I was sexually abused as a kid –Sandra Okunzuwa

Nollywood actress cum producer, Sandra Okunzuwa whose film, Enitan would be part of the movies slated for screening at African Film Festival (AFRIF), has recalled how she was sexually abused as a young child. The Edo State indigene, in an encounter with Saturday Sun, said, “I was sexually abused as a kid and suffered mental health issues too. In the society we live in, people dont talk about mental health issues a lot, they expect you to visit your pastor and you will be alright. Moreso, life as an actor is not easy . First, you will have to embody the lives of different characters and personalities good, bad and terrible. Despite what you are going through personally, you have to wear a smile and keep entertaining people because that’s what people expect from you. I think there should be a special therapist for entertainers, because it’s not easy. Back to me being sexually abused as a kid; even as a grown woman, fully aware of my rights, I couldn’t confront my abuser because it would be generalized and I’ll be stigmatized.” Shedding more light on Enitan, which is centered on sexual abuse, Okunzuwa who played the lead role, bemoaned her challenges while making the movie. “Enitan is a story about a young married woman who doesnt get sexual satisfaction from her loving husband alone. She goes out every night to look for area boys to gang rape her for her to feel satisfied sexually. This continues until her husband caught her and the story began to unveil. As the lead character, I went through a lot physically, mentally and sexually. It was a challenging role for me. In the process of filming the character, I had to work with real area boys and it wasnt easy. I had to put myself completely in Enitan’s shoes. I had to visit different spiritualist for cleansing. The bathing at the beach while filming was one of the most challenging part because I kept on praying.”