Nigerian actress Yetunde Wunmi has recently discussed how her decision to pursue a career in acting ultimately led to the end of her marriage.
In an interview with BBC Yorùbá, the 64-year-old actress reflected on her journey, which began in 1982 with Sunday Akinola’s theatre group, Feyi Kogbon.
Yetunde, whose birth name is Hassanat Taiwo Akinwande, revealed that her passion for acting was sparked by meeting the late filmmaker Adeyemi Afolayan, known as Ade Love.
However, her dedication to the craft strained her marriage, contributing to its dissolution.
“Adelove brought stage drama to Danjuma film near my home. I’ll never forget that day—he wore all white and arrived in a white car. Everyone rushed to him, and I couldn’t resist getting close to touch his clothes. It felt like touching gold. That’s when my interest in theatre truly blossomed, even though it cost me my marriage,” she shared.
Yetunde expressed no regrets about her choice, saying, “I have been blessed by God through theatre.” She recounted a poignant experience from her early days: “I was nursing a baby just 41 days old when I found my troupe rehearsing. Without telling my husband the truth, I said I was visiting my mother and joined the group traveling to Ilorin for performances. I’d wrap my baby in my costume during dances, handing them off to someone until I finished.

“After a few days, my child developed a high fever, and I rushed to the pharmacy. Despite my boss advising me to return home, I chose to stay for the show. I received just N16, the exact cost of my child’s treatment, but I was thrilled to perform. Tragically, my baby passed away at just a year and ten days old, never witnessing my success in theatre. That’s a memory I will always carry with me.”