Sola Olaibi, better known by his stage name Gaji, is a well-known Yoruba Nollywood actor who has spoken up about one of the most traumatic moments in his playing career.
Speaking in an interview on Kunle Afod’s official YouTube channel, Gaji described how he was emotionally hurt and began to doubt his acting skills after a marketer rejected his performance in a scene.
Recalling the incident, Gaji said he was on Kunle Afod’s movie set in Igando when an unexpected opportunity came his way. According to him, a scene had already been set, but shooting had not begun because they were waiting for an actor.
When Afod saw him on set, he asked him to step in and replace the missing actor, given that he was already present and known to be a talented performer.
“It was me, Odun, and Baba Alapini in the scene,” Gaji recounted. “After we finished shooting, the marketer for the project arrived and asked if the scene had been shot. We told her yes, and she asked about the actor we used. When they told her it was me, she got upset and told the director that she doesn’t want me in the movie. She even said they shouldn’t have used me and insisted that they reshoot the scene with the original actor.”
Gaji admitted that the marketer’s reaction deeply affected him, shaking his confidence and making him question his talent. “This broke my heart so much that it brought tears to my eyes. I lost confidence and asked myself, ‘Am I really that bad?’” he said.
The veteran actor, who has been in the Yoruba movie industry for years, noted that while he has faced challenges in his career, this particular experience was one of the most painful. He explained that being rejected after completing a scene, despite the approval of the director and his fellow actors, was a major blow to his self-esteem.
Watch interview below
