Nigerian actor and musician Ray Emodi has announced that he is stepping away from acting to concentrate fully on his music career.
In a recent Instagram post, Emodi explained that he made the decision after years of dedication to the Nigerian film industry, addressing fans who had noticed his absence from screens.
“I’ve stopped acting in films, I quit,” he said.
“There was a time I never thought I would say that sentence for a short period of time. I feel like I need to clear the air because I get this question a lot, in comments and from people I meet.”
Emodi reflected on the challenges he faced while filming in Nollywood, including shooting in volatile environments.
“I have put in a lot of work in Nollywood. I have shot a film in a town where I literally heard gunshots. There was like a craziness going on in the town next to ours, and we were still shooting,” he recalled.
He also noted that his family has not supported the career shift due to their strict values and emphasis on reputation.
“My family does not support this. It is a family of strict rules where reputation supersedes everything, which is understandable, and I respect them,” he said.
“I would not do anything that would stain the name.”
Although leaving acting has been difficult, Emodi said his passion for music motivated the decision.
“I love music. I’ve always loved music, and I make good music. I love every single Nollywood fan. I’m not leaving you. I’m just going to make music for the dance floor,” he added.
The announcement highlights a growing trend among Nigerian entertainers who are crossing over between acting and music, leveraging their popularity across multiple creative industries.
