My life, dancing, relationship with Shina Peters and MKO Abiola –Tessy Yembra

[Mirror]

Fuji and juju music was the craze both in the 1980s and 1990s. What made the songs even more exciting was the crop of dancers the musicians had on stage to entertain the fans. Topping the ladder of Fuji dancers during the Sikiru Ayinde Barrister and Sir Shina Peter's fame was Theresa Alero Yembra, better known as Tessy Yembra. She created the unique dancing styles that made Fuji music so popular, and this made the media to dub her the Dancing Queen. She spoke with Vanessa Okwara about her talent, failed marriages and the current men in her life.

When did you start dancing?

I would say I have been dancing right from my mother's womb. I dance to all manner of music right from when I was a child. But a lot of people know me today as the person that introduced the Ijo Shina dance step. The first person I danced for was the late Barrister Fuji Garbage. I also introduced the dance step. That is why in those days, the media people made me the celebrated dance queen. In fact, it was Dele Momodu that wrote it in his paper and called me the Afro Juju queen. They saw me as the pioneer of the Afro Juju dance step and collectively gave me that name. I didn't crown myself; they felt I deserved the name.

How do you see the dancing steps of today such as Azonto, Alanta compared to the ones you were doing in your days?

What we used to do then was very energetic because the body was still young, unlike now. If you want me to come and do the Azonto dance now, I will not be able to do it like the children of nowadays. These days I dance mature dances with lots of respect put into it because I'm now a grandmother. But, if I'm on stage doing my work, I'm somebody else. I dance professionally and put my age aside. If you see Sunny Ade enter the stage, he still performs, you will not even believe he is 70 years old and that is the same thing with me.

Tessy with Sir Shina Peters on stage

What has dancing contributed to your life?

Dancing made me what I am today. I have met a lot of top personalities in our society. I had danced with people like MKO Abiola. My fame in Sikiru Ayinde Barrister's Fuji Garbage and Sir Shina Peter's hit track, Ace, was a great experience that is unforgettable. The way the media rated me makes me really happy up till now. The honour brought a lot of recognition and respect for me and till today, I am still being rated as a pioneer. Dancing professionally brought me out to stardom.

Can you recount some of the good experiences you had in those days of your career, when you were still a hot dancer?

In those days, before I enter the stage to perform Sir Shina Peter's hit track, Ace, everybody will be waiting. A lot of people come from America, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world just to come and watch me perform with Shina Peters. They'll say they want to see that Tessy that shake her booty and boobs when dancing 'Omoge show me your back'. Some of my friends even went to the extent of collecting money from people with the promise that they will help them to meet me after the show. I'll be angry with them and ask if they want to sell me off to those people. Once I'm through with my dance, I go back stage immediately. I needed to respect myself because once you dance on stage and shake your booty; all men want to do is to sleep with you.

How did you manage the advances for intercourse from your fans in those days? And did the man in your life at the time not complain about your dancing styles?

Shina Peters protected me from them and I am very grateful for his help. After the show, I will go back stage immediately. Shina will not allow me to meet anyone from the audience again till we close. It was only his very close friends that he allows to come back stage. The man I married then knew I was a show biz personality. He understood it was all about entertainment and nothing else. He took me the way I am.

Who is he; are you still together? Why didn't you stay married to him?

I have two men in my life. The first is Tayo Okupe. He is currently living in Washington DC. I had my first child for him. The second is Segun Berkeley. He is the younger brother of Yemi Fawaz, the top model in those days. She was the one that even encouraged me to go and do the dance in the first place.

My dear, I don't want to disclose my private life in the media. As I said before, the first one was in America. I had a child for him. He jilted me and married another woman over there. The second man I married also started misbehaving and we had to quit the relationship but we have a grandchild together now. I just decided to face my children and build my career. I started a dancing school which is called Tessy Turner Dancing Academy. I have groomed so many girls in dancing at the academy. Big artistes like Charly Boy and Wasiu come to my school to pick models for their shows and music. I also teach choreography and costume to the girls for shows.

From the experiences you gathered from the two failed marriages, what do you have to say to other women who may be in similar situation or experiencing heartbreak?

Failed marriage is not the end of the world. We have a lot of single parents in our society. There are some married women who are under the roof of a husband who are only pretending to be happy but they are not. There are so many women who go through a lot of pains in their marriage but they will not come out openly to say it. They are afraid of what people will say; so they endure all manner of abuses from the men. I am not one of them. I do my work and make my money. I have a shop where I sell wine in wholesales. I also sell jewellery and clothes in front of my house. I make money as a Master of Ceremony which I use to build my business. I have no regrets at all because I am a happy woman. These women should not lose hope. If the man is treating you well, stay with him, if not, move out and on with your life.

Currently, who is the man in your life that is making you happy?

I have Senator Adeleke, the first governor of Osun State. He is a friend, a brother as well as a godfather. He is always there for me. Anytime I see him, I feel happy because he supports me. Somebody that pays my daughter's school fees, is he not enough? There is also a Kabiyesi I met recently, Olu of Itori. I have known him for a long time but we just became closer friends recently. He is a God sent too. He is going to do his 10 years anniversary early next year. He asked me to be among his committee of friends to organise his 10th year anniversary. I am in good terms with his wife also. These are the people that make me happy. They want my progress and not necessarily sleep with me. Friends that make you happy are not always those who want to make love to you.

Are you saying you have closed the chapter of love completely in your life? Sometime ago, it was rumoured you had some personal problems with Shina Peters. What is your relationship with him today?

No, of I haven't because love is fun. If I want to have fun I will go ahead and do it. If I want to make love, I don't have to make noise about it in the media that I'm having fun. Shina Peters is my friend and brother. We still relate very well. I go to his family house and anytime he's celebrating, I make sure I'm in attendance. He's like my family. I don't have problems with him.

What is your life philosophy?

My motto in life is live and let live.

National Mirror