Kafayat Shafau, also known as Kaffy, a renowned Nigerian dancer and choreographer, revealed the personal toll her career took on her relationships, leading to the loss of friends.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Kaffy reflected on the challenges of pursuing a career in dance without any gender-specific focus. She remarked,
“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 we 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 were even some people who initially supported me but withdrew their support because they did not see what I was seeing.”
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Kaffy also addressed the pervasive issue of women being objectified in the entertainment industry. She shared,
“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.”
Reflecting on her journey, Kaffy acknowledged receiving more support and admiration from men than from women, albeit with some initial resistance. She stated,
“I have got more admiration and support from men than women. It came after a bit of resistance, which is normal because there will always be some resistance when one newly gets into a field.”
