Actor and singer Gabriel Afolayan has said his decision to pursue a career in acting was driven by a personal calling rather than the influence of his family’s established legacy in the entertainment industry.
In a recent interview with Channels Television, Afolayan discussed the expectations that come with belonging to a celebrated acting family. He emphasised that while the pedigree holds weight, his path was shaped by conviction rather than obligation.
He maintained that acting goes beyond professional ambition, describing it as a vocation he feels destined to pursue.
“Yes. I’ll put it that way because inspiration is one thing. Having your own inner core is another story. And that’s because I believe we’re only six people in this business. And we have a whole bunch of other kids who are into something completely different. It could have been the same for them if that’s the case.
“I believe this is what a few of us in this business do. I believe this is exactly what we want to do. Whether our father liked it or not. Because I grew up believing that this is exactly what I wanted, regardless of whether I saw my father or anyone else. I believe it was simply an inner experience.
“It was inside me. We watched a lot of films growing up. All of this can also serve to inspire your own intuition. So, for me, I can confidently say that it is something I would like to pursue. Believe me. If it is in another life, we will most likely not know what to do until we are in that life. So this life that we’re living now, I believe, is more of a calling than a job,” he said.
Afolayan acknowledged that living up to his family’s legacy is difficult, but his personal goals and calling motivate him.
“It carries a significant weight because of the legacy. Another question is, what spice do you have as a person? And it necessitates a great deal of discussion, because they are already aware of what your father did.
“So, how about you?” So, who are you? We are constantly proving ourselves, ensuring that the legacy remains intact. And let people know that, yes, we are from this family, but we also have our own calling,” he said.
He observed that constantly attempting to distance oneself from a well-known name can be unnecessary.
“I believe it is common talk, but you cannot rule out your legacy. There is nothing anyone can do about that. No matter how skilled you are at your craft, people will always associate you with that legacy, whether you want to or not.
“But as time passes for you as a person, I believe your own personal dream will begin to emerge based on what you can accomplish with whatever you have been given. And as time passes, people will be able to say, “Okay, we know him too, even though he is part of this legacy.” I believe this will happen over time. So you can’t constantly argue and defend yourself by saying, “I am different.” “People will notice if you’re different,” the actor stated.
