Veteran Nollywood actress, Moji Afolayan, has opened up about her long absence from the movie scene, revealing that her decade-long disappearance was not due to personal choice, but a deliberate effort by film marketers to silence her.
In a candid interview with Oyinmomo TV, the 57-year-old actress, who is widely respected for her roles in Yoruba-language films, shocked fans by revealing the real reason she was blacklisted from the industry.
“Before now, marketers used to give producers money to work. But because I refused their sexual advances, they held a meeting among themselves and agreed not to call me for work,” she said during the interview.
Her sudden disappearance from the screen had raised eyebrows among fans and netizens, many of whom had wondered why one of the industry’s most talented actresses seemed to vanish at the height of her career.
“I did not sleep with any of them because I can’t trade my body for films. It’s my principle. I know they will watch this interview. Many of those doing it will go with their husbands and have them wait outside while they go inside to meet marketers. I’m exposing their secrets now,” she declared boldly.
Moji didn’t stop there, she pulled back the curtain on the unspoken realities many actresses face, including how some married women allegedly engaged in sexual acts with marketers in exchange for roles and fame.
“Marketers made them stars. Their posters were all around. But I thank God that I stood with my dignity. That is what I am enjoying today. They denied me movie roles because I didn’t offer myself for s*x,” she added.
Though the decision to stand her ground came at a price, impacting both her income and public visibility, Moji Afolayan says she has no regrets.
“Although it affected my income and fame, but I cherish my body more than every other thing. Even my husband knows,” she emphasized, highlighting the strong moral stance that has defined her career.
Now, with the rise of digital platforms, the landscape is changing in her favour and that of other actors who were once sidelined.
“They now know how it feels because they have made us social media friendly. We now pushed our movies on YouTube without any marketers,” she noted, expressing joy at the new wave of independence in Nollywood.
Moji Afolayan, daughter of the legendary Nigerian filmmaker Ade Love and wife to fellow actor Ojopagogo, is now reclaiming her space on her own terms, continuing to serve as an example of integrity and resilience in the face of industry pressure.
