Stardom Has Robbed Me Of Many Things – Waje

Waje who recounted her journey to becoming a superstar singer, disclosed that stardom has robbed her of many things. 

Waje
who is a gender equality advocate, told Eric Dumo how she handles
societal expectations in the new interview and here are excerpts below; 

You were born in Ondo but raised in Benin, Edo State, how did this shape your life as a growing girl?

Honestly,
that part of my life is something I cannot really remember because I
was a baby then. I remember that my mother went to visit a sister in
Akure, Ondo State while my father was living at Maroko in Lagos. It was
while she was there that she gave birth to me.

Though I lived
part of my life in Maroko, it is growing up in Benin that I remember the
most. It was a very memorable period of my life.

When I was in
Junior Secondary School 3, I once gave a rendition in the school church
and this attracted the attention of the late Bishop Benson Idahosa. He
was so impressed that he gave me a scholarship which I enjoyed
throughout my senior secondary school years. I remain grateful to him
even in death.

As a star, do you sometimes come under pressure to live a certain kind of life?

Yes,
I do and I think this happens to most entertainers. The social media
sometimes want to push you into doing certain things but it is your
ability to stay disciplined that keeps you on the right track.

There
were times I wanted to take certain decisions based on what the
expectations of people were and the brand I represented but because I
was fortunate to have good people around me, I didn’t take those steps. I
am lucky I have great people around me that don’t make me feel this
pressure.

So, has being a star robbed you of anything?

Yes,
it has robbed me of many things including being comfortable. I am a
very simple person who sometimes wants to go out without wearing makeup.
I am comfortable wearing flip-flops but because you are a star,
sometimes you cannot do so because of the brand you are trying to
project.

A lot of persons look up to you and want to be like you
for many different reasons. They expect that as a celebrity, you should
maintain a certain standard and you don’t want to disappoint such
persons. To be honest, maintaining that celebrity status requires a lot
of sacrifice.