Abidemi Adisa
Fast-rising Nollywood
actress and filmmaker Abidemi Adisa has acknowledged the existence of the
controversial sex-for-role practice in the Nigerian movie industry, saying it
remains one of the factors discouraging talented individuals from pursuing
careers in entertainment.
The actress, however,
disclosed that she has never been pressured to exchange sexual favors for movie
roles since joining the industry.
Speaking in an interview
with Potpourri, Adisa said the problem extends beyond women, thereby indicating
that female producers also demand sex from male actors before casting them for
their movies. The actress also said the problem is not peculiar to Nollywood.
“Sex-for-role exists and
it is one of the things driving many talented people away from the Nigerian
movie industry. It is not even limited to actresses; men can also be victims.
But we cannot stereotype Nollywood because the problem exists in other industries
as well,” she said.
There have been documented accounts and
industry insider testimonies indicating that some female producers and
directors in Nollywood demand sexual favors from male actors in exchange for
movie roles. While the long-standing "sex-for-roles" narrative
typically centers on female actors, instances of male exploitation do occur,
though they are often kept hidden.
Male actors frequently keep these experiences
private due to societal stigma, the fear of not being believed, and the risk of
being blacklisted in the industry.
Abidemi is not the only one in Nollywood to point accusing fingers at
female producers in the infamous act of exchanging sex for roles in movies. Actor
and filmmaker, Olusola Michael, in an
interview explicitly confirmed
the existence of abuse against men. He stated that most male actors hide the
fact that female producers and filmmakers routinely insist on having sexual
intercourse with them before offering them movie roles.
“Most people hardly believe that male actors also face sexual
harassment from female actors and female producers. That’s the reality most
male actors have been hiding. There are cases of female producers insisting to
go down with a male actor before involving such actor in their projects.
Chukwudi Orajekwe (Chukky), another Nollywood actor,
producer, and model also publicly stated that, while harassment by male
directors toward female actors is more widely discussed, male actors routinely
grapple with sexual harassment from female directors, producers, and
colleagues.
Abidemi Adisa, who is a graduate of International Relations from Hudegbe North
American University, Benin Republic, attributed her experience to her refusal
to become desperate for fame.
“Luckily for me, no one
has ever asked me for sex in exchange for a role because I am not desperate for
stardom,” she added.
Adisa also spoke about
the motivation behind her acting career, describing her passion for
storytelling and admiration for accomplished performers as the driving force
behind her decision to enter the movie industry.
According to her,
watching talented actors bring fictional stories to life inspired her to pursue
acting professionally.
The actress, who trained
under veteran Nollywood actor , has featured in several productions, including
Violence, Bisola Peperenpe, Tani, Drotimi, Ire, Asiri Pepe and Akete.
Beyond acting, Adisa has
also made her mark as a producer, with films such as Ota, Ojiji Ife and Bidemi
Jagba 1 & 2 to her credit.
She revealed that she is
currently working on a new movie project titled Iku Ore, which is scheduled to
be filmed in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The movie tells the story of
a woman who goes to great lengths to please a friend while neglecting her own
wellbeing.
In addition to her career
in film, Adisa runs a fashion business, combining entrepreneurship with her
growing profile in Nollywood. She said her goal is to continue producing
quality films while working towards becoming one of the industry’s most recognizable
faces.
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