Nobody forced me to change my religion – Liz Anjorin

Liz (now Aishat) Anjorin, tells'Nonye Ben-Nwankwoabout her recent

conversion to Islam and her lifestyle



You woke up one morning and decided to change your name and religion.

Is that how people just switch?



My name is still Liz. I am Elizabeth Aishat Anjorin. I have always

been a Muslim. It is just that I am a very confidential person; not

many people know about it. That is why it sounds new to so many people

now.

So how come it became a public knowledge and is even causing side

talks here and there?

It was because I went on Hajj. That was how so many people got to know

about my religion. You know that my name is Elizabeth, a Biblical

name; so when I went on Hajj, everybody had to notice that I practise

Islam.

Have you always been a Muslim?

My father was a Christian and my mother was a Muslim. After my

mother's death, I decided to practise her religion. Even before her

death, I had wanted to go for Hajj but there was no chance.

Stories started flying round when this story broke. Some said you

found a rich 'Alhaji' who insisted you must convert to Islam before he

married you…

People must talk and if they don't, they will die. But to answer your

question, I don't think such can happen. I don't see why any man would

tell me to change my religion before he can marry me. Funny enough, my

boyfriend is not even an Alhaji. Going on Hajj was something I

desired. It is not even meant for Muslims alone. If you believe in

God, go to the Holy City and pray to your God and your prayers would

be answered. People from all over the world come there.

Was your baby's father a Muslim?

Oh yes. The baby's late father was a Muslim. He gave my daughter a

Muslim name. We all believe in one God. There is no dichotomy. I

don't have to judge anybody and say the person's religion is bad. We

are all one before God. I am still proud of my name, Elizabeth. It is

just that when you go for Hajj and come back, you have to be more

modest. It is just that I am human and I am a young lady who is still

single. I am free to live my life. If I get married and my husband

wants me to beEleha(woman in purdah), then I will do it. If I marry a

pastor and my husband wants me to be a pastor, I will do it. I have to

be submissive to my husband. For now, I am a young girl, so I think I

am still free to follow my heart and do what I want to do. But when

you go for hajj, you have the fear of God and you believe in God.

So you have changed since you came back?

Yes. Before now, I could do anything. I could talk anyhow. But now, I

caution myself. I can't destroy myself talking the way other people

talk.

Did you go to Mecca so that people will perceive you as a nice, holy lady?

Anybody who is saying such must be jobless. I saw all the comments

people posted on the Internet because of my trip to Mecca. I know some

people said I was a bad girl and I wanted to live a holy life and that

was why I had to go to Hajj. Those people who say such, have they ever

seen me in a party? Have they seen me where I shouldn't be? I am not a

saint but I know I have been a wonderful person. If a lady like me can

work and do some other things without anybody's knowledge, then people

should pray for me. Anybody saying such negative thing hasn't seen me.

It is not easy. If a guy of 27 can ask me out, then you know that I am

a very decent lady to the core. If you keep yourself decent, it shows

on your body. I don't fix nails except on location. I don't wear fake

eye lashes. I don't smoke, I don't drink. I cherish my sleep at night.

I don't club, I cover my body. So why would anybody term me a bad

girl? If I were bad, I would be struggling. I am not saying that I am

a saint but I will say it again and again, I am a very decent girl. I

don't misuse my body. Do I even have that time?

You don't smoke, you don't drink and you don't do so many bad things

but was it not reported that you and Iyabo Ojo fought over a man back

then?

Anybody who says such is just jobless. It is so annoying. You don't

judge anybody. You don't even have the right to do that. Let them

talk. That is their headache. I am not going to say anything.

But there is a recent picture where you dressed so sexy. You didn't

wear the long dresses ….

If I am at a movie location, nothing stops me from dressing that way.

Even when I am not at a location, I have never really dressed

seductively. I don't reveal my body. I always cover my body. it is

very hard for people to know that I even wear tattoo. It is only at a

location or when you see poster pictures that you would know that.

There is a difference between your personality and your job. For a

male gynaecologist who is an Alhaji, don't women open their legs for

him to check them? It is his profession. People should please correct

this impression. I am an actress. If I am given a role, I must

interpret it. We are preaching and trying to correct anomalies with

our movies. We are just acting. Even without going to Mecca or

Jerusalem, I have never liked dressing seductively. You can still be

beautiful without exposing your body. The more you are even covered

up, the more beautiful you look. So, the picture you saw is a poster

picture. I have always worn long gowns and I bet you, I look more

beautiful than those who wear scanty attires. Attending event is part

of my job; if I weren't a celebrity, I could wear anything to any

event and nobody would notice. But I am a role model. I love to wear

something unique. I am a young lady. The way you dress attracts the

calibre of people that come to you. If you dress decently, mature

minds approach you. If you dress in a funny way, such people will come

to you.

So many people would expect you to finally settle down now…

People believe it is one Alhaji that sent me to Mecca. Ok o; when it

is time for me to get married, I will let them know. It might be

tomorrow, it might be next. I don't know the time but everybody will

know when we get there. All I am interested in is my business.

You are into business as well?

Oh yes. I am into fashion. I have a fashion house and it keeps me so

busy. I buy clothes from so many countries and I sell.

Have you left acting?

No. I am working on my new movie,Kofo the First Lady.It is a sequel to

Kofo Tinubu. We have the same characters in the movie but different

story.

So you and Iyabo Ojo have fully made up, no more quarrel?

No. we don't have any quarrel whatsoever. She even featured in my

movie. I don't have anywahalawith anybody. We are doing so fine, so

great.

Which faction of Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners do you belong to?

I am a member of ANTP. I don't belong to any faction. All I know is

that I am an actress. I belong to my shop and my business. I don't

know what is going on there. If you ask me what is happening in my

shop, I will tell you the latest.

One actress came out to say publicly that actresses in the Yoruba

movie industry practise lesbianism a lot; are you aware of it?

I wouldn't know I swear. I don't even have time. As a producer, if you

waste my time, I go back to my business and my shop. Lesbianism? Haba!

I don't think Yoruba actresses can do such. Yoruba people are well

cultured. If you do any stupid thing, there is something called

'oriki.' You have to be careful of what you do. And that is why I

always say the way you dress will determine how people will approach

you. They can't approach me. How will you even think of 'toasting' me

when you are a woman? Before you will even open your mouth to ask me

out, I will slap you and beg God for forgiveness. Why would I get into

such when men are everywhere searching for wives?