Liz (now Aishat) Anjorin, tells ’Nonye Ben-Nwankwo about her recent conversion to Islam and her lifestyleYou woke up one morning and decided to change your name and religion. Is that how people just switch?
My name is still Liz. I am Elizabeth Aishat Anjorin. I have always been a Muslim. It is just that I am a very confidential person; not many people know about it. That is why it sounds new to so many people now.
So how come it became a public knowledge and is even causing side talks here and there?
It was because I went on Hajj. That was how so many people got to know about my religion. You know that my name is Elizabeth, a Biblical name; so when I went on Hajj, everybody had to notice that I practise Islam.
Have you always been a Muslim?
My father was a Christian and my mother was a Muslim. After my mother’s death, I decided to practise her religion. Even before her death, I had wanted to go for Hajj but there was no chance.
Stories started flying round when this story broke. Some said you found a rich ‘Alhaji’ who insisted you must convert to Islam before he married you…
People must talk and if they don’t, they will die. But to answer your question, I don’t think such can happen. I don’t see why any man would tell me to change my religion before he can marry me. Funny enough, my boyfriend is not even an Alhaji. Going on Hajj was something I desired. It is not even meant for Muslims alone. If you believe in God, go to the Holy City and pray to your God and your prayers would be answered. People from all over the world come there.
Was your baby’s father a Muslim?
Oh yes. The baby’s late father was a Muslim. He gave my daughter a Muslim name. We all believe in one God. There is no dichotomy. I don’t have to judge anybody and say the person’s religion is bad. We are all one before God. I am still proud of my name, Elizabeth. It is just that when you go for Hajj and come back, you have to be more modest. It is just that I am human and I am a young lady who is still single. I am free to live my life. If I get married and my husband wants me to be Eleha (woman in purdah), then I will do it. If I marry a pastor and my husband wants me to be a pastor, I will do it. I have to be submissive to my husband. For now, I am a young girl, so I think I am still free to follow my heart and do what I want to do. But when you go for hajj, you have the fear of God and you believe in God.
So you have changed since you came back?
Yes. Before now, I could do anything. I could talk anyhow. But now, I caution myself. I can’t destroy myself talking the way other people talk.
Did you go to Mecca so that people will perceive you as a nice, holy lady?
Anybody who is saying such must be jobless. I saw all the comments people posted on the Internet because of my trip to Mecca. I know some people said I was a bad girl and I wanted to live a holy life and that was why I had to go to Hajj. Those people who say such, have they ever seen me in a party? Have they seen me where I shouldn’t be? I am not a saint but I know I have been a wonderful person. If a lady like me can work and do some other things without anybody’s knowledge, then people should pray for me. Anybody saying such negative thing hasn’t seen me. It is not easy. If a guy of 27 can ask me out, then you know that I am a very decent lady to the core. If you keep yourself decent, it shows on your body. I don’t fix nails except on location. I don’t wear fake eye lashes. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink. I cherish my sleep at night. I don’t club, I cover my body. So why would anybody term me a bad girl? If I were bad, I would be struggling. I am not saying that I am a saint but I will say it again and again, I am a very decent girl. I don’t misuse my body. Do I even have that time?
You don’t smoke, you don’t drink and you don’t do so many bad things but was it not reported that you and Iyabo Ojo fought over a man back then?
Anybody who says such is just jobless. It is so annoying. You don’t judge anybody. You don’t even have the right to do that. Let them talk. That is their headache. I am not going to say anything.
But there is a recent picture where you dressed so sexy. You didn’t wear the long dresses ….
If I am at a movie location, nothing stops me from dressing that way. Even when I am not at a location, I have never really dressed seductively. I don’t reveal my body. I always cover my body. it is very hard for people to know that I even wear tattoo. It is only at a location or when you see poster pictures that you would know that. There is a difference between your personality and your job. For a male gynaecologist who is an Alhaji, don’t women open their legs for him to check them? It is his profession. People should please correct this impression. I am an actress. If I am given a role, I must interpret it. We are preaching and trying to correct anomalies with our movies. We are just acting. Even without going to Mecca or Jerusalem, I have never liked dressing seductively. You can still be beautiful without exposing your body. The more you are even covered up, the more beautiful you look. So, the picture you saw is a poster picture. I have always worn long gowns and I bet you, I look more beautiful than those who wear scanty attires. Attending event is part of my job; if I weren’t a celebrity, I could wear anything to any event and nobody would notice. But I am a role model. I love to wear something unique. I am a young lady. The way you dress attracts the calibre of people that come to you. If you dress decently, mature minds approach you. If you dress in a funny way, such people will come to you.
So many people would expect you to finally settle down now…
People believe it is one Alhaji that sent me to Mecca. Ok o; when it is time for me to get married, I will let them know. It might be tomorrow, it might be next. I don’t know the time but everybody will know when we get there. All I am interested in is my business.
You are into business as well?
Oh yes. I am into fashion. I have a fashion house and it keeps me so busy. I buy clothes from so many countries and I sell.
Have you left acting?
No. I am working on my new movie, Kofo the First Lady. It is a sequel to Kofo Tinubu. We have the same characters in the movie but different story.
So you and Iyabo Ojo have fully made up, no more quarrel?
No. we don’t have any quarrel whatsoever. She even featured in my movie. I don’t have any wahala with anybody. We are doing so fine, so great.
Which faction of Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners do you belong to?
I am a member of ANTP. I don’t belong to any faction. All I know is that I am an actress. I belong to my shop and my business. I don’t know what is going on there. If you ask me what is happening in my shop, I will tell you the latest.
One actress came out to say publicly that actresses in the Yoruba movie industry practise lesbianism a lot; are you aware of it?
I wouldn’t know I swear. I don’t even have time. As a producer, if you waste my time, I go back to my business and my shop. Lesbianism? Haba! I don’t think Yoruba actresses can do such. Yoruba people are well cultured. If you do any stupid thing, there is something called ‘oriki.’ You have to be careful of what you do. And that is why I always say the way you dress will determine how people will approach you. They can’t approach me. How will you even think of ‘toasting’ me when you are a woman? Before you will even open your mouth to ask me out, I will slap you and beg God for forgiveness. Why would I get into such when men are everywhere searching for wives?
Punchng
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