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Veteran actor, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, has described any person responsible for tagging witchcraft to Nollywood as “stupid”, stressing that a pastor that says there is witchcraft in Nollywood is a liar.
The industry in Nollywood is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria outside the civil service
Responding to a question by a student of the Africa Film Academy training, who asked if there is truly witchcraft in Nollywood as alleged by a popular pastor, Bassey stated that any Pastor who claims there’s witchcraft in Nollywood is a liar.
The veteran actor stated that Nollywood is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria outside the civil service.
Bassey said: “The industry in Nollywood is the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria outside the civil service. No other industry employs labour more than Nollywood. What kind of stupid person will now say that there is witchcraft in Nollywood? Any pastor that says that is a liar. Take it from me.”
TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bassey received a commendation award from the Actors Guild of Nigeria in 2018 for his contributions to Nollywood. The inscription on the award plaque reads “In recognition of your excellent service, dedication, and commitment to the development of the Nigerian Movie Industry”.
He began acquiring his acting skills during his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, with the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA.
Bassey functioned In the Programmes Department and worked as an intern under the supervision of Nigerian ace director; Tade Ogidan. In 1987 and 1988 he was trained and involved in Drama, Script-Writing, Voice- Over, Producing, and Presenting.
After his NYSC, he was featured in the soap opera Ripples where he played airline pilot Hassan Suleman. When the Nigerian movie industry began to blossom the veteran actor switched from soap opera to home videos. In 1993 he co-produced a movie titled “Unforgiven Sin”.
In 2018, the 10th BON edition award show was hosted by Bassey and Nigerian female comedian Helen Paul.