•50th Birthday Interview
It is no longer big news that Yinka Davies is 50. She turned 50 two months ago, but she did not celebrate it. Of course, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the social distancing government policy she couldn’t celebrate it big. But beyond that, she is not in a happy mood, because of the terrible situation of things in the country. She was our guest recently on City People TV Instagram Live Chat. Below are excerpts of the chat.
Why didn’t you mark your 50th birthday?
The situation of things in the country does not allow for celebration.
What drives Yinka Davies? You have put in over about 30 years into Entertainment and you are not tired. What has kept you going?
I am more grateful to God for sustaining my life, for preserving it. It is like an urge to go on and make good use of my life. It is an everyday thing. Its a blessing. Its a gift. Everyday given to us in a gift. That is what is making me go on. I can’t take credit for turning 50. It’s not mine own. It is his. I thank God.
When you were a little girl, what did your plan to be in life?
A Fine Artist & a Farmer. That was my desire. I have a lot of my drawing skills. I love nature. I love Trees & Mountains. I love the forest. I love water. I love everything that God has given to us. I love rural life. That is I fell in love with programme Cockcrow At Dawn. Remember Sadiqque Daba. I remember that Hut. I need a hut in my life. I love to tie wrapper. I am not a Makeup wearing person. All my Make-Up is just for decoration.
Where was Yinka Davies born?
I was born in Ebute Metta.
How was growing up like?
Growing up was fine with grandma. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
How did you end up in Theatre?
We went on an excursion as students of Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School, Yaba. By the time I got to form 4, it was difficult for us to cope. My head was never in books. It was in the Clouds. I am always on top of trees. It was difficult to just pass. I will be sitting on top of the tree and enjoying the wind and the breeze and they will be looking for me everywhere. In 1986, when we went to the National Theatre on an excursion, that was it for me. And I have not regretted it one day, not one day.
I have noticed that there is usually a difference in Yinka Davies before and when she gets on stage to sing. Once she holds a mic, she becomes a different person. What usually happens to you? What usually explains the transition between the 2 Yinkas?
I can’t help you with that one. The question you asked me, even me I can’t answer it because I don’t know what to say or how to explain it. All I know is that I am highly favoured.
On the day you woke up on your birthday what went through your mind?
Nothing. We are in the pandemic and there is not work. It’s not funny. A lot of people are going through hell. A lot of people on the streets even in my community. We talk about how to improve the standard of living. Even my carpenter was almost crying two days ago. What do we want to do? We can’t have a party. What kind of party is that? I had to dress up for this interview but there is nothing. Its a hard time and we need to be our brother’s keeper.
A lot is going on in Nigeria and we can’t afford to be negative at this moment. Me carrying at this moment to writ five zero is like a joke within what’s happening. But there’s a need to appreciate everyone that has been doing party for me, Mr Brown, people at freedom park. Everyone has been wonderful even my sons. People in Anthony village were busy feeding people and I was with one of my sons going to the hospitals, it has been mad
What have you been doing since lockdown in March?
That’s what I’m saying. Whatever you can do anywhere you can, just do it. It’s not about blowing your trumpet and you don’t have to, just do what you can and do it to the best of your ability and just believe God to help you. I really want to do more.
What has life taught you at 50?
It’s not yet time for that question. That question is Jamb. You have to wait until when after I’ve passed 50.
Ok let me change the question. What has changed about Yinka at fifty?
Nothing really. I’ve changed my hair cut. What is there to change. I just sent a song to Bunmi Sanya, we were supposed to do a song together, so you should excerpts that from me or her.
So you are dropping a birthday song? Is that what you are saying?
Who said so? It’s not a birthday song. Do you think people like us do birthday parties?
The audience wants you to tall about the new Yinka Davies, the new normal?
I grew up in a home where the parents are divorced and so the last thing on my mind was to take care of myself. I always took care of my siblings. I had two brothers and three sisters. One passed and even now as I speak to you, any chance I get to take care of people that’s what I do. I don’t even think of myself. What I do is that whatever I can do to the advancement of a life is so crucial to me.
At a time you can call it a compulsion, as a child leading a child, because there is chaos at home. Then this is what she does for a living. And you can imagine the pain I’m feeling. The job that we do is creative. We are creative people and we deal with people on a steady. Whenever we go to perform we touch people’s lives and you are now telling about a pandemic that has scattered everything.
We can’t talk to people like we used to, I’m talking to you through a stupid little box. I am a touchy person, we touch people’s lives but what am I going to do with this square? I have to find some way. I don’t understand that life Instagram but I’m going to try as much as possible to find a way to reach people. Now I am with things to stay safe and they just want people to go crazy.
What is the difference between Yinka Davies The Entertainer and Yinka Davies the person?
Did you call her lady? I know really and truly that I’ve always separated the entertainment life from my personal life. I don’t blend the two. There is no difference really between them though.
What makes you, you?
I was talking about where I grew up. My dad was in the Force and my mum was a Nurse. I don’t get close to people because of the quarrels I have seen in my young life and that informed the fact that it was a decision to either remain bitter about the past or choose to take care of whatever is given to me in the present.
If you do that, you are going to have to face a lot of criticisms, offenses, finger-pointing and talks but you are going to remain resolute in your decision making and when you offend anybody, decide to either say sorry or find a way because your heart must never harbor bitterness. If you can do that, it’s going to take a while. I hope in right, over the years it has not proved me wrong.
Do you write music?
Yes sir.
How do you manage with all the aspects of entertainment that you are involved with and how do you concentrate?
I must appreciate a whole lot of theatre appreciations. The directors that I’ve been under, Bayo Odunleye, Funsho Adeolu, Choic Mike, Felix Okolo. Felix is the maddest director I have ever worked with. So you know what it means to have contention in your midst and you must deliver.
Felix will tell you about discord and you must bring it to the theatre ground and all of us will fight ourselves and we must get on that stage whether you like it or not and that is it. We have three or four shows in a day and we have to be on our toes and you will have to deliver. When I got into music, it felt too cheap when Theatre treats you like a bastard if you don’t get the result but they are not getting the kind of money musicians are getting. You can talk to your producer or director anyhow then. It is like the military in a different form in social media. That’s where we are coming from. We are grounded.
How do you sustain the lack in business?
What I can say is that we have to figure it out together because we are all in this together. When God created the world, he created it for multiplication and not division. He created it for communal, for lifestyle, civilization, for growth, for advancement, for kingdom multiplication. So what is Social Distancing? This is an abnormality. Once it doesn’t have anything to do with God, then I’m sorry, I don’t support it at all. So I’m trying to figure it out with all of you as you are figuring it out. I don’t respect it, or understand this mobile phone. I am angry but I am not going to be upset because you all have a way of managing the nonsense.
Are we making sense?
No, we are not. Because we are live on Instagram, I had to use a face shield so you can see my make up.
Who are you, Yinka Davies?
What a question! My name is Yinka Davies, I’m an Entertainer. That’s all.
What plans do you have for the future at fifty?
Now with the pandemic, I think we just have to take each day has it comes. Whatever happens throughout a day, just make sure you touch a soul, touch a person. Give something for people to sleep well at night. You can’t do more.
What is going on with you? Are you socially distancing?
I am fully ready for it. I’m socially distancing but as much as I am concerned its a joke.
