Banned alongside seven top stars in 2005, she turned to music and business, calling the boycott a “turning point” in her career.
In a revealing new interview, veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has opened up about one of the most challenging periods of her career: a sweeping industry ban imposed on her and seven other major stars nearly two decades ago.
Speaking on Yanga FM Nigeria, Omotola recounted how, in 2005, a group of powerful movie marketers blacklisted her and fellow actors Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah, Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nkem Owoh, and one other. Publicly, the marketers claimed the stars were “having a bad effect on the industry,” but Omotola insists the real reason was their collective push for better quality and higher professional standards—a stance that threatened the established system.
“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,” she recalled.
The boycott did not impact everyone equally. While some actors were quietly reinstated after about a year, Omotola’s exile lasted longer. She believes it was extended because she chose not to attend a reconciliation meeting arranged by the marketers, a decision that further strained relations.
Rather than waiting idly for the ban to lift, Omotola used the forced break as a creative catalyst. She launched a music career, releasing her first album, and dedicated herself to business ventures, particularly property investment.
“The period helped me grow in other areas,” she explained, reflecting on how the setback pushed her to explore new paths. By focusing on what she could control—her music, investments, and personal growth—she continued moving forward despite being shut out of the film sets where she had built her fame.
Now looking back, Omotola describes the difficult episode not as a defeat, but as a pivotal turning point that ultimately expanded her horizons beyond acting and taught her resilience in the face of industry politics.
Similar Posts:
- Nancy Isime Sparks Debate: “Financial Independence Over Marriage”
- Fireboy DML Reveals Turning Down Major Deals Until Mentor Olamide Stepped In (Video)
- Basketmouth Slams Nollywood Producers for Mismanaging Streaming Platform Budgets
- Zlatan Ibile Credits Olamide and Davido for His Music Breakthrough
- Tems Speaks Out: Nigerian Music Industry Fails to Respect Women, Says Grammy Winner
