23rd March, 2024
By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Dancer and choreographer Kafayat Shafau, popularly known as Kaffy, has given hints about her journey in the entertainment industry, revealing the challenges she faced and the sacrifices she made.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Kaffy disclosed that pursuing a career in dance has been a struggle for her as a woman.
She recounted instances where she felt marginalized, with recognition only coming during specific national events or government assignments.
Moreover, she lamented the loss of friendships and support from acquaintances who couldn’t comprehend her vision.
She said, “Taking on a career without any gender focus is already tough.
“As a dancer, the only place we were appreciated was when we were displaying for the National Troupe, or when were called by a governor for a national assignment.
“Dancing was not a mainstream career, neither was it commercially viable.
“Breaking into that door that did not exist was the main sacrifice for me, as well as the pain of losing family, friends and people around me. I was practically isolated.
“There even some people who initially supported me, but withdraw their support because they did not see what I was seeing.”
Kaffy also addressed the common perception of women in entertainment as mere sexual objects.
She said, “As a woman, one is often asked what value one brings to the table to be considered with one’s male peers.
“I struggled a lot with that, because while expressing myself, I had to deal with music directors, editors and different stakeholders who felt one’s opinion was not necessary.
“But, one of the things that helped me was the fact that I am highly educated and intellectual enough to express my ideas and implement them in ways that earned me respect. I was also hands on with whatever I said.”