She said this in a recent interview while reflecting on her journey as an actress. Madam Saje who started acting in 1975 after her Primary education said her parents never supported her.
“ It’s been a very long time coming, but all thanks to God for where we are today. I started acting when I finished from primary school. I started acting in 1975. At the initial stage of my acting career, my parents never supported me, especially my father. He was against acting. He would come to beat me out of wherever I went for rehearsals then, he would beat the hell out of me. But later, when it got the stage where I was featured in stage plays which were shown on NTA television, he had no choice than to call me and said, if that was what I wanted, then so be it. He said there were people like Ogunde and the likes, who were doing well in theatre around that time, so he started supporting my acting career. That was how my career in acting took off and people started noticing me. They called me several names, like Abeni and Iyawo Ojo. Later, I joined Lagos Television (LTV 8). Then it was not called LTV 8, that was when it was located at the new Art and Culture building, in 1980. So, my husband and I were with LTV 8 during that period. That was when we shot movies like ‘Abeni Ajagun’; Olowo Moju Ore was our producer then at Oshodi. When I did a show with Baba Suwe at NTA 7 called ‘Erin Kee kee’ in 1991. That was where I got the name ‘Madam Saje’ and God blessed the works of my hands.
Speaking on challenges faced due to lack of formal education Balogun said though she regretted not completing her education, she made a decision that all her children must complete their University education before venturing into other crafts
“Any challenge one faces in life, if God blesses you with it, then one should just thank God for it. It is not like I do not regret not completing my education, which is why I have decided that all my children must complete their education up to the university level before any other thing.
So, I do not have any regret, because I do tell people that work with me that, I do not have a formal education doesn’t mean I am not enlightened or lack native intelligence.
The only time I could say I always have the regret are times when the English section of the Nollywood would want me to feature in their movies, but because I know my capability when it comes to acting in English, I always declined those offers. I thank God, even in the Yoruba sector where I am, I can say, I am doing great.”
Fausat Balogun has been in the movie industry for over 40 years and has become a household name in the Nigeria movie industry.