[size=14pt]My mom would have died prematurely if I'd married Timaya -Empress Njamah[/size]

'Nonye Ben-Nwankwo


Empress Njamah's name is synonymous with controversies. Despite this, she has held her head high and walked tall. In this interview with 'Nonye Ben-Nwankwo, the actress talks about her career and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and singer, Timaya

[img]http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/29/punch/images/pix201101291371218[1].jpg[/img]
Empress Njamah


http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/29/831.html




We learn you are now a make-up artiste. How did you find yourself in this field?

I've been doing this for a long time. I don't have an office yet because I do a lot of things, so I really want to be sure of what I want to open an office for. The bridal make-up comes up almost every weekend. From one job, I get another job and I get another job from that one. Bridal make-up has been very okay.

You are into interior décor as well,

I do that as well. I just finished working on a hotel in Calabar. It took me almost three months to complete the job.

But how did you come into this line? We thought acting was your love?

I don't like being idle; I'm always up and doing. I like to venture into a lot of things. I like to do new things. Acting is obviously in me. Acting is beautiful; it pays. But I just like to venture into a lot of things. But I love everything I do.

But don't you feel bad that you are no longer acting in movies like most of your contemporaries?

I really don't have a problem with that. Acting is not what you can retire from. Acting is always there for any good actor. I just finished a job, which would be premiered in the US and Canada. I would rather be into one beautiful big project, where you can demonstrate your talent. I don't want to continue doing this home video thing; I want to do movies. I'm not a square peg in a round hole. Most people who know me also know I'm good, I'm okay. I've three scripts right now. Each time I get scripts, my brothers and I talk about them.

Some people might say you went off the screen because the scripts weren't coming any longer.

Not at all! It is not true. I was in Germany for about five months. I was also in the UK for some period of time doing some things I don't want to talk about right now. I've been okay with what I've been doing. I shot a movie late last year. I was in Owerri. Mike Ezuruonye was also in the movie. I did the movie because it was so challenging. We rehearsed with real guns in the movie. It is not the usual kind of movie we are used to everyday.

Tell us what it is like being in a family of actors.

It is just like asking me how it is being in a family of doctors. There is nothing wrong with acting or engineering. It is fun and interesting. It is something we can all sit down and talk about. It helps to have a brother who does the same thing that you do. We learn from each other.

Timaya said one of his greatest regrets was having you as his girlfriend. Did you hurt him that much for him to have said that?

Ah! Empress! Seriously, I told myself that I wasn't going to talk about this in the papers because I've learnt a lot. I've learnt that being good is not really a good thing in this country. Trying to help people is not a good thing too. Whatever you do, people will try to criticise you. I've always been a good person. Apart from the fact that people are not blind, apart from the fact that people are not dumb to know the truth, I don't have to go to the papers to justify what happened in that relationship. But I've been in the spotlight before he ever thought of getting there. People have always known me for being nice. I hate proud people; so, I will not boast about things I did for people. It is so glaring who should really go to the papers and say the relationship was a mistake. I don't want to criticise anybody. I don't want to talk about it. I still give God the glory. Without events, there won't be history. It has made me not to trust people or live my life for them.

We learnt you wanted to sue him.

We had a case recently and people said I sued Timaya for an X amount of money. Obviously, money is not my problem. I started making money long before Timaya ever thought of seeing millions. I just did what I had to do. Let me give you a hint. We had some issues and I basically avoided this same person for close to two years. I had my reasons. He was somebody I was close to for a period of time and I know what he can or can't do. So, I avoided him. I will just say that Timaya was obsessed with me. He saw me driving at a particular time, he overtook me, stopped in front of me, pulled me off my car and beat me up. I did what I had to do. I had to go to the police and report the case with the pictures of my face swollen and all of that. I took the case very far. I had two lawyers. But for the love of Christ, I had to let the case go. I've been in this business for a long time. If I go to the papers, people might say Empress wants attention. How can I crave attention when I've had it for so long? He went to the papers and he got talking and talking and I was reading and laughing. I didn't say a word all through that period. The fear of God and maturity had to come in. Many journalists called me to get my comments. I always told them I didn't want to comment on the issue.

But would you, like him, say you regret the relationship?

It is obvious. I would have used that period of time to better other people's lives or concentrate on my job or my family. But I was living my life for people who didn't deserve it. If I had listened to one of his new tracks before I dropped that case, I don't think I would have dropped the case. I may preach about Christ and love, but I'm human. There are things that you should just let go. Can you imagine the arrogance? Music is not meant for you to come out and brag about what you don't have. I respect Tuface a lot. He sings songs that make meaning. He is not bragging about what he is not and you can learn through his music. His music is inspiring. If you have a problem with someone, face the problem. Do you have to sing about it? Why not do something that people can embrace, something that can go farther than this country? Why would you waste your time and go to the studio only to come out singing about an actress? Empress was something he regretted yet he sang with my name. Empress was somebody you regretted, yet you used my brothers' names in your song. E dey pepper you for bodi so much. It is because I'm or I was so important in his life. You regret Empress yet you gave me a ring? Please! It is high time we stopped talking trash. I might have said I don't want to talk about this but right now, I don't think I would mind having one on one debate with him. But then, I'm too much for such. It is obvious who should regret the relationship. It is obvious who should be thankful. In life, when you achieve something you never believed you will achieve, it is like a blow to them.

How did you feel when he beat you up?

How else would a battered woman feel? You will feel angry and frustrated. At that point, a lot of things will go through your mind. This is not what I want to talk about in the papers. It is not a good thing for any female. I'm going to do a movie on people who hit women. It is not something I want to rush into. I want to do it right.

How come your brothers kept quiet if you said he beat you up?

My brothers didn't keep quiet. They were not brought up to be brutal. A lot of friends wanted to fight for me. A lot of musicians were on my side. One of my brothers wanted to be confrontational. But I told them that two people can't be mad at the same time. The way we were trained is obviously different from the way some other people were trained. My brothers will always respect my feelings. John is a triple black belter. He doesn't even need to fight. He will just hit you one place and you will die. He is one of the best in karate and you know these people are trained not to get angry. He is calm.

Would you have married Timaya?

I would have made my mother the saddest woman on the face of this earth if I'd married Timaya. I would have sent my mother to an early grave. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is my happiness. My mother has never advised me wrongly and she has never advised me to be involved in anything evil. If I had moved out of my family house, I would have been wayward. But when you are under the umbrella of a good parent, you will hardly go astray. If I try to go astray, my mum will put me on the right track since I'm still living under her roof. If I had wanted to rent my own flat, I would have rented over 100 flats.

But we thought you moved into Timaya's house?

I didn't move into that house, I got that house. Please, I don't want to talk about it. Let's just leave that side. When I said I lived my life for some people, you should understand what I'm saying. I never moved into any man's house. I've never done that and I will never do that.

http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jan/29/831.html

mama-gee:

Who knew this lady before she popped out from the woodwork?

I do and i guess some other people do.
Rumours abt her range from dating the high and mighty to being a kleptomaniac.

nwayi imbaise, ke ki mere?
@all
u should let her be, everyone's got a right to a past. , timaya is just a sorry case , the sodden affair is over, which is good for them,
timaya aint willing to let her go cuz she is better than anything he ever had.

I guess the morale of this whole fiasco is, celebrities shouldn't date other celebrities. It hardly ends well. Timaya for that matter. Not exactly a perfect match

given his rough ragamuffian way of life

How did she even got herself involved with Timaya
Babe na waoo , e don do plzzz no talk again u don over talk,

spikedcylinder:

Lol. Funny woman.
Collecting Timaya's money and buying $5000 phones did not kill your mum prematurely sha?

Lol!

So Timaya is also a woman beater. They should just start a club in Nigeria biko. MWBW (Men who beat women)

All these harlots no go let person hear word. When you were chopping Timaya's money your mum didn't die abi? By the way, why you no talk wetin you do wey make Timaya beat you? Abi Timaya just wake up one morning with divine revelation to beat u up? Now u dey form 'victim'. Stoopid gold-digging wannabe actress, bragging that she started seeing money long before Timaya, how many films you don act wey dey give u that kind money. All these wakapass ashewo wey dey hop from one man to the other - come get the audacity to take the money wey u collect from man dey boast for us, dey claim 'big girl'. Shameless tramp.

Typical!

Now, she's talking about God.


Materialistic twerp!

pro01:

All these harlots no go let person hear word. When you were chopping Timaya's money your mum didn't die abi? By the way, why you no talk wetin you do wey make Timaya beat you? Abi Timaya just wake up one morning with divine revelation to beat u up? Now u dey form 'victim'. Stoopid gold-digging wannabe actress, bragging that she started seeing money long before Timaya, how many films you don act wey dey give u that kind money. All these wakapass ashewo wey dey hop from one man to the other - come get the audacity to take the money wey u collect from man dey boast for us, dey claim 'big girl'. Shameless tramp.

lol i tire for the chick o. but timaya self . . . , .

timaya is a flibbertigibbet,a sobo-phobic andicape, hw cud he bit such a gorgeous splendous and resplendous sweet extra-additional beauty as that gal, gosh if she'd married timaya,i think they would hav bin a cataclysm in the marriage, i hate timiya wit al my souls, idiot

@pro01 you are the bum. you just hit the nail on the head. After a serious rump with Timaya she is now claiming the holy one. empress just go stick your head in the sack of poo

and u xpress or xpress road,i dnt knw, do u think timaya would just wok up and dismantle ur face withawt u doing anithing,gosh i think ur face was a point of contact to him, let me tel u sth,ure a nincompoop,a kleptomaniac,a nymphomaniac and an ophobomaniac, ure practising a flamboyant display of sanctity mannerism, infact ur speech luks like ur mouth is an epitome of idolistic monopoikilation, infact ur head is pie block of two outstanding hoe, u vacabonic imbecilic and moronic prat, gett off idiot, xpress road

my thing is
why will these celebrities stop acting like fools and STOP talking about the private affairs
she said she wont talk about it but still gave paragraphs of explanation
hmmmmmmmmm

daniel michael:

and u xpress or xpress road,i dnt knw, do u think timaya would just wok up and dismantle your face withawt u doing anithing,gosh i think your face was a point of contact to him, let me tel u sth,ure a nincompoop,a kleptomaniac,a nymphomaniac and an ophobomaniac, ure practising a flamboyant display of sanctity mannerism, infact your speech luks like your mouth is an epitome of idolistic monopoikilation, infact your head is pie block of two outstanding hoe, u vacabonic imbecilic and moronic prat, gett off , xpress road

ROTF  

@Topic

Timaya beat her up?   Too bad and unacceptable  

Wowo woman. Empress Njama indeed. So if your mother didnt protest, you would continue spreading your legs for timaya and would have married a man who believes you are a sex pot and a warm punching bag.
i feel sorry reading her rants, i hope timaya stop feeding her popularity and let her just fade away.

So much hatred in d house,tk am easy ppl o o o. Rememeber dt ds guys ar in showbiz anytin tn cn b heard n anytn fit happen. Theyre jst mkin name n fame.

girl they sabi form

" She is my happiness. My mother has never advised me wrongly and she has never advised me to be involved in anything evil"

Empress do tell, did the advise sound like this " My daughter, enjoy this ruffian's money. I will tell you when to leave him". Cos there was no complain from your ' sweet mom" when the car and other expensive gifts were rolling in from our guy. Timaya? that guy self

Does it mean that express can not be richer than timaya. She is actress and a good one too. I feel she too makes money. Let us face the fact, that she is a woman does not mean she is running after men, she actress and in show biz, she can be anywhere, any time doing her business or should she be running after women.

let your mother fine you her heart desiring husband so that you will not be marrying and she will be dieying

daniel michael:

timaya is a flibbertigibbet,a sobo-phobic andicape, hw cud he bit such a gorgeous splendous and resplendous sweet extra-additional beauty as that gal, gosh if she'd married timaya,i think they would hav bin a cataclysm in the marriage, i hate timiya wit al my souls,

Na wa.

Abeg make dem go chop s h i t.

So is she saying that girls who live on their own are wayward? Rubbish! I heard she steals?despite the fact that she comes from a good family. Yeye.

Even John njamah, that skinny bone is a triple black belter omo make he no go fight o make timaya no go bust him head with bottle

Small thing we go hear say Aki and paw paw sef get Black belt too i go so beat them

uglybetty:

So is she saying that girls who live on their own are wayward? Rubbish! I heard she steals?despite the fact that she comes from a good family. Yeye.

nor mind am.