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 lack evidence.
The actor, known for films like Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan Soso shared his thoughts in an interview on YouTube programme Oyinmomo, talking about everything from scriptwriting to superstition and the type of stories he enjoys telling.
Alli states that he intentionally omits scenes of witchcraft gatherings from his scripts because they are based on unverifiable claims.
“There are some things that will never show up in my scripts. Like witch-gatherings. I don’t think they are realistic because no one has proven that 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 wanted to know how such scenes became a norm in Nigerian films, and said nobody has been able to give convincing evidence about how witches operate.
“Who documented everything about witches? What are they really like? I can write about accidents or other real life experiences because people can relate to them. “Those are stories that make sense,” he added.
Alli denied the popular belief that wealth could be obtained by ritual means, saying that 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 alter 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 a basis in reality. I just don’t believe in money rituals,” said Alli.
The actor also discussed his history with football betting, stating that he has given up gambling.
I used to bet on football but I don’t anymore. “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.