When you sit to watch and enjoy a Nollywood film and she is featured in it, you are guaranteed of an enlightening view. A seasoned actress with a deep understanding of script delivery, she brings to life the mind of a scriptwriter and effortlessly delivers her lines to the admiration of all. From movies to soaps to stage plays, to being an ambassador of several brands…name it, she has done all yet she remains humble, true, focused and determined. We thought we had seen it all until she recently declared her intention to run for the House of Representative for Calabar South. Her book ‘Kate Henshaw, The Story of an Actress: My story’ is an intriguing expose on her journey from days of humble beginnings to her enviable feat which she has tirelessly and ardently worked hard to achieve. Let the drums role for the award winning actress who has featured in films too many to mention, the charming, athletic, down-to-earth gorgeous screen diva, the one and only Kate Henshaw!
Kate grew up in Surulere at number 8 Akinhanmi street by Moshalashi bus stop “I remember going to school from there with my brothers (two of them). My dad owned a green ford two door coupe car back then and he worked at Pan American Airways located at Investment house close to CSS bookshop at CMS, Lagos Island. My growing up days was pleasant with fond memories indeed. We travelled out of the country on holiday during the long vacation from school to America, London and Ghana to mention a few. A few years later, we left Moshalashi and moved to Aguda, I do not remember the street but it was off brown road.” Kate tells me.
She takes me down memory lane as she light-heartedly narrates “My primary school was St Mary’s private School, Ajele, Broad Street. We were served lunch in school, milk that came in a small square carton, on a tray in the classroom. At twelve noon on the dot, you stopped whatever you were doing and stood wherever you found yourself to say the ‘Angelus’, I never understood what that was about till I was older to know it was the catholic devotion. I hated Mondays because it meant an early morning wake by my mum to get ready for school.”
“My mum was very hard-working indeed. This she instilled in me whenever I would situate myself in front of the television to watch my favourite programme and she would come and pull me by the ears to get into the kitchen. I would never forget her words to me, ‘don’t you know that you are a woman? Do you want to be wayward? No man will marry you if you cannot cook and clean.’ I would then go and prepare the ingredients depending on the meal to be cooked for the day…Kemi, there is nothing as useful as a loving mother’s advise-take it anywhere it will work for you” Kate tells me in her theatrical mood.
Kate sat for JAMB a few times and could not meet the cut off mark for what she wanted to study which was medicine instead, she got admitted into University of Calabar for remedial studies to study Biochemistry. Hear her tell more “While studying, I was part of a dance group called ‘Mirakles’ and we performed a couple of times for different events held at the University Arts centre. While in my first year, I took the examinations for the School of Medical Laboratory Sciences in LUTH and was accepted. I was very active in the student union and I served as the Social Director.” She says.
It has indeed been a life of various happenings and memories that Kate won’t be forgetting in a jiffy, one of which she shares with me. Hear her “while working at Virgin organisation, I met several notable people in the movie industry. I was once given an invitation to attend an award ceremony titled The Movie Awards (THEMA) held at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos Island. As I sat in the crowd talking to a few people, I recognised quite a number of faces from movies, soap operas and so on. People were being presented with different awards and lots of clapping and smiles accompanied them. I looked up and saw the next set of presenters for the award for ‘Best Upcoming Actress’ and I saw the popular musician Obesere and another person I do not remember and they were calling out the names of the nominees. I thought I heard a name that sounded like mine but it was ill pronounced and then someone was tapping me seconds later to say I had won.”
“Who? Me? It couldn’t be! I was not invited for the awards; I used a friend’s invite to attend because he felt I would love to. Jojo my friend who gave me the invitation worked at Coca-Cola. I was shaking and crying at the same time but I went and received the award not quite believing my good fortune. There and then Opa Williams said he had a role for me and another lady Uche Macaulay (then Osutule) and that whoever turned up first would get the job. Call time was 8am, I arrived 8:10am, ten minutes later than Uche and she got the role of Onome in a movie starring Olu Jacobs and a host of others. I vowed never to be late for anything and I have kept the discipline.” Kate narrates.
If there is one other thing Kate is passionate about, it is reaching out to the youth to encourage them and serve as an inspiration to them. She tells me it’s a part of her life she embraces thoroughly. In her words, “Reaching out to young people and giving them hope to keep their dreams alive is a huge part of me. Reviving in them morals, values, respect for one another, teaching as many that I come across the importance of integrity, honesty and hard work. I do not claim to be perfect; on the contrary I have huge flaws such as my temper. I do unto others as I would like them to do unto me. There is so much hurt, pain, selfishness and wickedness around us that I shudder to think what the future holds for the future generation” she says and continues “being in the limelight puts much pressure on me to conform to a certain way and become something I am not. I had to resist the stereotype, had to break out of the mould being set up for me to fit in. What the world refuses to accept is that I do not posses super human powers; if I am pricked, I bleed, I hurt, I cry and then I am strong! So strong that sometimes I surprise myself.” She concludes.
Yes we had chatted for some minutes but if I didn’t ask my next question, I’m sure you would be wondering what went wrong…well I asked about her latest decision to go into politics and her response helped channelled my thought to where she was going to which is: implementing positive change even from the grassroots. “I am going for the House of Representative to represent Calabar South in Cross River State in 2015 elections. Cross River state has a large population of women and female children. A huge segment of the state’s human capacity lies with the female gender. Agri-business is also very key so also is the sustenance of families. The Federal Constituency of Calabar South is a true reflection of this.
This makes education of the girl-child a compulsory and consistent priority. If I get elected, I would do two terms so someone else can have a chance, succession is important.” She reveals but that is not all. Again, she speaks “I have a strong interest and desire to serve my people and especially show that there is a better and more humane way to do things when you are in position of leadership. Putting the people first and being accountable to them as well as being accessible are important things to note. I am also very keen to promote and champion the provision of clean water, good roads and sanitation in my constituency. One of my key project focus area will be provision of affordable education and quality healthcare especially for expecting and young mothers.” Kate explains.
I have known Kate over the years as a friend, a sister from another mother, an assiduous woman, one who soars in the midst of the raging storm, generous and also selfless, the aspect of her which I am new to is the area of politics but I dare say with all the listed attributes and more that she is well known for, she will also soar in the forthcoming terrain she’s going into. I wish her all the best and while we are still at it, can I call her uhmmm… ‘Her Excellency’…already?…I sure can, all the best Kate, please go do the women folk proud, and like the theme for BusinessDay Inspiring Woman Series 5 was, I dare say to Kate Henshaw ‘Yes You Can!’
KEMI AJUMOBI
