Veteran ‘Owo Blow’ Actor Sunday Afolabi Hustles as Danfo Driver Amid Nollywood Silence

LAGOS—A heart-wrenching video of veteran Nollywood actor Sunday Afolabi, famed for his unforgettable role in the 1996 classic Owo Blow, has reignited debates on the plight of ageing stars in Nigeria’s movie industry. The clip, exploding across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) this week, shows the septuagenarian behind the wheel of a battered danfo bus, energetically calling out routes like “Iyana Ipaja-Oshodi!” while loading passengers in Lagos traffic.

Afolabi, believed to be in his late 60s or early 70s, doesn’t hide his side hustle. In a 2025 interview with colleague Kunle Afod—still circulating online—he explained the grind: “One must hustle. Hope alone doesn’t pay bills. I wake up each day not knowing when the next script will knock.” Afod, who visited Afolabi twice, revealed the actor operates the bus on a “return basis,” meaning he hands over daily earnings to the owner after fuel. “He’s not idle; that’s admirable. But at his age, this strenuous work is tough,” Afod said, noting he personally gifted Afolabi N410,000 and rallied fans to buy him his own bus and install electricity at home.

The video’s resurgence follows similar cries from icons like Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), who last month begged for aid after decades of stardom left him broke. Online, reactions split sharply. Supporters hail Afolabi’s resilience: “Baba no dey carry last! Real G,” tweeted user @NollyLegends. Critics blast producers: “Nollywood forgot its legends. Where’s the pension scheme?” fumed @LagCommuterX. Hashtags like #SaveNollywoodVeterans trended, with calls for guilds like AGN (Actors Guild of Nigeria) to step up.

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Afolabi burst onto screens as Fatai, the sly robber in Tade Ogidan’s Owo Blow, a film that defined ’90s Yoruba cinema. His gravelly voice and tough-guy charm lit up hits like Luwo Gbagida, Lahira, and Children of Mud. Yet, as streaming giants and younger stars dominate, veterans like him fade into obscurity. Recent reports highlight systemic woes: no royalties, irregular gigs, and health battles without insurance.

Afod renewed his plea this week on Instagram: “Help Baba own his bus. Small contributions matter.” As Nollywood booms globally—raking in billions—questions linger: Will the industry catch its falling heroes before more join the danfo queues?