Britester Events

Veteran Nollywood actress Fausat Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, and her husband, Rafiu Alao Balogun, were invited to a Lovers’ Day programme three days ago in Osogbo. During the event, the host jokingly remarked that he didn’t even know the man was Mama Saje’s husband. I know it was said in jest, but truthfully, I had a similar reaction myself when I first found out a few years ago. I was surprised and genuinely happy about their journey and growth together. Baba Rafiu is quite popular in movies as a familiar face, even though he isn’t as widely known by name as his wife. Despite this, he has been able to accommodate and fully support Madam Saje’s growth and success, which makes their relationship truly commendable. It’s admirable how their marriage has remained largely drama-free, especially in an industry where that is rare. About six years ago, Madam Saje held a housewarming ceremony, if I recall correctly, in Osogbo where she asked an Alfa to offer powerful prayers for her husband. I watched the event clip on YouTube then. She openly acknowledged that he was the one who trained her well in the movie industry many years ago. Interestingly, her husband was also the leader of the Rafiu Balogun Theatre Group at the time. At the Osogbo event, Mama shared that they have been married since 1978, making it 48 years of marriage in 2026, a remarkable milestone. Madam Saje, whom I fondly call “O ṣe Baba mi” after her popular line in her motherly Nollywood roles, was born in 1959. She hails from Ìgbómìnà, Oke Ode town in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, although she was born and raised in Lagos. She began her acting career in the 1970s and got her first major role in an Atọka stage play in 1976, where she acted as Abẹni in Afonja. Her popularity later grew through a TV drama series called Ẹ̀rín Kèé kèé on NTA 10 in the 1990s. ©️ Elu Ọmọ Elu on FB