Veteran Nigerian actor and filmmaker Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, has spoken out against the practice of exchanging sexual favors for movie roles, asserting that he has never and will never entertain such behavior.
In a recent interview with The Nation, the 71-year-old screen legend emphasized his integrity, stating:
“I will not even leave the chance for you to come and meet me or talk to me about it, because I’m a disciplined director, I’m a disciplined producer, and I won’t do it.”
He further stressed that he intentionally avoids situations where such advances could occur, adding:
“I will not give you the chance to come near me. I’ve never seen anyone like that. But I know it happens in this generation.”
Salami, who began his acting journey at just 12 years old in 1964, also reflected on the erosion of discipline in the Nigerian film industry. He lamented the decline in work ethics among the younger generation, noting that punctuality and professionalism have taken a back seat.
“The discipline in our days is quite different from this… Some excuses are not tenable in this profession,” he said.
To uphold standards on his film sets, he revealed that he still practices double casting — a method used to ensure actors remain committed and professional.
“Even if you are playing the lead, I would say leave my set,” he warned.
When asked about working alongside his son, popular actor Femi Adebayo, Salami recounted a scene where Femi was required to slap him.
“I’m not seeing them as my child at all. I’m looking at them as a colleague… I told him, ‘God save you if you had not slapped me, I would have slapped you after the shooting.’”
Oga Bello also discussed his latest project titled Her Excellency, a film that explores themes of jealousy, family dynamics, and the pressure faced by power couples in marriage.
Despite spending six decades in the entertainment industry, Salami has no plans to slow down.
“You don’t retire; if you do, the talent will haunt you… If you are still agile, you still have the idea, you put out the idea,” he said with passion.
