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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 24 sepTember 2019
Folake Olowofoyeku hearts life in the television comedy lane

By LEANNE ITALIE guitar, plays a bit of piano
Associated Press and became a sound en-
NEW YORK (AP) — A funny gineer. She still loves sing-
thing happened to Folake ing, but acting drew her in.
Olowofoyeku on the way While working in theater,
to a career in law: She she found her way into a
became a theater major lot of comedic roles, “but I
against her parents’ wishes would never have thought
and headed straight into I would have ended up in
the business after earning a sitcom,” she said. Com-
her undergraduate de- edy isn’t “something I spe-
gree. cifically pursued, but I’m
Her Nigerian parents were grateful for it.”
so hell-bent on launching The sitcom king, Chuck
her into the family profes- Lorre, created and co-
sion of law that they named executive produces the
her after the first female Se- show. His advice: “Be as
nior Advocate of Nigeria, authentic as possible and
a title conferred on legal there you’ll find the hu-
practitioners who have dis- mor,” she said.
tinguished themselves. Olowofoyeku attributes
A similar scenario is present much of that authenticity,
for Olowofoyeku in “Bob in terms of the “Nigerian
Hearts Abishola,” her CBS This image released by CBS shows Folake Olowofoyeku as Abishola in a scene from “Bob Hearts aspect of things,” to Gina
comedy series that pre- Abishola,” a comedy about a nurse and the former cardiac patient who pursues her. Yashere, a British Nigerian
mieres Monday. Associated Press comic who’s one of the
Olowofoyeku plays Abish- from all of them to create attending City College of like the right thing to do. I writers — another rarity for
ola, who’s determined her.” New York. While there, she did, however, get pressure American TV.
that her young son, Dele, Extended family plays out acquired a love of bas- to close my gap, but then “I think it’s invaluable. I’m
makes it into Harvard and on the show. Abishola and ketball and played for the I also got a lot of work be- not quite sure how those in-
becomes a doctor. Like her Dele live in a small apart- CCNY Beavers. cause of my gap and now tricacies would have been
own parents, Olowofoyeku ment with an aunt and “It was glorious,” she said the gaps are in,” Olowo- revealed without her. She
said in a recent interview, uncle. Bob, a white Ameri- of those years in the city. “I foyeku smiled, showing off thinks about things that
Abishola “has a specific can compression socks wanted to find the school the space between her top would never even occur to
dream for her child born salesman played by Billy farthest away from my sister front teeth. me,” Olowofoyeku said.
out of love and protec- Gardell, is in business with on Long Island, which was Olowofoyeku has worked She also gives props to
tion.” relatives. He lands in her life Harlem. I wanted to move steadily. In addition to short Gardell, a comedian who
Set in Detroit, the show is as a patient after suffering out on my own.” films, she was in “Female co-starred in another Lorre
a first of sorts for American a heart attack. He’s smit- After she entered the act- Fight Squad” and “Hell- sitcom, “Mike & Molly.”
television: Olowofoyeku, a ten and pursues the dead- ing business, there was cu- benders” on the big screen, “I just follow his lead,” Olo-
Nigerian immigrant woman pan, hard-working cardiac riosity about how her name among others. She’s not wofoyeku said.
of the Yoruba tribe, plays a nurse after his release as would play out profession- new to TV, appearing on The youngest of 18 to 20
Nigerian immigrant woman both manage their stressful, ally. Her agent at the time “Transparent” and “Mod- children — “maybe more”
of the Yoruba tribe. quirky families. “very nicely” asked if she’d ern Family.” She scored a — born to her father and
“Abishola is parts my mom, Olowofoyeku grew up on consider changing it. Olo- spot in David Bowie’s music his multiple wives, Olowo-
parts my aunties, parts affluent Victoria Island in wofoyeku declined. video for “The Next Day.” foyeku has lost both of her
women I grew up with in Lagos, with frequent Lon- “She didn’t push, and I had She’s done voice work, vid- parents so will never know
Nigeria,” the 35-year-old don summer vacations. considered it, but there’s so eo game work and contin- their reactions to “Bob
told The Associated Press. She arrived in New York on much value placed on our ues to pursue music. Hearts Abishola,” which
“My teachers, people I was her 18th birthday, first pur- names in the Yoruba tribe Her first love was music. uses the heart emoji rather
surrounded with. I’m pulling suing modeling and then in Nigeria. It never seemed She taught herself electric than the word in its title. q

Hiss Golden Messenger delivers music with a purpose

By SCOTT STROUD soul. That has made radio play like another sign of confidence. In
Associated Press somewhat elusive, though the “I Need a Teacher,” for example,
Hiss Golden Messenger, “Terms of band managed to attract a loy- a song inspired by recent teach-
Surrender” (Merge) al following through six previous er walkouts for better pay, the
The new album by Hiss Golden albums. Every song sounds sure- money line rises above the rest
Messenger is one to play on re- footed and driven, from a spirited — “Beauty in the broken Ameri-
peat, immersing in every nuance. celebration of teachers to a gen- can moment” — more in artistic
It’s Americana music with a pur- tly melodic birthday song for Tay- celebration than to win a political
pose. lor’s daughter. The eclectic mix argument. The music is dynamic
Like the North Carolina band’s is still there, but the album holds and original, the political currents
earlier work, “Terms of Surrender” together so much better, even as understated.
is built around the talents of singer- the pacing shifts between spirited That’s true throughout “Terms
songwriter frontman M.C. Taylor. jams and slow-your-roll balladry. of Surrender,” which is as good
The band’s style has always been Taylor’s lyrics are less discernible as anything the band has ever This cover image released by Merge
Records shows “Terms of Surrender”
eclectic, a rangy, highly original than they used to be, delivered done. It’s easily one of the best by Hiss Golden Messenger.
mashup of folk, country, rock and in service to the music. That feels Americana albums of 2019.q Associated Press