Golda John Abiola
It was a double celebration for actress Golda John Abiola as she celebrated her 60th Birthday and 40 years on Stage.
To commemorate the double milestone, a book - Loving Wife, Caring Mother - a collection of tributes to the actress compiled by her husband - Mike Abiola, the Publisher of African Voice Newspaper, was launched recently.
In the book, Golda, a campaigner for a happy home and stable marriage, says she will dedicate the rest of her life to counselling young couples. Golda, herself in a second relationship, vows to lead the campaign to change the mindset of married and yet-to-be-married youngsters. She believes "marriage should be seen as very sacred; couples must be spiritually developed to ward off interference and distractions.
"Right now divorce is at an astronomical high rate in the United Kingdom, most divorced families find all sorts of reasons ranging from financial constraint, intellectual incompatibility to lack of enough sex or sometimes violence."
She notes that according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 42 percent of marriages in 2014 will end in divorce going by the figures recorded last year, but is quick to add "You don’t have to be among the unpleasant statistics. Divorce has devastating impact on all concerned especially children; it results in unimaginable psychological damage that affects them in their adult years. Many in miserable relationships do not seek such help as mediation, counselling or advice from faith leaders; instead they rush to court to seek for divorce. The court should work with these professionals and family members to create time for reconciliation rather than annulment."
Golda has the experience of raising four children as a single parent and a second chance in another relationship of 18 years resulting in a marriage with her husband - Mike Abiola who describes her as "a wife to love forever."
Describing Golda as a woman who has been able to combine her professionally glamorous life with being a dutiful, dedicated, trustworthy and caring wife, Mike sees the exemplary characteristics that married women and all those aspiring to enjoy a lasting marriage need to emulate.
Readers will be gripped from the beginning to end of the book with testimonies of professionals who have worked with Golda - opinion leaders, close associates, childhood classmates, family members, friends and real life experiences of how Golda survived the initial challenges; and have you wondering what best strategy to engage to secure your relationships, families and guarantee a happy marriage.
Golda John's professional acting career started in 1974 when the late Chief Wale Ogunyemi gave her the opportunity to showcase her natural talent in one of his plays The Divorce.
Since that debut, she has had an eventful career. Her portfolio includes plays like Wole Soyinka’s Opera Wonyosi and Death and the King’s Horseman. She also starred in Shattered Bridge as well as Ayitale, both UNESCO-commissioned plays written by the late Dr Bode Osanyin.
She was a famous face on Lola Fani-Kayode’s prime-time soap operas Mirror in the Sun and Family Ties; Amaka Igwe’s Checkmate; television series Ward 15 and many others.
Golda played alongside internationally acclaimed comedians and renowned UK actors at theatres throughout the UK. She starred in Clear Water during Bite Festival 2000 at the Barbican Pit Theatre. Clear Water was shortlisted for an International New Playwriting Award sponsored by the British Council. She also starred in Mr Puntila and his Man Matti, an epic comedy and adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s play directed by Kathryn Hunter.
Golda’s other films include Valley of Children, Gone Too Far written by Bola Agbaje; the title role in Mamo by Bruna Capozzoli - a short film highlighting the social injustices that can lead to dramatic consequences; and Family Legacy - a National Health Service (NHS) commissioned drama produced, directed and edited by Jane Thorburn.
On mainstream British Television, Golda has featured alongside comedian Lenny Henry in the long-running Premier Inn series of advertisements.