Madam Saje recalls pre-fame hardship, says she once stole food to survive
Veteran Nollywood actress Fausat Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, has revealed the difficult experiences that shaped her early career, revealing that she once resorted to stealing food to survive
- By Yewande Fasan
Veteran Nollywood actress Fausat Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, has revealed the difficult experiences that shaped her early career, revealing that she once resorted to stealing food to survive and worked on film sets without pay.
Speaking in an interview with The African List, the actress recounted the challenges she faced before gaining recognition in the industry, describing a period marked by financial struggle and uncertainty.
According to her, survival during those years often required extreme measures. She disclosed that she and some colleagues sometimes had to steal food just to eat, underscoring the level of hardship they endured while pursuing their passion.
Madam Saje also shared a specific incident where she participated in a movie production at a school location but received no financial compensation for her efforts. She said the team completed the shoot only to return home empty-handed, highlighting what she described as the harsh realities of the industry at the time.
According to her, “when your time comes, success will be inevitable,” urging others to remain focused and resilient in the face of adversity.
“Anyone who says they don’t face challenges in this job is lying. I suffered a lot in this job. My sufferings have turned to joy. We went to shoot a movie at a school, didn’t make any money, and came back empty-handed. We had a moment where we went to steal food to survive.
"I remember a place in Oyo State where they sold Amala: you pay in one place and collect soup elsewhere. The little money we had, we would manage to eat. Don’t be too fast for your destiny, wait for your time. When your time comes, it will be like you did a money ritual”, she said.
