Yes, I walked out of my marriage with Abiola

– Clarion Chukwura talks to Modern Ghana


Inspired by Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor, she featured in her first movie at the tender age of 14. Clarion Chukwura has an interesting story to tell about making movies, her charity organisation, clothing line and marriage break up with Abiola.

The Clarion Chukwura initiative was 10 recently, what has been the story so far?
We support orphanages and motherless babies, using my fans’ strength and influence. We have consultants who seek corporate support for products, foods, toiletries, etc, for these orphanages because some of the founders of these homes are dead and they handed over to well-meaning people who go all out to help children who don’t have parents. And this should be the responsibility of everybody. Ten years ago, I was invited to a programme for motherless babies, there I saw their labour of love and I was moved to contribute. Outside of this country, especially in the US, stars are the ones who support these children because they know that they can influence opinion. I am doing this so that the conscience of others would be awakened towards supporting these children. So, every year, we go to different states of the federation. Four years ago, we were in Ogun State, three years ago we were in Lagos, two years ago it was Ondo State and Oyo State last year.

Let’s talk about what brought you recognition among the people, I mean the movie industry, you have not been frequent in movies these days, have you decided to quit as it is being said in some quarters?

I have been very busy with other things now. I have been getting scripts from time to time but the truth of the matter is that I have not been doing movies for two reasons, one: if the script is not right and you are not ready to make the necessary changes, I won’t take it from you. Two, I have had the scripts that were right but the producers could not afford my fee.

So, what is it going to cost a producer to bring you on set?
It is going to cost N700, 000 if you want me to be in your movie. If you can’t pay me that, you can go to hell.

You once said that Nollywood did not make you, don’t you find that statement unpleasant, giving the fact that most people got to know you through your roles in movies?
Nollywood did not make me, I became a star when I was 18 years old with my first movie, Ola Balogun’s Money Power that was released in 1982. I was an undergraduate at the University of Ife in 1984 with the first nationwide soap opera, “Mirror in the Sun”, I became a household name. I did my first Nollywood movie in 1994. I was already an household name when I did my first Nollywood movie at the age of 30. So, that was 12 years after I became a star, I made my name way back and when I have properly positioned myself I will be making my movies.

For some time, your name used to be Clarion Chukwura Abiola, but now it has changed, what happened to the name Abiola?
The Abiola name stopped in December 2003.

Why, I mean did you walk out of the marriage or what?
Yes, I walked out because it was not good for me. I got a divorce.

Why did you walk out, did you try to salvage the situation then?
That is my private life and I don’t want to blow it on the pages of the national dailies.

It was learnt that you have since remarried, how has it been?
I remarried to Femi Oduneye since February 2004.

What attracted you to him?
Ours was love at first sight, we met each other in London and it has been wonderful.

But you were said to have separated for a while before you later reconciled, what actually went wrong?
I don’t want to talk about that, we are together now and that is the most important thing in life, being together. (Adapted)