“How Hubert Ogunde changed my life, convinced me to quit nursing” — Iya Rainbow

Veteran Nigerian actress Idowu Philips, widely known as Iya Rainbow, shared a pivotal moment in her life when the late theatre legend Hubert Ogunde persuaded her to abandon her nursing career for acting. This decision, she says, irrevocably altered the course of her life.

Before fully embracing the stage, Iya Rainbow, now 83, juggled her responsibilities as a nurse at various hospitals, including the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba and the General Hospital in Lagos, with performances for the Osumare Theatre Group. The turning point came after she starred in the stage production "Rabiatu Dance Drama" at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos. Ogunde, a towering figure in Nigerian theatre, attended the performance and was deeply impressed.

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Wasn’t that Idowu who performed Rabiatu? Wasn’t it Idowu who performed so well just now? And she said she didn’t want to leave nursing? Go and resign from nursing and take up theatre fully. You’re good at it.

"Wasn’t that Idowu who performed Rabiatu? Wasn’t it Idowu who performed so well just now? And she said she didn’t want to leave nursing? Go and resign from nursing and take up theatre fully. You’re good at it,” Ogunde reportedly told her. His endorsement, a significant honor given his pioneering role and mentorship of countless actors, spurred her to action. In 1986, Iya Rainbow submitted her resignation letter to the hospital.

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I salute Hubert Ogunde; may his soul rest in perfect peace. He was my husband’s boss and trained him.

Ogunde's influence extended beyond artistic encouragement. Iya Rainbow recounted how he provided steadfast support following the death of her husband, Augustine “Baba Osumare” Philips, the founder of the Osumare Theatre Group, in 1984. He had been her husband's mentor and trainer. "I salute Hubert Ogunde; may his soul rest in perfect peace. He was my husband’s boss and trained him," she said. When she visited him in mourning attire, Ogunde intervened, urging her to embrace life and the future rather than dwell solely on grief. His wife then gave her a new dress, and Ogunde had her mourning attire torn, emphasizing, “You don’t mourn with the body but with the mind.” He also supported the theatre group her husband had led.

Iya Rainbow also recalled the emotional farewell from her patients, who pleaded with her not to leave her nursing post. Their resistance underscored the impact she had made in her healthcare role, highlighting the difficult choice she faced between two demanding professions before Ogunde's intervention set her firmly on the path to becoming a celebrated actress.

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You don’t mourn with the body but with the mind.