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Toke Makinwa is one name that rings a bell in many homes in Nigeria today. The reason is simple. She is one of Nigeria’s seasoned multimedia presenter and media personalities. She is also a popular radio personality, who burst onto the scene in 2010 with the premiere of her late night radio show, “Rhythms of the Night,” hosted by one of the most popular music stations in the Lagos metropolitan area, Rhythm 93.7FM. The show caters to night owls who enjoy smooth melodies that evoke a sense of peace, serenity and calm; qualities that this pretty babe exudes so effortlessly.
A UNILAG graduate, Toke had always known that her charm and alluring countenance will take her places. In 2011, she started to build her portfolio working as a co-host on ‘The Morning Drive,’ where she keeps her loyal listeners entertained with news across the continent and the globe. On account of her Beauty, Grace and Charm, Toke has been featured on the cover of many magazines, garnering attention for her petite figure but rivetting personality. She was also chosen to anchor the 25th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, embarking on a ride of a lifetime with aspiring beauty queens from every state. Because of her bubbly spirit, some have called her ‘the life of the party, while others say she’s a ‘globe-trotting beauty’.
On January 15, 2014, Makinwa had a private wedding ceremony with her lover of close to 14 years Maje Ayida which got a lot of their friends and fans angry because of the secrecy that enveloped the marriage. In January 2014, Hip Hop World Magazine announced Makinwa as the host for its latest show Trending which debuted on Valentine’s Day. On 21 May 2014, Makinwa joined the Moments with Mo team as a guest host. She has since featured in many episodes on the EbonyLife TV Network. A few weeks back, Toke had a drink with City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE during which they talked about her marriage to Maje. Below are excerpts of the interview.
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How have you been able to balance out your career with your marriage?
To be honest, I thank God everyday for the kind of man that I married. I can’t take that for granted. Marriage is a big deal and I wish a lot of young people will take out time to really understand what marriage is all about.
Even me, what do I know? I have only been in it for about 8 months. But I thank God for the kind of person that he is. He is my support system. I think he kind of likes what I do to. So he is one of my fans. Even when I forget certain things he is the one that is always pushing me, have you thought about this? What about doing this? Why don’t you try that? Then is absolutely nothing that I can’t talk to him about. We are thinking of doing a lot of work together as well hopefully in 2015.
Why did you guys spring that surprise marriage on us, the way you did? I still can’t understand what happened?
To be honest with you, I can’t understand it my self. I think it happened the way it was meant to happen. If we didn’t do it this way I don’t think it would have happenned till now.
There was so much surrounding Toke and Maje union.
Why was that so?
I honestly don’t know. People seemed interested in it I guess. There was just so much about both of us out there. The Bible says all things work together for all those that trust God. So, at that point, for me I could have broken up and living my life and I was ready to be single again and I woke up one morning again and here I am, I am married it happened the way it was supposed to happened.
That is the only way we could have done it.
How were you able to manage the reactions from people who you didn’t invite?
It hasn’t been easy. Family, friends everybody felt a bit disappointed, people felt they were not given the opportunity to share in our joy and in our day. We are still planning to have an actual ceremony. But a couple of things have gone down this year in terms of both of our family. So much so that we have had to put that on the back burner. But it is certainly going to happy. At least we would have like a wedding party eventually, just to let people who felt like they missed out in the joining of Toke and Maje have an opportunity to also share with us. But I think the most important thing about the marriage is the foundation. And when the foundation is right every other thing can come later.
I think there is beauty in simplicity.
I have always dreamt about having a big wedding. I thought I was going to have a wedding fit for a Princess.
People find you and Maje strange as a couple. You don’t do things together. You don’t attend parties together. You don’t talk about him on you morning programme why?
I think its all about putting things in compartments, and properly compartmentalizing things because at the end of the day, he is an individual. He has his own life. He has his own business. He is loving what he does, and I am loving what I do, and it just works for both of us that way.
How have you been able to cope with your celebrity lifestyle? You have a whole lot of fans who follow you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
My fans were disappointed at the fact that I got married without telling them. And I have been apologizing to them ever since. I don’t take it for granted. I am loving every moment of it I am thankful for everyday that I get to touch lives.
How do you cope?
I cope because I don’t see my self as a celebrity. So it helps. I am absolutely loving my life. It helps you have a very balanced outlook towards life and think of the bigger picture which is: are you adding to life? When you are gone what will people say about you? Do you think you are doing what you are meant to be doing. I am just trying to impact lives positively. I am very level headed and being thankful and I am taking nothing for granted, waking and being better at the craft
Many people don’t understand your personalities, you and Maje. One is outgoing, the other is very private. How do you balance out your personalities?
It has always been our personality. He is amazing. He is a very reserved person. I am the feisty one. It works. We both can’t be out there. We both can’t have the kind of personality that I have. He is much older than I am, as well. We just laugh through everything that comes our way. There are times he follows me out. There are times he attends some event that I have to make appearance at. There are times I literary have to beg him and he says you know what, just go, I am tired I just want to tap some football at home. And I go and I come back.
And we are always in communication. We are always talking. We are fine. It works for us.
How do you cope with having to attend events?
Attending events is part of work as well. I do get paid to attend some events. When you grow a brand and it becomes a solid brand people will want to associate with that and if they have some products and services that they have that would align with your brand they invite you to be part of the it.
Just like some people feel you been at certain event might also add some glamour to it. I see it as work as well.
I actually don’t really go out like that, interms of having fun, or just chilling outside. No. if its not work I am mostly at home. I think I enjoy the fact that it’s a job and I am getting paid for it. I love going out. I am the life of a party and that hasn’t changed I love talking I love to go out to listen to music and have a good time. That’s who I am. And I am truly happy to be with someone who appreciates that part of me. He loves it. So, no problem.
About Unknown
Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.
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