Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has sparked widespread discussion after revealing on the Honest Bunch podcast that he stopped attending church for over a decade due to conflicts with religious expectations that interfered with his acting career. The 64-year-old, known for films like Voiceless Scream and Elevator Baby, recounted how church leaders once advised him to refuse movie roles requiring filming on Sundays, a suggestion he vehemently rejected, even admitting to cursing the pastors involved.
Solade, speaking candidly, described an incident from 2013 when he and his wife attended a church service where he was told to prioritize church attendance over his professional commitments. “I’ve been told in the church that I should tell producers not to call me for work on Sundays. And I cursed those pastors,” he said, arguing that his livelihood depends on his craft, which often requires weekend shoots. “It is from that thing you said I shouldn’t do on Sunday that I put my hand in my pocket and I dropped here,” he added, dismissing the notion that skipping church would ruin his life.
The actor, a graduate of Theatre Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, further challenged the biblical basis for mandatory Sunday worship, stating, “There’s no way in the Bible that Sunday in the Greco-Roman calendar… you’re telling me not to leave my house and go to where my chop is.” He also shared a story of a technician who, after receiving payment from him, prioritized church over work, prompting Solade to remark, “Do you know that you took my money to that church? That blessing is mine now.”
Solade’s remarks have ignited a firestorm of reactions on platforms like X, with some praising his boldness in prioritizing his career, while others criticized his stance as disrespectful to religious values. One user commented, “Yemi Solade is speaking his truth, but cursing pastors is wild!” Another defended him, saying, “He’s right—why should his livelihood suffer for someone else’s business?” The controversy has fueled debates about the balance between faith and professional obligations in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
The actor, who recently made headlines for apologizing to colleague Afeez Owo over an on-set altercation, remains unapologetic about his views. His comments come amid a broader discussion about his career, including his claims of seniority over Nollywood legend Pete Edochie and his concerns about “Yahoo boys” infiltrating the industry with questionable funds.
As Solade continues to stir conversations, his revelations highlight the tensions between cultural expectations and personal priorities, cementing his reputation as a outspoken figure in Nollywood.