On Monday, November 11, popular Nigerian skit maker and actress Kemi Ikuseedun, known by her fans as Mummy Wa, bravely shared her experience with sexual harassment in Nollywood.
Mummy Wa was speaking on the WithChude Podcast with Chude Jideonwo, where she opened up about the challenges she faced while trying to build her career in the movie industry.
Mummy Wa became well-known in 2023 after starring in comedy skits with Mr Macaroni, and she shared how, behind the scenes, many filmmakers made inappropriate requests. “A lot of people are asking for things. They want things that I cannot do,” she said, clearly upset by the situation.
She explained that these requests were hard to ignore, especially when she was just starting out. “Where do I want to start from? Me, who was already being told that I wouldn’t make it? How many people do I want to sleep with?” she asked, sharing her frustration.
Mummy Wa also talked about how even when actresses agree to these demands, it doesn’t always lead to success. “To be honest, you might actually sleep with someone in the industry and still not get the role that will make you famous,” she said. “I saw a lot of men who were also asked for things, even though they had nothing to offer.”
She ended by saying, “No woman is free. No woman is immune. But I can’t do it.”
