Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has opened up in regards to the ban imposed on her and a number of other prime actors by film entrepreneurs again in 2005.
In an interview with Yanga FM Nigeria, Omotola described the episode as a turning level in her profession, one which reshaped her outlook on life and work.
She defined that the ban affected eight of Nollywood’s greatest stars on the time, together with Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nkem Owoh, and one different actor.
The restriction barred them from working with sure movie entrepreneurs, sharply limiting their involvement in film tasks throughout that interval.
Based on Omotola, the entrepreneurs claimed the actors had been a adverse affect on the business.
She defined, “They banned a few of us at the moment. Entrepreneurs mentioned we too get Walahi as a result of we dey strive higher the business then, and that our wahala an excessive amount of—that we’re a foul affect on the business as a result of we dey push for requirements.”
Nonetheless, she insisted the actual concern was their push for larger requirements, professionalism, and higher high quality in filmmaking, efforts that reportedly clashed with the pursuits of these controlling manufacturing and distribution.
Whereas some actors had been reinstated after a few yr, Omotola’s ban lasted longer.
She mentioned her prolonged exclusion was because of her choice to not attend a reconciliation assembly organized by the entrepreneurs, a selection that worsened an already tense relationship.
Regardless of the setback, Omotola refused to stay idle.
She ventured into music, releasing her first album, and centered on enterprise, notably investments and actual property.
Reflecting on the expertise, she mentioned the ban in the end inspired her to discover new paths relatively than dwell on circumstances past her management, including that it didn’t cease her profession from progressing.
Recounting the incident, she mentioned, “The primary eight had been me, Genevieve, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, RMD, Nkem Owoh, and one different individual. We had been eight—they only banned us.”
