Yoruba actor, Olaniyi Mikail Afonja popularly known as Sanyeri has
opened up on his struggles and hardship before hitting stardom.
According to him, his journey to stardom has not been an easy one,
citing that he had to live a rough life before rewarding opportunities came
his way.
Sanyeri who stated that he found it difficult to make a living after
finishing secondary school, resorted to learning how to become a cobbler.
He also revealed that His participation in acting in Oyo State did not give
him the sort of reward he anticipated. Even after relocating to Lagos, his
situation remained the same.
“The suffering I endured was really extreme. After I finished my secondary
school education, I did not have a job so I delved into the theatre world.
I did it for some time but I was not being paid even when I went
everywhere with the group and was helping them carry their costume.” he
said
“I had to learn how to repair shoes so I became a shoe cobbler.
Eventually, I left Oyo town and came to Lagos to find greener pastures
but still I was not earning anything from acting.”
“I became a mobile cobbler. I would put my materials in a wooden box,
place it on my shoulder and start hitting it as I walked the length and
breadth of Idumota.”
“I would constantly hit my wooden box as I walked about to call the
attention of people. Then nobody knew me so I kept hitting my box all
over Idumota.”
“I remember I had a handkerchief I used to cover my face because of my
tribal marks.”
“The reason I concealed my tribal marks was because the Igbo boys at
Idumota had the belief that if they did not give their shoes to a Ghanaian
cobbler, no one could do a better job.”
“If they saw my tribal marks, they would think I was one of the touts
that would normally come to disturb them for money for shop and they
would not give me their shoes to repair.”
“When I saw that being a shoe cobbler was affecting my career as an
actor, I had to quit and face acting squarely. I thank God that good
fortunes have come my way.
Sanyeri is now one of the leading funny Yoruba actors that took over the
terrain in the last four years. The actor hit the limelight after playing a
lead role with his buddy, Adekola Tijani in the hit comedy flick, Muniru ati
Ambali. He further showed the stuff he is made of after starring in Opa
Kan, which featured Odunlade Adekola and Adekola Tijani
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