In an interview segment captured on the YouTube channel Oyinmomo and reported by Punch Newspaper, veteran Yoruba actor, director, and producer Sunny Alli openly criticized Nollywood’s obsession with money rituals and witchcraft storylines. The actor argued that these themes are highly unrealistic, lack credibility, and fail to reflect modern realities that viewers can logically verify. He revealed that he intentionally excludes supernatural tropes from his movie scripts because they are built on unprovable superstitions.
Alli questioned the visual cliches associated with witchcraft in local cinema, challenging scriptwriters to focus on real-world issues like hit-and-run accidents and financial fraud. His comments have sparked a lively debate among Nollywood traditionalists and modern screenwriters regarding the role of folklore versus realism in contemporary African storytelling. Many fans have praised his stance, while others argue that supernatural thrillers remain a staple of Nigerian cinematic heritage.
Corroborating the viral discussion, Tribune Online shared snippets of his controversial statement where he asked, “Who is the witch that documented everything? How do witches even look?” to drive home his skepticism. Furthermore, a report by Express Nigeria confirmed the industry pushback, noting that “Sunny Alli’s refusal to write ritual-themed scripts marks a growing creative divide in the Yoruba movie sector.”
### Echotitbits Take
Sunny Alli’s critique addresses a long-standing criticism of Nollywood’s reliance on repetitive, sensationalized supernatural plots. As the industry aims for higher international standard streaming placements on Netflix and Prime, moving toward grounded psychological realism could improve global storytelling appeal. Watch to see if younger screenwriters follow his lead by ditching standard ritual tropes for sophisticated crime thrillers.
Source: Punch Newspaper — https://punchng.com/i-dont-believe-in-money-rituals-witchcraft-movies-unrealistic-sunny-alli/, July 2, 2026
Photo Credit: Legit.ng
