John Okoro
Renowned Nollywood star Moji Afolayan has opened up about the industry’s dark secrets, revealing how she faced professional ostracization for rejecting inappropriate demands from film marketers.
During an intimate conversation on Oyinmomo TV, the veteran actress – daughter of the iconic Adeyemi ‘Adeluv’ Afolayan – shared how her unwavering moral stance cost her roles during Nollywood’s formative years.
The 57-year-old screen diva described a pervasive “pay-to-play” culture where s*xual favors often determined casting decisions, particularly when marketers controlled film financing.
“My family values wouldn’t allow me to compromise,” Moji explained, choosing her words carefully. “Even my husband respects my boundaries. You’ll notice I’m speaking carefully to avoid direct accusations.”
Her principled stand came with severe consequences. “They conspired to freeze me out of productions,” she revealed. “While colleagues traded intimacy for opportunities, I preserved my dignity.”
Moji shockingly claimed many married actresses participated in these arrangements without their spouses’ knowledge. “Their secrets are coming to light now,” she asserted. “Some would ask me, ‘Is my husband the only man?’ I couldn’t comprehend that mindset.”
The actress takes pride in her uncompromising stance. “My integrity is my crown. While marketers built others’ stardom with posters everywhere, I stayed true. That temporary fame often led to painful reckonings later.”
She recounted a tragic parallel: “A late colleague faced similar rejection after refusing a marketer’s advances. She warned me to maintain my standards, describing how these predators boasted about their conquests.”
The industry’s evolution brought validation. “They’ve pushed us toward digital platforms now. Back then, it impacted my earnings and visibility – but I value my self-worth above all. My husband understands this completely.”
Moji remains happily married to Rasaq ‘Ojopagogo’ Olayiwola, her union standing as testament to her unwavering principles.
