MAMA RAINBOW’S SHADES AND SHAPES OF BEAUTIFUL COLOURS

By Bukola Lasisi

Be it on stage or screen, acting is unarguably the interpretation of roles as dictated by the script and guided by the director. Regardless of the emotional preparation of the actor, once the director’s dictatorial voice bellows the command- cut, all the acting prowess submits to voice of reasoning. But there is an act whose artistry is DNA rooted. Her motherly roles are naturally played out both on and off screen. She carries herself with exemplary panache, candor and piety that will make saint mother Theresa go green with envy. Or what could you make out of a pious woman whose husband died while she was 41 years, and did not remarry because of the rare love for her late husband and five children? Thirty eight years after, she has married and remarried only to the legacy that her husband left behind- film.

Without doubt, Idowu Philips is one of the most respected Nollywood actresses in the movie industry. She is a veteran actress whose contributions to Nollywood cannot be cast aside, that is why she will always have a place in the hearts of several movie lovers across the country.

Born on 16 October 1942 at Ijebu Ode, a city in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria to Prophet (Baba Aladura Agbaye) Jacob Adebanjo Ifemade, her mother was also a captain of the Cherubim and Seraphim (C & S) Church. She hails from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and attended African Methodist School and Anglican Modern School for her primary and secondary schools respectively. Later, she was admitted to a nursing school and upon graduation, Idowu Philips worked as a healthcare assistant in general hospitals in Nigeria for several years and occasionally acted in theatre.

Her stage name “Iya Rainbow” stems from “Osumare” (meaning “rainbow” in English), the name of the theatre group of her late husband, Augustine Ayanfemi Philips, who worked closely with the late patriarch of Nigerian Film Industry Sir Herbert Ogunde.

The highly respected veteran actress started as a stage actress in her late husband’s Osumare Theatre group. Even while she was working as a nurse, she still found time to go to location to shoot films. At 45 in 1986, she retired from nursing on the advice of the late Chief Hubert Ogunde. He (Ogunde) reasoned that since her husband died in 1984, there was the need for her to continue the family legacy. So, she quit nursing and went into acting full time, a lifetime decision which brought her to limelight.

It was a tough decision because after the death of her husband, the life of a widow was unbearable for her and her five children. In fact, the first set of movies she acted in were Aje ni Iya Mi and Eru. For each of the movies, she was paid N250. Imagine a widow with five children surviving on such a meagre fee. It got to a point where she wanted to go back to nursing. However, she kept pushing and struggling so that her husband’s name will not be forgotten, also for the future of her children.

The bubbly veteran has acted in a lot of stage shows like Alaafin Kanran, Bashorun Gaa, Alaafin Jaye, Onikoyi among many others. She believes the stage makes an artist a thorough professional but it could be very stressful and expensive. However, she came into limelight by a movie titled Asiri Nla by Jide Kosoko. She has been in the movie industry for several decades, now and has a special place in the hearts of several Yoruba movie lovers.

The thespian has earned several notable awards and nominations which include; City People Life Time Achievement Award amongst other awards she has won in the movie industry.

Madam Philips has featured in over 500 movies. Some of which include;

• 1997- Back to Africa
• 2000- Lagidigba
• 2002- Jesu Mushin
• 2002- Irepodun

• 2002- Eyin Ogongo
• 2003- N150 Million
• 2003- Ìfé òtító
• 2003- Fila Daddy
• 2003- Arewa okunrin
• 2003- Omo oku òrun
• 2003- Okun ife
• 2004- Okun ife 2
• 2004- Okan soso
• 2004- Okan soso 2
• 2004- Ògìdán
• 2004- Ògìdán 2
• 2006- Abeni
• 2006- Odun baku
• 2006- Mewa n sele
• 2006- Èebúdolá tèmi
• 2006- Agbefo
• 2006- Agbefo 2
• 2007- Orita Ipinya
• 2007- Olugbare
• 2007- Olóri
• 2007- Maku
• 2007- Kootu olohun
• 2007- Kilebi olorun
• 2008- Taiwo Taiwo
• 2008- Taiwo Taiwo 2
• 2008- Itakun ola
• 2008- Ìkúnlè kèsán
• 2008- Ikilo agba
• 2008- Igba ewa
• 2008- Aje metta
• 2008- Aje metta 2
• 2009- Ìpèsè
• 2009- Ìdàmu eléwòn
• 2009- Elewon
• 2009- Akoto olokada
• 2009- Akoto olokada 2
• 2018- Oga Bolaji
• 2019- Sugar Rush

Women in the new generation, especially in the make believe business have lots to learn from iya adura. Idowu Philips is a brand ambassador for Airtel, a telecommunication company. Idowu Philip is also an ambassador for Yotomi Housing Estate project, a scheme initiated by the late movie mogul Alade Aromire and many other brands . She is also a producer and director. Iya rainbow is currently 79 years old and she is still accepting and interpreting movie roles perfectly.

Picture credits- @mamarainbowofficial IG