Can you believe that the Queen of Juju music, Queen Ayotunde Balogun is over 60? You had better believe it. She clocked 61 in December last year but do you know she does not look anywhere that age. Due to years of regular keep fit exercise at the Gym, eating right, and dancing on stage she has managed to keep her lovely figure and look. She has also kept a low cut for over 20 years. She started doing music 27 years ago as a Gospel musician, born in Ilesha, but spent her childhood in Ibadan and had her primary education there before moving to Lagos in 1972. She comes from a singing family where her mum sings soprano, she sings alto, and her younger brother sings tenor. So, the family has 3 three parts of music. She started as a chorister in the Methodist Church choir, Agbeni where she was raised. in Methodist Church, Agbeni in Ibadan before she moved to the Methodist Church, Palm Avenue. She attended Agbeni Methodist Church Primary School in Ibadan and came to Lagos in 1972. She had my secondary school education at Benevolent High School, Martins Street, off Ojuelegba and later rounded off at Victory High School, Ikeja, and then proceeded to Diploma School of Music. She also took correspondent exams from London Royal School of Music, which makes her a full-fledged musician. The pretty woman whom many love to play or
How do you feel celebrating with Dr Seye Kehinde as his mum turns 90?
I must say I am very happy for mama to have lived this long in good health. I thank God for his son, Dr Seye Kehinde too because it does not just come like that attaining the age of 90 in good health. You can her children are here to celebrate with her, everybody is in good health and they are happy for their mum. That makes me very happy and I wish mama many more years to her age.
You have been with City People family for a long time, what does that means to you?
That question is not a question of 20 or 30 minutes because City People has done me so well. I started with City people entertainment and I was the very first artist that City People entertainment featured many years ago, and what can I say about that? I am extremely happy and grateful for the showcase that it was after that singular act that people started calling me, It was after me they started featuring other artists. So we started celebrating all
What can you say is the secret behind this your youthful and sexy look?
Well, as they normally say that looking good is good business. If you want to be an entertainer, looking good, being stylish and elegant will be a part of you. It has to be a total package. If you look tartared, nobody will look at you or want to reckon with you or associate with you. It is part of the business so i can’t compromise my look. I have a knack for looking good and stylish.
Is there any reason why you decided to go on low cut because it makes you look younger and sexy?
I decided that I will be on a low cut because I do not have time to go to the hairdressers. I don’t have so much time to be at the salon for hours making my hair while preparing for events so I just decided to go on a low cut to reduce the stress.
How easy is it for you to maintain it day in day out because you keep wearing a new look every week?
Well it is the easiest thing to do. I have to make sure i take care of it to maintain a different look and style. It does not cost much to maintain it. You know people buy weave-on of 200 to 300k and I thank God, I am not putting my money on that.
How were you able to cope as a musician being a woman?
This again i will say is the hands of God and I have always believed that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. I try to make sure that whatever I lay my hands on, I do it to the best of my ability. So, that has kept me going. If you want to do this thing, you have to do it well even when no one is motivating you, you just have to motivate yourself and not relent, you have to keep pushing, keep moving, keep soaring, you have to make sure you talk to yourself that where you were yesterday, you have to move from there and be somewhere else tomorrow.
What outfit best suits your person and how can you describe your style?
My style is natural because i wear anything that suits me, things that suit my skin colour and fit my body frame. I must say I feel comfortable in every outfit. I dress to suit any occasion, I dress in natives going for a social party if it calls for, then do my corporate wears for official events then my casual wears for ordinary leisure outings. So I will say I am comfortable in any form of dressing.
What can you say is your beauty routine and how do you keep fit?
I tried as much as possible to eat well, not only eat well but eat right. i make sure i eat balanced diets. i eat fruits a lot. Vegetable is a must for me. Then water, most of all, especially first thing in the mornings. that has always been the first i do in the morning. I also worry less, and it has helped me a whole lot. i try to take my leisure time serious and rest well. I don’t take such things for granted.
Any advice for young female musicians?
Well, I am going to say, nothing good comes easy. Anything you want to do, you have to put your all. Doing music is not easy. You have to be passionate about it and put your heart to it. My advice is that you keep striving, don’t get carried away because you are a lady. There will be challenges but just note that every challenge will pass away and there will always going to be a new day. You keep pushing and keep moving, you will get there.
