“Those Beatings Were Real” — Actor Opebe Recounts Painful Early Experiences in Nollywood

Veteran Yoruba comic actor Yomi King, popularly known as Opebe, has opened up about the harsh realities he faced during his early days in the Nigerian movie industry — including receiving real beatings on set while filming.

Speaking in a candid interview on the Behind The Fame Podcast on YouTube, the actor revealed that many of the physical scenes audiences thought were “just acting” were, in fact, painfully real.

“Those sufferings were beyond acting; they were real beatings,” Opebe said in Yoruba, translated to English. “That’s what they call acting — you have to do it well and real for people to know it truly happened. Baba Suwe doesn’t mind. Anyone that knows him well knows he will beat you directly; ask the director.”

Opebe recalled one particularly intense moment while filming the Yoruba movie Eku Meji, which involved a real-life conflict between him and fellow veteran Yinka Quadri.

According to him, before production, there had been a misunderstanding between Baba Suwe and Yinka Quadri. Opebe, out of loyalty, took Baba Suwe’s side — a decision that would later backfire.

“We wanted to shoot Eku Meji at Meiran. I had a role with Yinka where he was supposed to beat me. But we were not on talking terms,” Opebe said. “When it was time to act, he didn’t pretend. He slapped and beat me seriously. I began to shout, ‘Cut! This isn’t a movie anymore!’”

He said he later realized the beating was personal — payback for meddling in their earlier quarrel.

“He laughed and said, ‘In your life, you won’t interfere in people’s fights again.’ Even Baba Suwe, the person I supported, laughed at me,” Opebe recalled. “That day, I told myself I would never take sides in anyone’s matter again.”

🎭 Opinion: The Thin Line Between “Realism” and Exploitation in Nollywood

Opebe’s revelation sheds light on an uncomfortable truth — that old Nollywood’s rawness sometimes came at the expense of the actors’ safety and dignity.

In the name of “authenticity,” some performers endured genuine harm just to make a scene look believable. What audiences saw as comic relief or drama often masked real physical pain behind the camera.

It’s a testament to the resilience of pioneers like Opebe, Baba Suwe, and Yinka Quadri — artists who helped shape Yoruba cinema through grit and improvisation, often with limited resources and no formal stunt coordination.

However, Opebe’s story is also a reminder of how far the industry has come. Today’s Nollywood is evolving — with improved safety protocols, professional stunt doubles, and greater awareness of actors’ welfare.

Still, his confession underscores something deeper: that behind the laughter and slapstick comedy that made us smile for decades, there were real bruises, both physical and emotional.

Perhaps the greatest lesson from Opebe’s story isn’t just about filmmaking — it’s about boundaries, loyalty, and learning when to stay out of other people’s battles.

Because sometimes, in both life and acting, the blows can be all too real.