Entertainment
A candle in the wind: The beautiful, sad and turbulent life of actress Ada Ameh
Veteran Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, popular for her role as Emu in Africa Magic family drama, The Johnsons, died on Sunday night.
The news of the actress’s death shocked fans and colleagues after it was made public on Monday.
This piece highlights how grief, loss, mental breakdown, and other issues shaped the life of the late Ameh.
Early pregnancy
Ameh stated that she got pregnant at 13 years old because her peers introduced her to sex early.
In a 2021 interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the actress revealed that her peers influenced her, which led her to get pregnant at the early age of 13.
When asked about the cause of her early pregnancy, she said, “It wasn’t my parents. I was influenced by my peers. They introduced me to ‘early sex’. One thing led to another, and I got pregnant.
“The most beautiful part is that, on my 15th birthday, my baby was barely five months old. I was marched out of the Barracks.”
Ameh stated that she took to alcoholism during that period because she felt she had gotten her independence already.
Daughter’s death
Despite her early motherhood, the actress, in October 2020, lost her daughter, Aladi Godgift, who was over 30 years old.
Aladi had died after an unsuccessful surgery in Abuja, and in October 2021, the bereaved mother visited her daughter’s grave site to mark her one-year remembrance.
“One thing that was not easy for me was that I allowed my daughter to leave for Abuja. The day I made that mistake was the day I left her to leave the house. I’ve lived with that guilt all my life.” Ameh had disclosed.
Mental issues
In June 2022, the actress opened up about her mental health challenges.
“Everything is going to be fine. I have an issue right now, and it’s taking my life. I will not die. We will get over it,” Ameh had said in a video on her Instagram page.
The actress explained that she was given a job but could not carry it out because she was undergoing mental issues.
She said, “I was given a job, but I didn’t do the job because I had mental issues. Will people understand when you say you have mental issues? They won’t. They’re slamming me with a bill, suing me. It’s okay.”
Battles with grief
Appearing on TVC’s Your View on July 1, 2022, her last interview, the actress revealed that she suffered max depression even before her daughter’s death, but it worsened after she lost her child.
“I had depression, max depression. I’ve been depressed for some years, and it worsened when I lost my daughter in 2020. We practically grew up together. She was like my younger sister,” Ameh had said.
She also noted that she had lost seven of her family members before losing her daughter.
“I had lost three sisters before that time, and each had three children. I’ve lost three of my brothers and my father. So after mourning all these people, and then (I lost) my daughter,” the actress said.
She said, “When my daughter died, my world crumbled before me, and sometimes, I see myself crying for days.”
Ameh had also celebrated her daughter on the latter’s posthumous birthday in late 2021.
Born on May 15, 1974, in Ajegunle, Lagos, Adah Ameh became a popular face in Nollywood after playing the role of Anita in the 1996 blockbuster, Domitila.
Before the approval of the then Inspector General Of Police, through a signal in April 1998, Alhaji Ishola Adeyinka aka “Askarifuji ” a batch of PMF 20, Ikeja, had been playing Fuji music side by side with Police job on a low key.
But as soon as he was granted an official approval Askarifuji came out with full force and debuted with an album titled “Loyalty” in 1998. And within a short period the album and its video became popular within and outside Nigeria .
After the release of the masterpiece, the brave and dynamic Askarifuji started using his music to campaign against crime and other societal vices. He was also using his music as a bridge between the Police and the general public ;Projecting the image of the police through his music.
Despite his busy schedule musically he was able to combine his official duty (Police) with music. To this end, he has served in so many departments of the police, such as Special Fraud Unit Milverton, ikoyi, Kano State CID, and State CID Panti Lagos among others.
Apart from being an household name musically, he has also risen from the rank of a constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police. His efforts was also rewarded in his hometown, Ibadan, when he was installed as Mogaji Alare Agbejonku of the Agbejonku Royal Dynasty Ibadan, Oyo State on 3 October ,2023 by the late Oba Mohud Ishola Balogun. With the title of a Mogaji, Askarifuji could be an Olubadan in nearest future.
Askarifuji is a man of three parts, Crime Fighter, Musician and Cultural icon. He has released about 12 albums namely:Loyalty, Internet Fuji,Wetin You Carry, Live Wire, Authority, London Swagger Unmissable,Fuji Parade, Explosion, Innovation,Ibadan and Alaseju
As a talented musician, all his musical works contain one or two message which are either crime fighting or campaigning against social vices or some words of advice to both the young and the old.
After his installation as “Mogaji”, Askarifuji did a thorough research on Ibadan and came out with an album titled “Ibadan”. The album, with a musical video, did not only promote the town but came out to correct a lot of misconceptions about the town called Ibadan.
The video, which has been showing constantly on African Magic, has been receiving accolades from viewers, both home and abroad. His latest single titled “Alaseju” is a campaign against disobedient children.
In recognition of the immense contribution of Askarifuji to Ibadan and the whole nation in general, the Central council of Ibadan Indegenes decorated him with an award ‘The Champion of Ibadan Culture “
With accolades coming from CCII and other groups, people believe that the Nigeria Police, the Olubadan in council and the Governor of Oyo State can do more by honouring a policeman per excellence, musician and cultural ambassador in order for him to do more.
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