A-ARTs: Moji Olaiya (27 February 1975

Moji Olaiya

Actress, Moji Olaiya emerged into stardom when she featured in Super Story, a TV soap of Wale Adenuga. Production. Earlier, Adenuga had discovered her in a small role when she acted alongside star actress, Bukky Wright in a film directed by Abbey Lanre.

Olaiya, the niece of legendary Nigerian musician, Victor Olaiya, was in 2003 nominated for the Reel Award Best Supporting Actress of the Year, and she won the Best New Actress Award.

As at the period of her death on May 17, 2017 - from cardiac arrest in Canada two months after childbirth - the actress who converted from Christianity to Islam had
Iya Okomi, starring Foluke Daramola and Funso Adeolu was released in 2016 as a producer.

The actress, according to sources had complications after delivering her baby two months ahead of time. But reports said her health had improved, significantly. In fact she posted on her instagram: “Al-amdulilahi to you Allah; I give all the glory for all you have done,” she wrote. “I will forever praise and worship you. It’s not by power but the Grace of Allah. Thank you for the gift of life. Thanks also to all my friends, family and my fans for your support and prayers.”

But her blood pressure was said to had suddenly risen in the early hours of Thursday. Sadly, she couldn't survive the sudden change in her temperature. “She died on her way to the hospital,” sources said.

Against speculation that her love life with a Muslim man led to change of faith, in 2014, Olaiya explained to Lagos-based magazine, Encomium why she converted to Islam.

Excerpt: "No man influenced my decision to identify with Islam. I have just said it, my mother was an Alhaja before she converted to Christianity. Islam has been a religion I have always loved. I have been in-between Christianity and Islam but just recently I decided to embrace Islam fully and there is no regret doing so.

"Honestly, Islam is a peaceful religion. The aspect I love most is that you don't need any pastor to get closer to God. You don't really need anybody to pray for you. You can always pray on your own and Almighty Allah will answer your prayer without any intermediary. I have been doing that since I became a Muslim and it has always worked for me. "

Though widely recognised as the daughter of Victor, the actress, as a young girl was said to have been raised by the octogenarian musician when her father died very early in her life. Despite the fact that the Olaiya family was a polygamous one, a family source disclosed that Moji's father had a very good relationship with his brothers and sisters from the step mothers. "In fact, Moji's father was nicknamed 'Mayor' by his siblings, even from other mothers," the source said. "And so, when Moji's father died, it was easy for Victor to raise her as his own daughter."

Olaiya married Bayo Okesola in 2007 and separated few years after. With Okesola, the relationship produced Adunola, her 20-year-old daughter who is currently a student at Babcock University, Ogun State.

Her Filmography: starred in several Nollywood movies of both Yoruba and English languages films such as No Pains No Gains, in which she played Ireti, Sade Blade (2005), Nkan adun (2008), Omo iya meta leyi (2009), Agunbaniro, Aje nile Olokun, Ojiji Aye, Apaadi and Nkan adun (2008).

Art on chessboard with Tunde Onakoya, Lanre Olagoke