- ARA, The Female Talking Drummer
- Why She Is Still Single @ 41
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Africa’s foremost female talking drummer and one of Nigeria’s greatest entertainment exports, Aralola Olamuyiwa who fondly calls herself the Goddess of the talking drum, is known for her indigenous skills in handling the talking drum which most people regard as an instrument for men. Not many know that this pretty talking drummer does not like going to parties and this was why it came as a surprise when she was sighted at Olori Aramide Oniru’s 70th birthday. She came as a guest of Aremo Segun Oniru but City People ABIOLA ORISILE and MATILDA POPOOLA had a chat with her. She spoke about her ex-husband, and why her new relationship packed up few months ago. Enjoy it.
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What is the secret of your new look?
Well, I won’t call it rebranding par se but the thing is if you keep long braids for long, you will start loosing your hair line and I started loosing my hair. So what I do is when am off stage I take off the braids because have been wearing braids for 15 years and trying to get my hair back so I go for weaves when am offstage.
What was the reaction you got from people on your new looks?
Would I say it was an escape route for me because not everyone could recognize me, some even have to look at me twice. So I get to be myself without the long braids because its my signature and that’s a brand but with this look I can go anywhere but when am on the braids am extremely conscious.
For how long have you been without your signature braids?
For about 9 months now.
What is Ara working on?
In June I was made an Ambassador of Nigerian China Latin American Culture platform and we are putting together the first event in Nigeria called the Nigeria China Ayan culture festival. The former president Olusegun Obasanjo is the Chairman of the event and its not just a culture exchange programme. We are bringing 20 investors in different areas. Agriculture, Tourism, Real Estate, Hydropower e.t.c. So what am trying to do with this first edition is to create awareness and am visiting all the states and also a partner of China Nigeria trade center in China which will be opening in November.
What record label are you signed on?
Am on Aremu Oniru’s label called The Prince Is Here.
Why did he sign you on his record label?
Aremu has great passion for his culture that’s why he signed me on.
Are you the only one he signed on?
I really don’t know if there are other artistes but I think am the only one for now.
How long does it take you to look beautiful?
30 minutes.
What is the difference between the Ara we see on stage and the Ara at events?
Actually am Lola if am off stage, the regular Ara is always on loud make-up, a goddess, daring and is neither male nor female when she is on the talking drum, she is superficial and she loves to look extremely good and beautiful. Lola is simple, natural and very shy and I don’t like events infact, my manager drags me to events, I just like being myself.
How long have you known your manager? And how is it like working with him?
Fantastic.
Do you have any sort of love relationship with him?
No I don’t, we are cousins.
Are you in any relationship?
Am very single, I got my heart broken once and I’m being careful about any relationship for now, I want to fall in love and be loved. I don’t want to marry a man for money or name I just want to be loved.
Is there any body in sight?
Nobody for now.
How long have you been without a boyfriend?
Since February.
Were you in a relationship before then? Is he a known person?
Yes I was and he was not a known person. He resides in far away America. We were so much in love but because my job was on the line and I respect him a lot. He didn’t lie, he told me he wanted a family. He also wanted to start having a family. So my job was on the line. We had to stop dating.
Do you still get in touch with each other?
No we don’t since we stopped dating and I was not ready to leave my passion.
Why don’t you like dating famous guys?
No I don’t like it, well its just by choice and if I meet a famous person that is good to go no problem, I have my own standards and I believe in a good relationship, we have to be friends and he has to know me. He has to court me and know me well, money is not involved if there is love. Like what Frank Edoho did which I love he wrote a wife, I respect him for that so my man really needs to be like that and very passionate. I have toasters but they only fail because they flaunt their wealth, you can’t buy me but can only show me love and make me happy. I have deep values thank God for the parents that raised me and I would never take a man that flaunts his wealth at me serious.
What if you see a man with good qualities and he is married?
Am sorry I can’t marry him, I can’t be an option or a second wife. Have got to be a priority not an option. I need to be with my man everyday sharing thoughts and having arguments.
Do you see you and your ex reconciling soon?
No we can never reconcile because he already has kids from some women, I can’t fight a battle I have to protect my son. I can never speak ill of my ex though we have our issues but we only do that because of my son and the love I have for my son. We still go out for shopping together but I don’t have any intention of going back to him because I respect him and the woman in his house and I can never have any sexual relationship with him again.
Do you guys still express love once in a while?
No, that can never happen. No, am not in any relationship now talk less of having a boyfriend.
How do you relax?
By staying indoors, eating what I want because am not an outdoor person but once in a while I just have to take my son to the mall.
The post “i left my new guy because he insisted i dump music” appeared first on citypeople.com.ng.
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