Nollywood actress and producer Wunmi Toriola has publicly criticised Desola Afod, the estranged wife of actor and director Kunle Afod, over comments about disrespect in the Yoruba movie industry.
In a video shared on her social media page on Sunday, Toriola responded to Desola’s earlier remarks in which the latter complained that actors and actresses in the industry fail to show her due respect.
Desola, who stated that she is 44 years old, had expressed displeasure at being addressed by her first name rather than as “Aunty” and referred to practitioners as “theatre people” or “awon onitiata.”
Toriola described the generalisation as insulting and disrespectful to the industry from which she earns a living.
“I find it insulting and disrespectful that you said ‘Awon onitiata’. If you have issues with anybody, kindly put their names and pictures,” she said.
“Awon Onitiata is a body that covers what I have worked for and earn from. I will not allow you to disrespect it. If others are calling us names, it should not be from you.”
The actress also recalled a previous disagreement involving a colleague, saying she had remained silent at the time out of respect for Kunle Afod.
She further advised Desola on the use of the Afod surname.
“If you feel the name ‘Afod’ you bear is giving you problems, you can bear your father’s name. You are not the only razz person. We were both born in Agege; everyone is just packaging themselves. Learn to handle fame and your name properly,” Toriola stated.
In her caption, she wrote: “Enough is Enough……. Which one is ‘ti won ba ku won ki fi age won si’. That’s too much to say Desola…”
Several colleagues, including Tosin Olaniyan and Seyi Edun, supported Toriola’s position, urging Desola to mention specific names instead of generalising.
Later on Sunday, Desola issued a public retraction, stating that she did not intend to refer to everyone in the industry and that those who had wronged her knew themselves.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
