I feel pressured to remain visible, entertaining – Abel Damina’s daughter, Jeiel

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us I feel pressured to remain visible, entertaining – Abel Damina’s daughter, Jeiel Entertainment November 7, 2026 12:22 am Oreoluwa Odusanya Kindly share this story:

Jeiel Damina, actress, singer, content creator and daughter of pastor Abel Damina, speaks to Oreoluwa Odusanya about her career, family, and other things

Looking at the journey so far, what do you think young Jeiel would say about the person you have become today?

I think she would be proud, and probably a little shocked. Younger Jeiel dreamed very boldly, but she didn’t yet understand how much courage it would take to keep choosing herself as she grew up in public. I think she would be happy that I’m still creating, still curious, and that I haven’t allowed the version of me people first met to become a cage.

She would probably also tell me to stop being scared and second-guessing myself. She was bold and vocal about what she wanted, and she went after it with her whole heart. I think she would remind me to trust myself and enjoy the journey more. More than anything, she would probably say, “You kept going.”

Acting and singing have both become important parts of your career. Was there a particular moment when you realised that entertainment was more than just something you enjoyed and that it could actually become your career?

Acting just happened; it wasn’t something I ever seriously considered until it simply fell on me like rain. Singing and writing, on the other hand, had always felt like natural ways for me to express things I couldn’t necessarily explain.

The shift happened when people told me they saw themselves in a character I played or felt understood through something I created. I realised storytelling could genuinely affect people. I also began caring deeply about the craft, training, improving and understanding why a performance works. That was when it stopped feeling like something I simply enjoyed and became something I wanted to build my life around.

What kind of character or project challenges you the most as an actress?

The characters that challenge me most are the ones I cannot immediately judge or completely understand. I’m drawn to contradictory people. Someone who can make a terrible decision and still make the audience empathise with her. Those roles require you to investigate the character rather than simply perform her emotions.

What would you love to do that you have not had the opportunity to do yet?

I would love to do more young-adult roles, especially silly, light-hearted romantic comedies that are filled with heart, laughter and warm emotion. I would also love to explore action, fantasy and something darker, like a thriller. I would definitely love to play a range of villains; the thought of that genuinely excites me. Period dramas are also high on my list, whether rooted in Nigerian history or set somewhere entirely different. I want a career that allows me to move between completely different tones, characters and worlds.

What has been the hardest part of growing professionally while also trying to figure out who you are personally?

The hardest part has been discovering who I am while other people feel they already know me. When people meet you at a young age, they sometimes expect you to remain consistent with the version of you they first connected with. But growth is supposed to change you.

At the same time, I was trying to understand the industry and how it actually works. There is already so much you have to establish and learn, and trying to find your way through it from scratch was difficult. I was figuring out where I fit, how to build the right structure around my career, who to trust and how to advocate for myself.

I’ve also had to learn that I’m allowed to outgrow certain expectations, relationships and even versions of myself without feeling guilty. I’m learning the difference between being authentic and being endlessly accessible. That process has required boundaries, and boundaries can be uncomfortable when people are accustomed to having access to you.

What is one part of your journey that people rarely see or understand?

People rarely see the administration of the dream.

They see the premiere, performance, photographs or final project, but not the auditions, waiting, rejection, contract discussions, rehearsals, repeated vocal takes, travel, uncertainty and constant problem-solving behind it.

There is also an enormous amount of planning behind my own projects. Before anyone hears a song, watches a visual or sees a finished creative idea, there have usually been months of conceptualising, budgeting, scheduling, coordinating people, making decisions and trying to ensure that every part of the vision works together.

There are periods when you are working incredibly hard without having anything public to show for it. The glamorous moments are real, but they are a very small part of the job. Much of this career is built during the quiet stretches when nobody is applauding, and you still have to believe the work matters.

How has social media changed as you have become more established?

I used to approach social media much more spontaneously. As I’ve grown, I’ve become more conscious that something shared casually can travel far beyond its original context and remain online for years. I’m still playful and honest, but I’m more intentional about what belongs to me privately.

Do you ever feel pressure to constantly keep entertaining or being available to your audience?

There is definitely pressure to remain visible, entertaining and constantly available, especially because audiences can begin to feel distant from you when you take a break. However, I’ve learned that authenticity does not mean unrestricted access. I want my audience to know me, but I also need enough private life to remain a whole person and have something real to create from.

What is one lesson from someone you have worked with that has stayed with you and influenced the way you approach your career?

Growing up and working creatively alongside my sisters taught me that the creative industry does not replace discipline.

Talent may open a door, but preparation, consistency and the way you treat people determine how far you grow. That lesson has influenced me to arrive prepared, remain teachable and respect every department involved in bringing a project to life.

When the cameras are off, and you are completely away from work, who is Jeiel?

When I’m completely away from work, I’m introspective, sensitive, playful and very much in my own world. I love writing, listening to music, spending time with the people I love, exploring visual ideas and disappearing down random research rabbit holes. I also need time alone to process things.

What do you enjoy doing that might surprise people who only know you from your public persona?

The people closest to me see a very silly and unserious side of me, but they also know I can spend hours thinking deeply about one idea. The public version of me is real, but she is only one part of who I am.

What should your fans be expecting from you?

I’m currently stepping into a new phase of my music career. The next single, *Story of My Life*, is scheduled for release in mid-November, and it is one of my most personal releases. It explores childhood, growing up and the distance between the life you imagined and the realities of adulthood, while still holding on to wonder. On the acting side, there are projects and conversations I cannot fully announce yet. People should expect more of everything.

As your career evolves, are there areas of entertainment you are hoping to explore?

Absolutely. I already write, so developing and producing original projects feels like a natural progression for me. I don’t only want to perform within someone else’s vision; I eventually want to help build stories and creative worlds from the beginning. Directing also interests me, but it is something I would approach with respect.

What has criticism taught you about yourself that praise never could?

Criticism has taught me discernment. It has also taught me that being misunderstood will not destroy me. Praise can reveal what people enjoy about you, but criticism forces you to clarify your values, confront your insecurities and develop trust in your own voice.

Having come this far, what would you do differently this time?

I would learn the business much earlier: contracts, ownership, rights, finances, positioning and how to build the right team. I would be more deliberate about documenting and protecting my work and more careful about giving people access or authority simply because they were enthusiastic about me.

I wouldn’t erase all my mistakes because they gave me the instincts I have now, but I would begin again with more structure, stronger relationships, greater consistency and much less fear.

Has being more recognisable changed the way you choose the people you surround yourself with?

Yes, but I try not to approach it cynically. Recognition can attract people who connect with you as a person, but it can also attract people who are interested in your access, your public image or what proximity to you might offer them. I’ve become more observant about consistency, discretion and whether someone respects my boundaries when there is nothing to gain. I still want to meet people openly, but I’m more intentional about who enters my private world. Familiarity is not the same thing as intimacy.

What is one thing people often assume about you because of your online personality that is completely untrue?

People sometimes assume that because I’m expressive, humorous and confident online, I must always be extroverted and emotionally unbothered. In reality, I’m deeply sensitive, observant and private, and I can overthink almost anything.

I can confidently command a room or perform in front of an audience and still need several hours alone afterwards. My online personality isn’t false; it is a genuine part of me, but it isn’t the entirety of me.

What do you hope people say you stood for, not just as an entertainer, but as a person?

I hope they say I stood for honest expression, the courage to evolve and the freedom to be many things. I don’t want to be remembered only as someone talented or successful. I want my work to make people feel seen, especially young African girls learning that they do not have to shrink themselves or choose only one dream.

Beyond the work, I hope people remember someone who was kind, principled, brave enough to remain human and willing to create opportunities for others. If my career makes people feel less alone and more capable of becoming who they truly are, that would mean everything to me.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.