“Although many local publications cite her birth year to between 1980 and 1981, Danjuma has repeatedly stated that she was born on 26 June 1987.”
The above was what Wikipedia uploaded on her page when Caroline was first caught up in a controversy where people had wished her a happy 34th birthday years ago. She came out that year to state she was 28 years old.
It was a terrible fiasco that year, and it led to a point where her Wikipedia page now has a category titled “Age Controversy.” This is what the category said:
“Although many local publications cite her birth year to between 1980 and 1981, Danjuma has repeatedly stated that she was born on 26 June 1987.”
She is recently in the news again for celebrating her 35th birthday recently, and this has had people wondering why the supposed lie was necessary.
Age might be more important than what we think it to be when it comes to certain aspects of life. This is why we have a number of actresses lying about their ages.
Some actresses have been previously caught up in the same age controversy where it’s obvious that they told lies. Other examples are lies from actresses Jemima Osunde and Halima Abubakar Nengi Thompson of Big Brother Naija fame was also caught up in a certain age controversy.
I believe the fear of acceptance in the professional world could be responsible. Just like is seen in football, it’s becoming obvious that the younger you are, the better chances you have to clinch some movie roles.
It is said that in an interview with the NDANI TGIF Show years ago, Jemima Osunde and actress, Linda Ejiofor came on as guests. During a game of ‘Never Have I Ever’, a question ‘Never Have I Ever Lied To Get A Job’ appeared, and actress Linda was quick to drink her shot.
It is said that Jemima insisted that she had never lied to get a job. But Linda told her “Come on you’ve lied!” Jemima then asked “What possible lie?” Linda’s reply was this: “Your age!”
The actress didn’t dispute it, and I believe this is the major reason Caroline lied.
A colleague with the Twitter handle @EbyCalis had this to say as a reply to the claim of the actress: “Lol, Ekanem please. No be only 35. When I co- produced my first movie ‘foreign affairs,’ which you starred in, I was 18 and you were 22. I’m 38 today. Na Twitter people una go dey bobo like this.”
I remember my cousin losing a certain movie role because she was 38. The producer and director had stated that they don’t work with actresses older than 32 years old. It was a funny but painful experience for her.
I remember how she came home crying that very day. She said that was the fourth producer telling her a similar thing. She made up her mind to change her age in her subsequent interviews, I and it really worked for her.
I believe Caroline doesn’t want producers and the audience to think her time is gone in terms of serving us younger roles. She and other actresses who lie, are obviously doing so to show that they can be flexible and can fit into younger roles, than the ones ordinarily meant for people of their age.
Written by: Edward Amah
