Entertainment

How I overcame sex-for-role traps –Shasha Donald, actress

Published

5 years ago

November 7, 2021

Shasha Donald a.k.a Bugatti

From child prodigy to adult actress, the Anambra State-born Shasha Donald a.k.a Bugatti has continued to win the hearts of movie lovers with her movies.

In this exclusive interview, the Insurance graduate of Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, talks about her journey to stardom. Enjoy it.

Can you give us an insight into your background?

My name is Shasha Donald, but people call me Bugatti. I am from Anambra State. I am an Insurance graduate from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. We are nine in the family, and I am the last.

When I was growing up, we used to do drama rehearsals. I started as a kid dancer and actor, and along the line in my secondary school and university, I was already a public figure. So, later in life, I decided to start acting and that’s how I found myself in the movie industry.

Can you recall some of the movies you acted as a kid?

Oh no, I cannot remember because I was very small then.

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How was the transition from being a kid actor and grown up actor?

Everything about me was about acting then. As a matter of fact, I loved entertainment such as singing, dancing and acting. So, the transition was so easy for me.

Did you have any formal training in acting?

No! I started reading novels and watching foreign films. And I featured in magazines too. So, one day in Asaba, some people looking at my pictures in a magazine began to motivate me. They asked if I would love to give acting a trial. This gave me a lot of encouragements to fully go into the movies.

What was the first movie you acted in as an adult?

It was ‘My Worst Enemy’ where I played alongside Ini Edo, Ngozi Ezeonu and other stars. It wasn’t just a ‘waka-pass’ kind of role, but a real role for a first timer.

Which of the movies would you say announced you?

I have done quite a lot and I cannot say this is a particular movie that announced me, because people would always commend my roles in movies. My current film is ‘Boy Make Money’ and people are already going crazy about it.

Going into the movie industry, did you have the support of your family?

Of course, they all supported me except my dad who said he thought I wanted to be a footballer. Like I told you earlier, I am highly talented in almost everything entertaining. So, he thought I was going to be a footballer. But then, I had nobody to train me or sponsor my soccer kits, so I had to withdraw from football to pursue my acting career.

Did you encounter any challenges when you first came into the industry?

Of course, nothing was easy. That was why when I started, at a point, I felt I wanted to stop. I just had to pull back and complete my studies. So, when people tell me that they would like to be an actress, I always tell them to cool down and finish school first.

What would you say is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your career?

I slept in a car overnight when I came from Enugu to Asaba for a movie role, only to discover that the shooting was going to start the next day, and I didn’t have anywhere to stay. I remember someone said I should come and sleep in his room, and I said ‘no, I’d rather sleep in the car till the next day’.

Tell us your sex-for-role experience?

It wasn’t that bad, because as a fine girl, men were always asking me out. They would tell me: ‘if you do this, I will make you a star’. And me, I have always been a stubborn person because I know I’ve got the acting talent, and that was the reason I didn’t fall into the sex-for-role trap.

What’s the project you are currently working on?

I just finished the one I did with Sly Mmadu. It is an action film where the characters are bad, killing people and all that. Later on, they got converted, but due to their past evil deeds, some ended up with deadly diseases as a consequence of their sins.

Aside what we see on screen, who exactly is Shasha Donald?

I am an easy-going person; a selfless being and people always want to be around me because they like my vibes. I do not bear grudges; I do not compete with anybody but myself, I just want positive people around me.

Is Shasha single and searching?

Yes, I am single. I am not in any relationship at the moment.

What are the qualities you would want in your man?

He should be trusting, good-looking and financially stable. He should also be lovable and be able to take good care of me because I like to be loved. I am the last born in my family, so I like to be pet and cared for. I always show love but I never get love in return.

Does that mean you’ve had a fair share of heartbreaks?

Yes.

Can you share the experience?

It is one of those things you experience in a relationship. Something that cannot break you will make you.

If the man comes back begging, would you accept him?

No, not at all.

Do you have ladies trying to toast you?

Yes, sometimes. They always say ‘I love everything about you, can I be your friend?

Sun News

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Poco Lee to face UK court September 15 over alleged rape and assault charges

Published

20 hours ago

August 26, 2026

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Nigerian dancer and performer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee

Poco Lee to face UK court September 15 over alleged rape and assault charges

Nigerian dancer and performer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, is scheduled to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on September 15, 2026, over allegations involving serious sexual offences.

The court has confirmed that the case is listed for plea and trial preparation on September 15. James Baker, an administrative team lead at the court, confirmed the listing in correspondence with TheCable Lifestyle.

“I can confirm that this case is currently listed at Snaresbrook Crown Court for plea and trial preparation on the 15th September 2026,” Baker said.

According to the court information reported by TheCable Lifestyle, Poco Lee faces five charges — attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

The court has stressed that the allegations remain unproven. Poco Lee is presumed innocent and can only be found guilty if the allegations are established through the legal process.

The September 15 hearing is expected to focus on plea and trial preparation, marking a significant procedural stage in the case. Further details about the proceedings, including the eventual trial arrangements, will be determined by the court.

The case emerged publicly after reports circulated online that Poco Lee had been arrested in the United Kingdom over alleged sexual offences. The reports quickly attracted attention in Nigeria, particularly among members of the entertainment industry.

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Several of Poco Lee’s colleagues and associates have since reacted to the development. Filmmaker TG Omori expressed concern over the reports, describing the dancer as one of the “purest souls” he had encountered.

“It breaks my heart to hear Poco Lee in this sort of mess. That’s the purest soul I have ever met. The devil really works overtime,” Omori wrote in a social media post.

Dancer Rahman Jago also reacted to the development as discussions surrounding the case intensified online.

Poco Lee’s management has meanwhile urged the public to distinguish between the formal allegations before the court and claims circulating on social media.

The management specifically disputed reports that drink spiking was part of the case. In a statement signed by Adedoyin Faleye on behalf of the management, the team said the claim was not contained in the charges before the UK court.

The management also warned against the circulation of unverified narratives, stressing that the case should be allowed to proceed through the appropriate legal channels rather than being decided through public opinion.

The clarification comes amid widespread discussion online, where different accounts of the allegations have circulated without independent verification. Details concerning the complainant and the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences have not been fully disclosed publicly.

Poco Lee has not publicly commented on the specific allegations or the court’s confirmation of the September 15 hearing.

The entertainer has established himself as one of Nigeria’s prominent dancers and performers, gaining widespread recognition through dance performances, music collaborations and appearances within the Nigerian entertainment industry.

His legal case in the UK has now attracted significant public attention, but the court process remains at a preliminary stage.

The September 15 hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court is expected to provide the next major development in the case as the court considers the plea and preparations required ahead of any trial.

Until the case is determined, the allegations against Poco Lee remain unproven, and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence and a fair hearing.

Poco Lee to face UK court September 15 over alleged rape and assault charges

Entertainment

Ogogo’s First Wife Opens Up: Why He Asked Me to Quit Acting After Marriage

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1 day ago

August 25, 2026

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Late veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo and First Wife, Ajoke Taiwo

Ogogo’s First Wife Opens Up: Why He Asked Me to Quit Acting After Marriage

Ajoke Taiwo, the first wife of late Nollywood veteran Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has opened up about their 30-year marriage and revealed why the late actor asked her to leave the movie industry after they got married, sharing that she was already an actress before Ogogo joined their theatre group.

Ajoke Taiwo, the first wife of late veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has opened up about their marriage and revealed why she stopped acting after they got married . Ajoke, who spoke following the death of the veteran actor in a viral video, said she was already an actress before Ogogo joined their acting group . According to her, the late actor later asked her to leave acting after their marriage and focus on raising their children .

“We used to act together, in fact, I started before him, before he joined our group then. However, when we got married, he asked me to stop acting and focus on raising the kids,” Ajoke said .

Following her exit from the movie industry, Ajoke took up hairdressing, a profession she has continued to pursue ever since . She later became known within her community as “Iya Jesu,” a nickname reflecting her devout Christian faith . Notably, while Ogogo remained a devout Muslim throughout his life, Ajoke practised Christianity, with the couple maintaining their individual faiths within their household . Together, Ajoke and Ogogo raised two daughters, Halima Taiwo and Shakira Taiwo, whose names reflect the blended religious and cultural identity of their upbringing . Ogogo would later marry a second wife, a family structure common within certain Nigerian cultural and religious contexts, particularly among devout Muslim households of his generation .

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Speaking about Ogogo, Ajoke described him as a caring and loving husband, saying his death had left a huge void in her life . “My husband was a good person, a caring husband. He loved me so much. After him, it is God. His death is a big loss to me,” she said . Describing the depth of their bond, she added: “He was like a father and mother to me. He stood by me during the times of trial. He was my everything” .

Ajoke revealed that she was married to the veteran actor for more than 30 years . She also shared a touching detail about how her late husband reacted whenever she became extremely angry with him. According to her, Taiwo Hassan would become so emotionally affected that he would eventually require hospital care . “He never wanted me to get angry at him. Whenever I get extremely angry, he used to land at the hospital because he would be so hurt,” she recalled . Speaking about his death, she said the loss had left a deep wound that she believed would never completely heal . “What God took from me is so big and it really hurts me but I can’t question Him. This is a wound that can never heal,” she said .

Ogogo, who died after battling stage-four cancer, was buried according to Islamic rites in his hometown, Ilaro, Ogun State, on August 24, 2026, at the age of 66 . His burial was attended by several Nollywood stars, including Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Toyosi Adesanya, and Femi Adebayo, along with family members and residents who gathered to bid farewell . Taiwo Hassan, who spent over four decades in Yoruba-language Nollywood, appeared in landmark films from Owo Blow in the 1990s through to Aníkúlápó in more recent years . He came from a family of twins, and his death came days after his daughters made emotional appeals for urgent medical assistance .

Ogogo’s First Wife Opens Up: Why He Asked Me to Quit Acting After Marriage

Entertainment

Veteran Yoruba actor, Ijala master Alabi Ogundepo dies at 84

Published

2 days ago

August 25, 2026

Trends Admin

Veteran Yoruba actor and traditional poet Alabi Ogundepo

Veteran Yoruba actor, Ijala master Alabi Ogundepo dies at 84

Veteran Yoruba actor and traditional poet Alabi Ogundepo, renowned for his mastery of Ijala poetry, has died at the age of 84.

Ogundepo reportedly died on Monday, August 24, 2026, after a lifetime devoted to Yoruba culture, language, literature and traditional arts.

His death was announced by his daughter, Dupe Ogundepo-Falana, in a statement issued on behalf of the family.

The family described Ogundepo as a “remarkable literary voice” whose poetry and writings demonstrated a deep appreciation for Yoruba culture, tradition, history, language and the broader human experience.

The family expressed gratitude to individuals, institutions, traditional leaders and members of the literary community who had contacted them to offer condolences and support following the death.

They also appealed for privacy and prayers as they mourned the veteran performer and cultural custodian.

The family said details of the funeral arrangements would be announced at a later date.

Born in Saki, Oyo State, Ogundepo established himself as one of the respected voices in Yoruba oral literature, combining acting, poetry and cultural expression throughout his career.

He became particularly recognised for his exceptional command of Ijala, the traditional poetry and chant associated with Yoruba hunters.

Ijala is an important form of Yoruba oral tradition through which performers recount histories, praise individuals, celebrate nature and animals, and express the values, experiences and worldview of the community.

Ogundepo’s mastery of the art helped expose wider audiences to the richness of Yoruba indigenous poetry and contributed to efforts to preserve an important aspect of the culture’s oral heritage.

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His contribution, however, extended beyond Ijala performance. Through his writings, acting and cultural activities, he helped document and promote aspects of Yoruba indigenous knowledge and oral tradition for younger generations.

Over the years, Ogundepo earned recognition as a respected Yoruba cultural figure, using his artistic work to promote the Yoruba language and preserve traditional forms of expression at a time when indigenous oral traditions face increasing pressure from changing cultural and social influences.

As an actor, he also became part of the long tradition of performers who helped bring Yoruba stories, characters, customs and values to wider audiences through theatre and film.

Those who knew him also remembered him for his wisdom, dignity, compassion and willingness to mentor younger people interested in Yoruba literature and cultural expression.

His influence therefore extended beyond his performances, with his counsel, friendship and commitment to cultural preservation touching the lives of artists, writers, scholars and members of his community.

The death of the 84-year-old Yoruba actor and Ijala master represents a significant loss to Nigeria’s indigenous cultural and literary community.

His passing comes with renewed attention to the importance of preserving Yoruba oral literature, particularly traditional art forms such as Ijala that carry generations of history, knowledge and cultural identity.

Through his performances, writings and mentorship, Ogundepo left behind a body of work that is expected to continue inspiring artists, writers, cultural researchers and younger practitioners.

For many admirers of Yoruba traditional poetry, his legacy will remain closely associated with his distinctive contribution to Ijala and his lifelong commitment to keeping indigenous culture alive.

The family has asked the public to respect its privacy during the mourning period and said further information about his burial will be made available in due course.