Veteran Nollywood actor and producer, Yemi Ayebo, popularly known by the title of his iconic 1993 film Yemi My Lover, has made an emotional appeal to the public and his colleagues in the movie industry, asking for support to help him regain his footing.
In a recent candid interview with YouTube content creator Mr LilGaga, the once-celebrated Yoruba actor opened up about his ongoing struggles, decades after making a significant mark in Nollywood with a movie that not only became a household name but also earned him his stage moniker.
Despite the cult status of Yemi My Lover, Ayebo revealed that the film brought him fame without fortune, largely due to piracy and industry sabotage.
“I wrote and produced the movie in 1993. The movie cut across Nigeria, especially in the Yoruba-speaking part of the country. But I didn’t make money from it because 90% of the money was gotten by piracy,” he said.
He explained that in the absence of social media and digital promotion tools at the time, the movie’s reach and commercial potential were hijacked by pirates. His decision to personally handle the film’s distribution further alienated him from the then-powerful movie marketers, who, according to him, turned against him.
“I didn’t make profit from the film because there was no social media, so I don’t have opportunity to promote it widely. As a result of this, the movie was pirated, and the marketers waged war against me for handling the marketing myself. It was distributed illegally, and people made profit from it,” he added.
This bitter experience, he said, marked the beginning of his downfall in the industry.
“That marked the beginning of my problems. I’m broke right now. The industry is about connections, I need more connections to get back on my feet.”
The actor’s heartfelt plea has sparked conversations online, especially among fans and colleagues who remember his significant contributions to the early days of Yoruba Nollywood. His situation also highlights a long-standing issue in the Nigerian film industry; the devastating impact of piracy and lack of structural support for creatives.
As Yemi Ayebo calls for help, many are hoping that Nollywood veterans and stakeholders rally around him to ensure he gets the support and recognition he truly deserves.
