Veteran Yoruba actor, filmmaker and producer Sunny Alli has dismissed popular beliefs in money rituals, saying many stories about witchcraft in Nollywood are not realistic and are not backed up with evidence.
The actor, best known for his roles in Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan In an interview on YouTube programme Oyinmomo, Soso opened up about everything from scriptwriting to superstition and the kind of stories he loves to tell.
Alli says he purposely leaves out scenes where witches gather in his scripts, as they’re based on unsubstantiated allegations.
“There are some things that will never appear in my scripts. Like meetings of witches. I do not believe they are true because nobody has proved they exist. ‘People say that witches meet up in red clothes but who has really been there to see it?’ he said.
The veteran actor wondered how such scenes became a norm in Nigerian movies and said nobody has been able to provide convincing evidence on how witches operate.
“Who documented everything about witches? What are they actually like? People relate to accidents or real life experiences so I can write about them. “Those are stories that fit,” he added.
Alli refuted the common belief that wealth could be acquired by ritual means, saying such claims did not stand up to logical scrutiny.
“I have always said I don’t believe in money rituals. They say a demon gives them the money.” I ask them, does the demon have a printing press? “Is it the money of the Central Bank of Nigeria or the money of a Bureau de Change?” he wanted to know.
Whenever I asked these questions, the believers in the belief would usually change their explanations, he said.
“The money comes through contracts that the person never bid for, and when they couldn’t answer, they came up with another story. I like scripts that have some basis in reality. I just don’t believe in money rituals,” said Alli.
The actor also talked about his history of betting on football games, saying he has quit gambling.
I used to bet on football but I don’t now. “I believe God doesn’t condone gambling and I thank Him that it’s behind me now,” he said.
Alli is one of the founding members of the Odunfa Caucus and still one of the respected men in the Yoruba movie industry. He has earned many accolades over the years for his emotional performances and contributions as an actor, producer and director.
