• I have never ever been treated as inferior to anybody in Yoruba or English genre
Sexy and scintillatingly-tempting actress and delectable mother of two, Mercy Aigbe, in her doings strikes a veneer earned via consistency of hard work, writes Ferdinand Ekechukwu
Mercy Aigbe or Mercy Aigbe-Gentry (whatever the status now) is just in a world of her own. Just as her name has assumed household stead in the industry, so is her beauty evocative as one of the sexy Nollywood actresses, especially in the ‘Yoruba’ genre, that easily comes to mind and has seemingly held tight her game with movie roles back to back.
The list of entertaining movies featuring her is endless. Not surprising she has numerous accolades to show for it. She’s also among the few indigenous actors, whom have been said, to have successfully broken into the mainstream Nollywood industry.
Pretty much earlier in her career the light skin actress was quick to declare that she’s not an actress in Yoruba Nollywood. That she’s an actress in Nigeria, in Nollywood, in her words. And that it’s just the medium that is different. “Because I act and speak in Yoruba language doesn’t mean I can’t act in English movies or that it makes me inferior to people that act in English movies. No. I don’t see myself as inferior. Number one, I’m a professional in my calling. I have a degree. And I have talent. I have everything it takes to be an actress. So, why should I see myself as inferior to anybody? I don’t. If the time comes for me to prove myself, I will. I just think everything is time. There’s a time for everybody and I’ve never ever been treated as inferior to anybody in Yoruba or English genre.”
The 2001 University of Lagos Theatre Arts graduate professionally started acting in 2006. Currently she has progressed in her acting career, appearing more in not just Yoruba movies alone but English films as well, been where she started from featuring in soaps.
To her credit lies a list of awards and honours in recognition of her acting work. She won the Best Actress in Yoruba award at the City People Awards. Best Indigenous Language Movie (Yoruba) at the 2014 AMVCA awards. Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Yoruba) 2010.
Also the Best Actress in an Indigenous Movie Nomination (non-English speaking language) 2012 City People Entertainment Yoruba Movie Personality of the year 2015. Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year Awarded by Links and Glitz World Awards 2015. Mercy launched her clothing store, Mag Divas Boutique in November 2014. Its success earned her the Fashion Entrepreneur of The Year award by Links and Glitz World Awards.
Gaining prominence by hard work and much acclaim to her Yoruba language movie appearances, Mercy’s admittance to fame with these causes reeks of sincerity on her part, even with her once given credit to the support she had received from her estranged husband. Her memorable 2014 AMVCA award speech resonates. ‘Oh my God! Oh My God!! I dedicate this award to my husband, Olarenwaju Gentry. Thank you for urging me to strive to be the best at what I do. I will love you till eternity.”
But as simple as sincere as that sounds, it appeared the star actress had lived in denial at some point in her life facing barrage of domestic abuses, professing love until she could not bear any more assault in her home. “He beats me consistently”, she was reported to have said during her trying period. “I stayed because I loved him and because every time he beats me, he begs and gets family and friends to beg me. He promised regularly to change but he never did. When my husband gets angry, he gets physical, not only to me but to anyone. He has done that with my house help who reported him to the Police years ago”.
Shortly after the experience last year, Mercy moved out of her matrimonial home and disconnected with her hubby on social media. That would bring some respite to the Edo State born actress. But then it’s been from one drama to the other for the Bini woman, with her activities, attractions and achievements keeping social media agog.
Mercy’s dress to the 2016 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards earned her great applause as she continued to trend on Twitter days after the award ceremony. Many commended the uniquely designed dress created by Nigerian designer, Ceoluminee. Mercy also says the dress earned her many more followers on social media. The stuff of stars as one may choose to say.
The mother of two recently left the country and shared some stunning photos of herself and her two lovely kids as they vacation in London while she attended to some personal needs and visited an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. In the post, she did reveal how she had to sell her valuables to send her daughter to school and feed themselves. “Special shout out to all the single mums…I can relate, hmm I remember when I had to go sell my gold jewelry at ‘Yaba’ just to pay Michelle‘s school fees and for us to feed. I went through ‘HELL’”.
Being a single mother, she would then advised all mothers to stay focused and be prayerful: “Please stay focused, be determined, be hardworking and prayerful, put all your trust in the Lord because we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus and trust me you will rise above those challenges. To all mothers, mothers to be, may the Lord continue to strengthen us and may we eat the fruit of our labour IJN. Responsible daddies you ain’t left out. Thank you all once again.”
It appears things are getting rosy for the talented actress as she joins the league of celebrities who are dedicating or buying new houses. For her a dream come true having just acquired a building in a choice area with one yet uncompleted. From the blogosphere, “this building stands tall amongst mansions we’ve seen celebrities show off in recent times.
”You know how celebrities say they buy a house because it captured their heart or probably because it matched their style, this isn’t the case for Mercy as she actually bought a house which looked like a cake she got a few months ago. According to the light-skinned actress, she never thought she would be able to acquire such an asset this year.
A caterer named Luminee prophesied into her life and it came to pass. She also hinted that she had been struggling to build her own house over time before this expensive acquisition.
“Throwback to my birthday…. my beautiful sis @ceolumineeofficial gave me this cake as a birthday gift and this conversation ensued between us…
Luminee: before the year runs out you will buy your own house…
Me: Luminee pls leave me oh! The one I have been building since I haven’t finished!
Luminee: Aunty mi, I am not talking about the one you are building, I am talking of the one you will buy in a beautiful choice area in Lagos!
Me: Ha! Where will I get plenty plenty millions of naira to buy that one!
Luminee- Aunty mi don’t worry God will bless and empower you
Me: Amen oh!!!!…. And I laughed!
Little did I know that the Lord uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise! ….and out of Luminee’s mouth, the Lord gave me a testimony.
It’s the Lord’s doing and it’s beautiful in my sight! Few months after that cake gift, I bought a beautiful home for myself and my kids in a choice area in Lagos!!!!!!!! Say hello to the new LANDLADY….”
Gushing with joy she further wrote: “When I say Grace found me, I mean the amazing grace of the Lord found me…….This is just the beginning……..Latest LANDLADY in town, to God, be the glory!”
Like other celebrities, Mercy is not without any controversy or scandal as much as she has managed to stay off the cesspit. A number of times she has been called out by her controversially adept sister colleague and friend, Toyin Abraham.
Among Mercy’s controversies was the red dress saga involving the actress, a designer Rikaotobyme whom she had met through her stylist, and a newly-wed bride which the last is yet to be heard as Mercy threatened to sue the fashion designer and the newly wed-bride. A headline says it all – “Drama: Tailor gives out a bride’s wedding dress to Mercy Aigbe for her [40th] birthday photoshoot.”
While the matter went from bad to worse with different versions from the bride and the designers, the actress had held her peace and thus aggravated the anger of Nigerians who really needed her to either apologise to the bride or simply tell her side of the story. The multiple-ambassador for advocacy cum humanitarian projects and brands, as part of her humanitarian goals, was made an ambassador to an initiative called Dubai Afrika Sickle Cell Project, which caters for patients of Sickle Cell.
