Sunny Alli Sparks Debate, Says Money Rituals and Witchcraft Stories Are Fake

(Sunny Alli. Photo Credit: Punch News)

Veteran Yoruba actor, director and producer Sunny Alli has stated that he does not subscribe to the idea of money rituals, describing many witchcraft-related plots in Nollywood films as far-fetched and lacking credible basis.

The actor, recognised for movies such as Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan Soso, made these comments during a recent edition of Oyinmomo, where he discussed, in Yoruba, issues around scriptwriting, superstitious beliefs and his personal convictions.

Alli disclosed that there are specific themes he consciously stays away from in his screenwriting because they cannot be verified as real.

He noted that certain elements, such as witch gatherings, will never feature in his scripts, explaining that he considers such depictions unrealistic since nobody can confirm their authenticity or claims to have witnessed one firsthand.

He raised questions about these portrayals, wondering aloud whether witches hire venues for their meetings and challenging the notion that they dress in red, while asking who could have possibly been present to verify such accounts.

Casting doubt on common cinematic depictions of witches, the actor argued that there is no proof backing many of the claims regularly shown in films.

He wondered who among witches had ever kept records of their activities and questioned what witches actually look like, stating that he would rather write about occurrences such as hit-and-run cases, since those are grounded in real, verifiable experiences.

The actor equally rejected narratives around money rituals, saying most of the commonly circulated stories fail to hold up under logical examination.

He recalled once challenging believers in the practice with a question, to which they responded that a demon supplies the money.

He countered by asking whether the demon possesses a printing press, or whether it obtains the money by robbing the Central Bank of Nigeria or a currency exchange outlet.

He added that whenever such questions went unanswered, proponents would simply switch their explanation.

According to him, after being pressed further, they grew flustered and offered another theory, claiming the money instead comes through a contract the person never even applied for.

He reiterated his preference for realistic storytelling and his rejection of money-ritual claims.

Alli also spoke about a gambling habit he once had, admitting that he used to place bets on football matches before quitting.

He said he engaged in football betting in the past but stopped because it does not align with his faith, expressing gratitude that the habit is now behind him.

Alli is a founding member of the Odunfa Caucus and remains a prominent figure in the Yoruba film industry, known for his emotionally driven acting and his contributions as an actor, producer and director.