Actress and broadcaster Eyiyemi Rogbinyin has said she is nothing like the character Hajia Malaika Doherty, whom she portrayed in the series Dust.
In an interview with QEDNG publisher Olumide Iyanda, Eyiyemi discussed her experience playing the role and how it differs from her real prsonality.
She noted that Hajia Malaika Doherty, a character she described as an overly ambitious Hausa woman, is vastly different from Iya Onidiri, the character she played in Itura.
Hajia Malaika marries into a Yoruba family with a calculated plan to take over her father-in-law’s company.
“She’s strategic about whom she marries because her ultimate goal is to take control of the company,” Eyiyemi explained.
The actress went on to describe Hajia Malaika as ruthless, saying, “She deals with her son and husband, and nothing stands in her way. If you’re an obstacle, she gets rid of you with the speed of light. She doesn’t think twice—she uses everyone to achieve her aim.”
Eyiyemi also addressed feedback from fans who questioned the realism of her character.
“Some people say Hajia Malaika isn’t realistic, and I tell them, ‘This is life.’ Look at anyone in power or anyone hungry for power—they’ll find a way to get what they want, no matter who stands in their way. It’s very realistic,” she asserted.
When she first received the script, Eyiyemi admitted she was unsure how she would approach the role. “I wondered how I was going to take on that character because I’m not that person. But I guess that’s why I’m an actor. Nothing about her is like me,” she said.
As an actor, Eyiyemi believes that understanding the basis of a character is crucial to delivering a realistic performance.
“When Dust first aired, some people told me they couldn’t believe it was the same person who played Iya Onidiri portraying Malaika.”
She also recounted a moment when a ten-year-old noted that while her voice and appearance were the same, the character was “a whole lot meaner.”
Eyiyemi shared that she returned to the industry in 2021 and that acting was never originally on her radar.
Her re-entry into the field began with stage acting alongside Bunmi Davis, Teju Babyface, Yaw, and Kayode Peters. “We all used to act together,” she reminisced.
Regarding her experience in feature films, Eyiyemi revealed that her work in Itura and Dust has led to more role offers. “I haven’t had the opportunity to do a lot of feature films, but I’m looking forward to those opportunities,” she added.
She emphasised that the creation of a character is a collaborative effort between the actor and the director. “I’m not one of those actors who direct the director,” Eyiyemi clarified.
“I only make suggestions if something doesn’t make sense to me.”
She recounted an example from Dust where, as a mother-in-law, she was asked to carry heavy fabrics to meet her daughters-in-law in the living room. After explaining to the director that it was culturally inappropriate and the fabrics were heavy, the scene was adjusted.
Eyiyemi concluded by stating that while she respects the director’s vision, she believes in offering suggestions that may or may not be accepted.
Dust is a television series currently airing on M-Net’s Africa Magic channel.
