Rising Nigerian actress Amara Maduka has always stood out, not only for her on-screen charisma but also for her fiercely independent spirit.
When asked about her views on marriage, she stated, “Marriage for a woman like me is not the same as it is for the average woman. Don’t get me wrong; marriage is good and interesting, but the things we see and hear about marriages these days are scary. It’s a turn-off. Whether or not I will get married is still a constant battle between me, myself, and I. Times have changed, and so have we. I’m not a feminist in the traditional Nigerian sense, but men must do a lot better to protect our women.”
Strong-willed yet open-minded, Amara also discussed her upbringing. When asked if she was a stubborn child, she replied, “I don’t characterize myself as stubborn. I know I have a strong will and a clear mind, but I’m not stubborn. Stubborn people are foolish, in my opinion. They cling to the ‘I am stubborn’ mentality even when they’re wrong. If you lay the cards on the table and convince me with sound reasoning, I’ll change my mind. That’s the difference between being stubborn and having a strong will.”
Regarding the often-discussed topic of blacklisting in Nollywood, Amara had some strong words for the industry. “We have just a handful of professionals. Before Nollywood can have the audacity to blacklist any artist, they need to first instil some professionalism. The few good movies you see out there are produced by artists. Those who thought they ran the industry have actually harmed it. Notice I said ‘ran’—because they don’t run it anymore. The game has flipped. They are now just businessmen and women looking to invest money and achieve quick returns, without paying attention to the important details that good films require.”
