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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

I don’t believe in money rituals, witchcraft movies unrealistic, Sunny Alli

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nollywood actor Sunny Alli stated he does not believe in money rituals or witchcraft movies, calling them unrealistic.
  • Alli questioned the credibility of common portrayals of witches and the logic behind money rituals in films.
  • He also shared his past experience with football betting, which he has since abandoned.

Veteran Yoruba actor, director, and producer Sunny Alli has voiced strong skepticism regarding common themes in Nollywood, particularly money rituals and witchcraft narratives. He described many witchcraft-themed storylines as unrealistic and lacking credibility, questioning the basis for popular depictions.

There are some lines that can never be in my scripts. Like witch meetings, I feel it is not realistic because we do not know if it is true. No one has experienced it.

— Sunny AlliAlli explains his reasoning for avoiding witchcraft themes in his scripts.

Alli elaborated on his concerns during a recent episode of Oyinmomo, speaking in Yoruba. He stated that certain themes are deliberately excluded from his scriptwriting because they are not grounded in verifiable reality. "There are some lines that can never be in my scripts. Like witch meetings, I feel it is not realistic because we do not know if it is true. No one has experienced it," he questioned, adding, "Who is the witch that documented everything? How do witches even look?"

Who is the witch that documented everything? How do witches even look?

— Sunny AlliAlli questions the basis and portrayal of witches in films.

The actor also dismissed claims surrounding money rituals, finding many popular narratives illogical. "I always say I do not believe in money rituals because I once asked them a question. They said a demon brings money. Does the demon have a printing machine? Will it steal money from the Central Bank of Nigeria or a Bureau de Change?" he asked. He noted that when such questions cannot be answered logically, explanations often shift to new myths.

I always say I do not believe in money rituals because I once asked them a question. They said a demon brings money. Does the demon have a printing machine? Will it steal money from the Central Bank of Nigeria or a Bureau de Change?

— Sunny AlliAlli challenges the logic behind money ritual narratives.

Alli emphasized his preference for realistic scripts, stating, "I love realistic scripts. I do not believe in money rituals." He also touched upon his personal past, revealing that he used to participate in football betting but has since stopped, attributing his decision to his beliefs, saying, "God does not support it. We thank God it is now in the past."

I love realistic scripts. I do not believe in money rituals.

— Sunny AlliAlli reiterates his preference for realistic storytelling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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