Sunny Alli Money Rituals comments see the veteran Nollywood actor reject ritual claims and criticise unrealistic witchcraft storylines in films

Veteran Nollywood actor, director and producer Sunny Alli has dismissed claims surrounding money rituals, saying he does not believe in them and arguing that many witchcraft-themed storylines portrayed in Nigerian films are unrealistic and lack credible evidence.

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Speaking in Yoruba during Wednesday’s episode of Oyinmomo, published on the programme’s YouTube channel, Sunny Alli said he deliberately avoids incorporating supernatural themes into his scripts because he prefers stories rooted in real-life experiences.

“There are some lines that can never be in my scripts. Like witch meetings, I feel it is not realistic because we do not know if it is true. No one has experienced it. Do they rent a hall? Some even say they wear red clothes. Who went there?” Alli said.

The veteran filmmaker questioned the recurring depiction of witches in Nollywood, arguing that there is no verifiable evidence to support many of the narratives frequently presented on screen.

“Who is the witch that documented everything? How do witches even look? I can write about hit-and-run because it is real. Those are things people experience,” he added.

Sunny Alli Speaks on Money Ritual Beliefs, the actor also challenged widely circulated beliefs about ritual wealth, saying such claims fail to withstand logical examination.

“I always say I do not believe in money rituals because I once asked them a question. They said a demon brings money. Does the demon have a printing machine? Will it steal money from the Central Bank of Nigeria or a Bureau de Change?” he said.

Alli said that when those questions could not be answered, alternative explanations were offered to justify the claims.

“I asked them, and they were confused, so they came up with another myth that the money comes through a contract that the person did not even bid for. I love realistic scripts. I do not believe in money rituals,” he said.

Beyond discussing filmmaking, Alli also reflected on his personal life, revealing that he previously participated in football betting but later abandoned the habit because of his religious convictions.

“I used to bet before. I mean football betting, but God does not support it. We thank God it is now in the past,” he said.

A founding member of the Odunfa Caucus, Alli is regarded as one of the respected figures in the Yoruba film industry.

He has featured in productions including Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan Soso, earning recognition for his emotional performances and contributions as an actor, producer and director.

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His remarks come amid continuing debates within Nollywood over the balance between cultural beliefs, supernatural themes and realistic storytelling, with filmmakers increasingly exploring a wider range of genres and contemporary narratives.