour.
How does she feel with what she has been able to achieve as an actress?
“When I look back at my acting career I feel good. I feel I have paid my dues. I feel a bit fulfilled, but I still want the industry to grow more, to grow better in all ramifications This year makes it 31 years I started acting professionally”. Any regrets? We asked her. Not at all. No regrets of any sort. I JUST LOVE ACTING”.
Mayorkun too is happy that his mum didn’t try to stop him from doing music. He told City People last weekend that he is happy that his mum allowed him. Today she has seen the result of her decision to support him. Who is Mayorkun? He is one of the hottest Hip Hop stars, currently rocking the music industry.
Everyone calls him Mayorkun. But his real name is Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel. He hit it big 3 yrs ago when Davido reached out to him, telling him he liked his music. They chatted and hit it off. Since then, his career has been on an upward swing. Lately, Maryorkun’s career has been on a roller coaster, travelling round the world, performing and signing deals. He just got back from a trip abroad and City People Online Fashion & Beauty Magazine reached out to him for an interview 3 weeks ago, but it was difficult getting him to speak initially. Once he arrived Lagos, he headed for the Studio to do some recordings for his series of singles which he is set to release, one after the other.
What does Mayorkun have up his sleeves? How does he rate his music career?
“My music career has been good. It has been smooth. I never expected this amount of success. Do you understand? I have been making music since I was like age 11, or, thereabout. I never had hope of doing music this big. Music career for me is sweet.”
Is he where he planned to be at this time?
“I can say Yes. I am. If I am being fair and honest I can say even I have passed where I thought I would be. This is like my 3rd year in music and I never planned of being in this place. I feel like I have passed where I thought I was going to be even in the next 4 years. It’s all about Grace, and love from everybody supporting. Yeah. It is what it is. Isn’t it?”
How did he convince his dad and mum to let him do music? He said, “convincing my dad was the easiest part. My dad is a realist. When I told my dad that Davido called me bla, bla, bla, he didn’t even argue. Of course, he knows who Davido is, so I didn’t need to explain too much.”
But my mum? Hmmmm! My mum gave me tough time; she was explaining to me how or why I shouldn’t depend solely on Entertainment because it’s a seasoned job. But again I convinced her that if it’s Davido, (I don’t know about someone else), but if it is Davido I think it is worth the shot. And we did. We took a big risk and it paid off. So yeah, God bless my Mummy and Daddy for their understanding. Yeah. We dey here. Shout out to my Daddy and Mummy.”
Which of his hit songs gave him his big break?
“Big break? I don’t know how to classify what big break is. My 1st song did so well for a 1st song. That was in 2016. I think my big break should be the one in 2017 when I dropped Mama. Mama changed the narrative for me. I could enter different places, and I was doing festivals. I was doing some great shows. I think I will say my big break come in 2017 with Mama. “What’s next for Maryorkun? “That is a big question. A lot. I just dropped a new single, featuring Kiss Daniel. It is really doing well. Its amazing. I will be busy dropping Singles, back to back this year. I will be headlining my 1st show in London on the 17th of November, 2019. I just concluded my Canadian tour also. I will be performing at different festivals. I will be doing Afro Nation, Ghana and Portugal. Then, finally, finally, for the year I will be doing my festival, like Maryor of Lagos on December 14th. That is basically what I have planned for the year.
How did you coin your nickname Mayorkun?
You want to know why I coined my nickname, Mayorkun? That is interesting. My real name is Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel. So from Mayowa, I had this natural nickname, Mayor. Then the Kun is from a Japanese “animation” I used to watch at some point. I learnt that Kun meant Boy and Chan means girl. So I took Kun and I added it to Mayor to form Mayorkun. So it’s M-a-y-o-r-k-u-n not Mayokun. That is it”.
