Nollywood actress Adunni Ade says some of her Christian fans unfollowed her on social media after she publicly spoke about her Muslim faith.
The actress made the disclosure during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, where she discussed her religious identity and the pressure she said she felt about being open about it while working in Nollywood.
Aduni Ade claimed that publicly identifying as a Muslim in the film industry could lead to judgement, describing it as “almost forbidden.” Her comments reflect her personal experience and do not establish how the entire industry treats Muslim entertainers.
‘I was tired of keeping it a secret’
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Ade said she had previously been reluctant to speak openly about her faith because of concerns about how people might perceive her.
“In my line of work, it is almost forbidden for you to publicly say you are a Muslim. You could be looked down upon for doing that. It is just something that I noticed,” she said.
She explained that she eventually decided to stop keeping her religious identity private and speak about what felt right for her.
The actress also clarified that her decision was personal, saying she was not making a judgement about Christianity.
“I have been to different churches. I am not saying Christianity is not a good religion. It is not for me to say. I am just saying what works for me, is Islam,” she said.
Some fans unfollowed her
Ade said her decision to publicly identify as Muslim came with a reaction from some of her followers.
“And I lost some fans for revealing that I am a Muslim. They unfollowed me,” she said.
She added that some people sent her private messages expressing concern about her faith, while others said they were praying for her.
Ade also said she received support from Muslims after speaking publicly about her religious identity.
“A lot of Muslims embraced me,” she said, adding that her faith was a personal matter.
Her view of faith
During the interview, Ade said she does not believe religious identity should be judged solely by outward appearance.
“Islam for me, is not all about outward look. It is what is within. How you treat others,” she said.
Her comments highlighted the distinction she makes between public perceptions of religion and her own understanding of faith.
The actress did not provide details about how many followers unfollowed her or identify any of them. Her account therefore remains a description of her personal experience rather than a measured assessment of audience reaction.
A conversation about religion and Nollywood
Ade’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the experiences of Muslim performers in Nigeria’s film industry.
In an earlier interview, she also discussed keeping her faith private because she worried about being judged or misunderstood. Her latest comments continue that conversation, centring on how she says her religious identity affected her relationship with some fans.
While Aduni Ade described the industry as a place where she felt cautious about publicly identifying as Muslim, her comments should be understood as her own observation—not proof that all Nollywood professionals or audiences share the same attitude.
For the actress, speaking openly about Islam was ultimately a personal decision. She said she was no longer willing to keep her faith a secret and wanted to live according to what works for her.
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P.M. News — for Nigerian entertainment news.
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Chude Jideonwo’s YouTube channel — for interviews, including conversations with Adunni Ade.
