Veteran Nollywood actress and director Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has opened up about a pivotal moment in her career, revealing how she and several top actors were banned by movie marketers in 2005.
Speaking during an interview on Yanga FM, Omotola said the ban followed their collective push for improved quality and higher standards in Nigerian filmmaking, a move that reportedly angered some key industry stakeholders at the time.
According to her, the restriction affected a group of prominent actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nkem Owoh, and another unnamed colleague. She explained that marketers viewed their advocacy as disruptive to the existing system.
“The phase started in 2005 when we were banned,” Omotola said. “Marketers said our ‘wahala’ was too much and that we were a bad influence because we were pushing for standards.”
Omotola disclosed that while some of her colleagues were later reinstated after attending a reconciliation meeting, her own ban lasted longer because she declined to participate in the meeting.
She noted that the period away from acting became an unexpected opportunity for growth. During the hiatus, she released her first music album and expanded into business ventures, including property investments.
The actress said the experience helped her reassess her relationship with acting, leading her to realise that she was more passionate about directing and selective roles rather than constant screen appearances.
“I realised during that time that acting all the time is not my passion,” she said. “I will act when I truly like the script.”
Omotola described the ban as a defining moment that ultimately broadened her creative scope and strengthened her resolve, turning a professional setback into a transformative chapter in her career.
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