“Storytelling, Passion To Entertain, Educate My Audience Inspired My Journey Into Acting” – Adebukola Oladipupo Tiaraoluwa
•By Oyeniyi Awojoodu
IBADAN – Popular Nollywood Actress, Adebukola Oladipupo, also known as Tiaraoluwa “Body of god” has revealed how her passion for storytelling and her zeal to educate and entertain people through film and TV series making really contributed a lot to her acting career.
Adebukola Oladipupo Tiaraoluwa, a graduate of Covenant University in a recent engagement with newsmen recounted how she got fascinated with the popular Ojude Oba festival while growing up in the 90s.
Tiaraoluwa while speaking about her journey into Nollywood industry said, “I studied Management Information Systems at the Covenant University, but my passion for storytelling led me down the path of acting and I’ve had the privilege of being part of some amazing projects over the years.
“I am so amazed to see that our popular festival”Ojude Oba” has finally becomes a global phenomenon, this reminds me when there were no Instagram, or any social media platforms, when some us were given a characters that comes with a serious energy with “rich aunty with dark shades riding on horses, it used to be so colourful, the culture, the royalty, it’s a huge festival and this has influenced my decision into acting and I can say it has really contributed immensely to my acting career.
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While highlighting what her growing up was like, Adebukola said, “I’m from a family of five, with three siblings so growing up was never boring. If I wasn’t fighting for the TV remote, I was perfecting my “I’m sleeping” face to escape errands. But through it all, my childhood was filled with love, laughter, and just the right amount of wahala to keep things interesting.
Speaking about her passion for acting, Adebukola said, “I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling, not just to entertain, but to educate and inspire. That belief led me to edutainment, the idea that film and television can be a powerful tool for change. But funny enough, I didn’t realize this immediately.
“Back in my first year of university, I had a conversation with my student chaplain about my future. He asked me what I was passionate about, and honestly, at that time, I had no clue. So, I took a step back to reflect. Then, I came across a piece of wisdom that said: “If you’re struggling to find your purpose, look toward your passion.”
“That was my lightbulb moment. I realized that acting had always been my passion, it gave me joy, fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose. But more importantly, I saw how film and TV had the ability to shape perspectives, spark conversations, and help people see the world differently. That’s when I knew I wanted to do this for real not just as a hobby, but as a career, so, I made a promise to myself, once I’m done with my university programmes, I was going to pursue acting full-time, and well, here we are.
“I was 20 years old when I officially started acting in drama series. Though, to be fair, I started as what we call “waka pass”. Each roles or character resonates with me in unique ways. Each one has a way of challenging me, they always taught me something new, or just been an absolute blast to bring to life. But if I had to roll the dice, I would pick Tiaraoluwa in The Men’s Club. Tiaraoluwa as a character was bold, unpredictable, and full of life,.it’s a character that kept me on my toes and I made every scene exciting, it was an unforgettable experience for me.
“Out of all the characters I’ve played, Tiaraoluwa resonates with people the most. She was bold, spontaneous, and completely unfiltered, a character that people either loved, related to, or just couldn’t ignore.
“I have featured in numerous movies, but my very first was MTV Shuga Naija (streaming on Netflix), where I first played “waka pass” in an earlier season and then landed a main role as Fabulous Faa, an experience that holds a special place in my heart because it was my introduction to the screen.
Since then, I’ve featured in The Men’s Club (Prime), Mom’s at War (Netflix), Oloture (a Netflix original), Forbidden and Hustle (both Africa Magic Originals), and Juju Stories (Prime). I’ve also worked on Ndani TV Originals like Lagos Big Boys and Phases and the list goes on. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with some big names who are legends in the industry, including Late Madam Bukky Ajayi (May God rest her soul), Aunty Funke Akindele, Aunty Omoni Oboli, Aunty Sola Sobowale, Aunty Toyin Abraham, Uncle Norbert Young, Uncle Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Daniel Etim-Effiong, Efa Iwara, Sharon Ooja, Jemima Osunde, Timini Egbuson, Ayoola Ayolola, Baaj Adebule, Teniola Aladese, Rahama Sadaa among others.
Adebukola Tiaraoluwa named the Bukky Wright, and Mo Abudu, as her role models in Nollywood industry.
“Honestly? If life has taught me anything, it’s that knowing where you ‘want’ to be doesn’t always mean knowing where you ‘need’ to be. Five years ago, I had a clear vision of my path, but life had its own plans and they turned out to be exactly what I needed. So, I won’t pretend to have it all figured out.
“Whatever happens, I know I’ll always be telling stories, whether on-screen or in a way I haven’t even imagined yet.” Adebukola said.