IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Nollywood veteran, Idowu Philips, popularly known as Mama Rainbow, marked her 80th birthday in style.
The Yoruba movie star posted photos of herself on Instagram on Sunday, dressed in a traditional attire with a goodwill message to herself.
Captioning one of the photos, Mama Rainbow wrote: “I AM PLUS ONE TODAY. Glory is to God I am plus one today, I pray that the Lord increases me in success and inspiration so I can lead a better life than ever.
“Happy birthday to me. By the special grace of the one who created me, this new age I am will bring joy and prosperity into my life, now and forever. Thank you Lord for sparing my life. The joy that comes with this life will descend upon me this new age of mine, I am so lucky for the lord has increased me in wealth and health all thrOugh the year. Thank you God for everything.”
“God almighty, it is in your goodness that have added another year to the celebrant’s life. I seize this opportunity to give thanks to you for all the great things which you have done in my lives, and I pray that light will continue to shine upon me. As I celebrate this day of 80th birthday, it is my prayer that your greatest blessings will continue to be with me tgiving me guidance in all of life’s endeavours, even as all glory returns to me.Thank you, Lord. OSE BABA DADA,” she captioned another photo.
Born 16 October, 1942, at Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Mama Rainbow attended African Methodist School and Anglican Modern School for her primary and secondary education respectively.
She got her stage name ‘Iya Rainbow’ from the word ‘Osumare’, being the name of her theatre group that was founded by the late Sir Hubert Ogunde and a Yoruba word which means rainbow.
She worked as a healthcare assistant at the Lagos State General Hospital for several years but occasionally acted in theatres.
Mama Rainbow ventured fully into acting after the death of her husband and has since featured in several Nigerian movies, she is blessed with five children.
