Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has spoken about the ban placed on her and several leading actors by movie marketers in 2005, describing it as a defining moment in her career.
Speaking during an interview with Yanga FM Nigeria, Omotola said the incident significantly altered her perspective on life and work within the film industry.
She revealed that eight of Nollywood’s most prominent actors at the time were affected by the ban. Those named included Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Nkem Owoh, and another unnamed actor.
The ban reportedly restricted the actors from working with certain marketers, which drastically reduced their participation in movie projects during that period. According to Omotola, the marketers accused the group of being a negative influence on the industry.
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She explained, “They banned some of us at that time. Marketers said we too get Walahi because we dey try better the industry then, and that our wahala too much—that we are a bad influence on the industry because we dey push for standards.”
Omotola maintained that the real source of the conflict was their insistence on higher standards, professionalism, and improved quality in Nollywood productions—demands that allegedly conflicted with the interests of those who controlled production and distribution at the time.
While some of the affected actors were allowed back after about a year, Omotola said her own ban lasted longer. She attributed this to her refusal to attend a reconciliation meeting convened by the marketers, a decision that further strained relations.
Despite the restriction, the actress said she chose not to remain stagnant. During the period, she explored other ventures, including music, releasing her debut album, and investing in business and real estate.
Reflecting on the episode, Omotola said the experience pushed her to pursue new opportunities rather than dwell on setbacks, noting that the ban did not derail her career.
Recounting the incident, she said, “The first eight were me, Genevieve, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, RMD, Nkem Owoh, and one other person. We were eight—they just banned us.”
