Sunny Alli Rejects Money Rituals In Nollywood Stories

Sunny Alli is not buying one of Nollywood’s most repeated storylines: the idea that wealth can simply appear through money rituals.

According to the original report, the veteran Yoruba actor, filmmaker and producer shared his views during an interview on the YouTube programme Oyinmomo, where he spoke openly about superstition, scriptwriting, gambling and the kinds of stories he believes Nigerian films should tell.

Alli, known for films such as Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan Soso, said he avoids writing scenes about witches holding secret meetings because he does not see them as believable.

For him, the problem is evidence. He questioned how filmmakers can confidently show witches gathering in red clothes or holding meetings when nobody has clearly proved such things happen in real life.

The actor said he would rather build stories around experiences people can understand, such as accidents, personal struggles and everyday events. Those, he argued, feel more honest on screen because audiences can relate to them.

His strongest criticism was directed at the popular Nollywood idea of money rituals. Alli dismissed the belief that demons or supernatural forces can produce wealth for people, saying the claim does not make logical sense.

He questioned where such money would actually come from, asking whether a demon owns a printing machine or steals from the Central Bank of Nigeria or a Bureau de Change.

Alli said that when people fail to answer those questions, they often change the story and claim ritual wealth comes through mysterious contracts the person never applied for. He made it clear that he does not accept that explanation either.

His comments touch a long-running debate around Nollywood witchcraft narratives, especially in Yoruba and Nigerian home videos where spiritual battles, ritual killings and sudden wealth have often been used as dramatic tools.

Those storylines helped shape parts of Nigerian popular cinema, but they have also faced criticism from people who believe they can reinforce fear, superstition and harmful ideas about success.

Alli also spoke about his personal history with football betting. He revealed that he once gambled on football matches but has now stopped, saying he believes God does not support gambling.

As a founding member of the Odunfa Caucus, Sunny Alli remains one of the respected figures in the Yoruba film industry. His comments matter because they come from someone who has spent years inside Nollywood as an actor, producer and director.

At a time when African filmmakers are being pushed to tell richer and more grounded stories, Alli’s message is clear: cinema can still be dramatic without leaning on fear, superstition or lazy shortcuts about money and power.