For years, Olakunle Fawole, popularly known as Abounce, has been known through different chapters of his life. Some remember him as the son of the late Nollywood icon Bukky Ajayi. Others remember him as a child actor, a musician, or as the former husband of actress Yvonne Jegede, whose marriage and eventual separation became a subject of public discussion.
But in a heartfelt conversation on the WithChude podcast, Fawole shifted the focus away from the headlines and onto the lessons life has taught him.
Living in the Shadow of Legends
Being the son of the late Nollywood legend Bukky Ajayi who died in 2016 came with admiration, expectations and valuable life lessons. Looking back, Olakunle Fawole described growing up with his mother as one of the greatest blessings of his life.
“Growing up with her was, I think, one of the greatest blessings in my life because she taught me a lot,” he said, adding that she showed him “the humility of a star.” He also reflected on his relationship with his late father, admitting that he carried some regret after his father’s death.
“I was a bit upset with him when he died, and that’s one thing that I really, really regret,” he confessed.
Today, Fawole says the person who keeps him grounded is not his late father, but his elder brother, who has become the family’s father figure. “If you see me talking and I say, ‘my father,’ I’m probably talking about my senior brother. He’s the one I want to actually emulate,” he said.
When asked whether he was determined not to become like his father, Fawole rejected the suggestion. Instead, he explained that his greatest goal is simply to live a happy life. “I’m determined to be happy,” he said. “In every ramification that you can think of, I want to be a happy person.”
He added that his elder brother continues to keep him accountable, describing him as someone who “puts me in check” and inspires him to become a better man.
The Marriage That Became Public Conversation
Fawole also addressed the chapter of his life that brought him intense public attention… his marriage to actress Yvonne Jegede and its painful end. The couple married in February 2017 after a long friendship and share a son together, but separated in 2019.
Although the breakdown of their marriage generated headlines and public debate, Abounce explained that he deliberately chose not to speak publicly about what happened.
“I’ve never spoken about my marriage and what happened,” he said, explaining that his silence was guided by “respect and honour.”
That decision became even more significant after Yvonne, in separate viral interviews in 2022 and 2024, made allegations against him, including describing him as a deadbeat father, financial freeloader and malice-keeper. Rather than respond publicly or trade words, Fawole said he chose to move on with his life.
He recalled how, after the separation, some women in his neighbourhood confronted him and openly shared their opinions.
“They told me their mind, and I understood perfectly where they were coming from,” he said. “So I just said, ‘Okay.’”
Instead of defending himself or trying to change their minds, he allowed time to do the work. Eventually, he said, they got to know him beyond the headlines. Despite everything that happened, Fawole insisted he holds no bitterness toward his former wife. Asked whether he would greet Yvonne if they met today, his response was immediate.
“Yes. Why shouldn’t I?” he said.
He also made it clear that while their marriage is over, his respect for her remains because of the bond they will always share. In his words:
“She’s the mother of my son.” Taking the point further, he said he would still protect her if she were ever in danger. “I’ll try my best to kill you,” he said, referring to anyone trying to harm her. Asked if that was because she is the mother of his child, he simply replied, “Yes.”
For Fawole, moving on does not mean pretending the past never happened. Instead, it means refusing to let old wounds turn into lifelong enemies.
The Darkest Season of His Life
While much of the public conversation around Fawole focused on his failed marriage, he revealed that the period that followed became one of the most difficult seasons of his life.
He admitted that there were days when the emotional weight of everything he had been through became overwhelming. “I’ve been to the stage where I wake up and you’re walking past the mirror and you look in the mirror and you’re asking yourself, ‘Why did you wake up?’”
Rather than hide how deeply he struggled, Fawole spoke openly about dealing with anger, disappointment and emotional pain. “I won’t lie. There was anger,” he said. “I won’t call it hatred, but… there was loathe…”
Even in those moments, he said he realised he did not want to remain trapped in that dark place.
“I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t think that’s a nice place to be.” Over time, he began to change the way he viewed each day. Instead of dwelling on what had gone wrong, he chose to see every morning as another opportunity to start again.
“When you see the sunrise, it’s a new day, a new dream, a new target, a new you. So why not just go for it?”
That shift in mindset, he explained, became the beginning of his healing journey. Rather than allowing pain to define him, he focused on becoming stronger mentally, spiritually and emotionally. He added:
“Trials and tribulations… if you come out of it, it makes your skin thick, makes you stronger mentally, spiritually. You just focus on making yourself better so when next people see you, they see positivity.”
How the Gym Became His Therapy
For Fawole, healing did not begin with long speeches or public declarations. Instead, it started with a simple routine that gradually became part of his everyday life.
When asked how he had been working on himself, he summed it up in one word: “The gym.”
“I think we could put all of that into one. I just call it the gym,” he said. What began as physical exercise soon became an emotional outlet. He described the gym as a place where he could confront his thoughts, process difficult emotions and regain control of his life.
“I go to the gym and you’re lifting weights and you find yourself… you’re crying in your mind. You’re fighting yourself.”
The routine also gave him purpose on days when he struggled to find motivation. Even when he did not feel like working out, he pushed himself to show up, believing that simply being there could change his mood.
“Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I don’t want to go to the gym,” he said. “I might not do anything much, but somebody’s just going to spark up something in you… and you find yourself laughing. It’s a good thing I came to the gym this morning.”
Apart from Sundays, which he reserves for rest, and Saturdays, when he plays football, the actor said fitness has become a daily discipline that keeps him physically and mentally strong. For him, the gym is no longer just about building muscles. It has become a place of healing, reflection and renewal—a reminder that rebuilding a life often begins one day, and one step, at a time.
Learning to Choose Peace Over Bitterness
One of the strongest messages from Fawole’s conversation was his determination to let go of bitterness, even after painful experiences. Reflecting on the criticism he faced after his marriage ended, he said he never saw any value in attacking others to make himself look better.
“I’m not the type to want to put somebody down to step up,” he said. “If somebody’s down, I’d rather pull you up.”
That mindset, he explained, has shaped the way he approaches life today. Instead of dwelling on past hurts, he chooses to focus on the future.
“Life is for the living,” he said. “I’m trying to enjoy the rest of my life. Yeah, this has happened, that has happened, but that was yesterday. I’m trying to get to tomorrow.”
He acknowledged that life will always come with challenges, but believes people should not allow those experiences to consume them.
“There’s just too much negativity going on around for you to now carry malice,” he said. “I want to enjoy the rest of my life.”
Fawole also spoke about accepting responsibility for his mistakes while refusing to remain trapped by them.
“I’d rather just be the one to say, ‘Everything was my fault,’ so that we can move on,” he said. “I don’t like the enmity of things.”
For him, disagreements should not become lifelong battles. “There’s differences. We don’t agree on this. It doesn’t mean we should be enemies.”
Throughout the interview, Fawole returned to the same belief: healing is not about pretending painful moments never happened. It is about refusing to let those moments define the rest of your life.
Becoming a Good Man Instead of Just a Nice Man
Looking ahead, Fawole said his biggest goal is no longer centred on career success or public approval. Instead, he wants to become a better person. “The main focus right now is to be a good man,” he said.
Explaining the difference, he reflected on how he used to see himself.
“I was a nice man,” he said. “Nice men always get the end of the stick. So, I want to be a good man right now.” He acknowledged that he has made mistakes, but insisted that they were never driven by bad intentions.
“I know exactly what my mistakes are,” he said. “Everything that I did, I did with good intention, but maybe I made a bad choice.”
While he does not claim to be perfect, Fawole said taking responsibility for his actions has become an important part of his personal growth. “I’m not saying that I’m perfect,” he admitted. “I’m just trying to move on with life, be happy, spread love as much as you can, help whoever you can.”
His outlook also extends to the future. Despite the pain of his past relationship, he said he remains open to finding love again. Asked if he would remarry, his response was straightforward: “I would like to.” Rather than allowing one difficult chapter to define the rest of his life, Fawole believes in embracing new beginnings.
“I’m not going to linger in the past… I’m going to move forward. Life is for the living.”
By the end of the conversation, it became clear that the actor is measuring success differently. For him, the greatest achievement is not fame or public validation, but becoming someone who lives with purpose, extends grace to others and, in his own words, “just try to die happy.”
Career, Purpose and Life at His Own Pace
While much of the conversation focused on his personal life, Fawole also spoke about where he now stands professionally.
Unlike the early years of his career, when he actively sought acting opportunities, he said he has become more comfortable allowing his work to speak for itself.
“I let my works talk for me,” he said. “I don’t need to come out to start calling producers and directors. I’ve done that bit.”
Instead, the actor says he is focused on building at his own pace, without comparing his journey to anyone else’s.
“I’m my own person and my own man,” he said.
Fawole revealed that he is working on production plans, although he acknowledged that the realities of Nigeria’s economy have made the process more challenging.
“There are production plans and things you’re trying to work out,” he said. “Nigeria is not easy right now… it’s really, really hard.”
Even so, he has no intention of rushing to meet other people’s expectations.
“I’m not in a race with anybody. I don’t have anything to prove to anybody,” he said. “It’s at my own time, at my own pace.”
For Fawole, success is no longer about chasing recognition. It is about staying true to himself, continuing to grow, and trusting that the next chapter of his life and career will unfold when the time is right.
