Yeye Funmilayo Emily Ajamufua is an America-based Nigerian artiste with a rich blend of talents as a singer, actor, dancer, director, and costume designer. She is the Programmes Director of Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre, an esteemed African cultural institute in Ohio. She has significantly contributed to preserving and promoting African heritage through the arts.
Recognising her expertise in the field, she was recently invited to serve as a panelist for the Ohio Arts Council’s ArtStart grant programme. Her artistic journey was not really a cut out path. Though while growing up, she was always drawn to the arts, even when her initial dream was to pursue mass communication and become a broadcaster.
Fate had other plans: She found herself naturally gravitating towards the arts, and it felt like a perfect fit. “I think it’s because arts was already ingrained in me from a young age. My elder brother introduced me to the National Theatre when I was just eight years old, and the experience left an indelible mark on my memory.
He was there for a rehearsal, and I was fascinated by the energy and creativity that filled the space. Additionally, my mom was part of an entertainment group during her time at Leventis store, so you could say that art was in my blood. As I grew older, I found it easy to learn and adapt to the world of arts, and I eventually fell in love with it.
So, while I didn’t initially plan to become an artiste, I’m grateful that life led me down this path,” .