By Rasheed Abubakar
For a Muslim, faith is not a compartment of life reserved for the mosque or moments of worship. It shapes one’s character, influences daily decisions, determines what is permissible and forbidden, and provides guidance on how to live. When a Muslim publicly speaks about how Islam has transformed his life, that testimony is not a side story. It is often the story itself.
That is why the recent interview of veteran Nollywood actor Sanny Alli offers an important lesson, not only about faith and lifelong learning but also about the need for Muslims to tell their own stories. If Muslims fail to tell their own stories, others may tell them, but not always in their entirety or with the context they deserve.
Sunny Alli, a founding member of the Odunfa Caucus and one of the most recognisable figures in the Yoruba movie industry, is known for his roles in Omo Ghetto, Lagos Girls (Omoge Eko), Omo Olè and Okan Soso, among others.
The actor spoke during Wednesday’s episode of Oyinmomo on YouTube, where he discussed scriptwriting, superstition, Nollywood and his personal journey in Islam.
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As expected, the interview quickly gained traction online. However, a review of how several mainstream media organisations reported it shows that they overwhelmingly highlighted his comments on money rituals, witchcraft and superstition while giving little or no attention to what may have been the most profound aspect of the conversation: “his testimony about Islamic learning and how it has shaped his life.”
For the purpose of fact checking, readers can easily verify this.
Nigerian Tribune published the headline: “Why I don’t write, produce movies on money rituals, betting — Sunny Alli.”
The Punch focused on: “I don’t believe in money rituals, witchcraft; movies unrealistic — Sunny Alli.”
The Sun reported: “Sunny Alli dismisses money rituals, faults Nollywood’s witchcraft narratives.”
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Each of these headlines accurately reflected part of the interview. However, none highlighted his reflections on Islam, his pursuit of knowledge or the positive influence of faith on his personal development.
A review by Muslim News Nigeria found a clear editorial pattern. While the newspapers gave prominence to Sanni Alli’s comments on superstition and money rituals, none accorded similar attention to his reflections on Islam, his commitment to seeking knowledge or his testimony on how faith influenced him to abandon sports betting.
The result was that one of the interview’s most compelling revelations received little prominence, leaving readers with only part of the story.
One of the most enlightening moments came when the presenter asked whether reports were true that he had returned to Madrasah to study Arabic and become an Alfa.
His response challenged a common misconception.
“I’ve been to Arabic school long ago, but I keep learning,” he said.
He explained that there is a significant difference between being able to read Arabic and possessing a sound understanding of Islam. Arabic is a language, and learning to read the Qur’an is only the beginning. Genuine understanding of Islam requires continuous learning, a distinction often misunderstood in Nigeria, where many people assume that attending Arabic school automatically makes someone an Islamic scholar.
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Sunny Alli cited the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that Muslims should pray as they saw him pray, explaining that this requires believers to continue seeking knowledge throughout their lives.
He also disclosed that he regularly attends lectures at the Ahlus Sunnah mosque where he prays. The classes, held between Maghrib and Isha at least five times each week, have gradually deepened his understanding of Islam.
The impact of that knowledge became evident in his personal testimony.
“I used to engage in sports betting before, but having realised it is not permissible in Islam, I stopped,” he said.
At a time when betting companies spend enormous sums promoting gambling and many young Nigerians see it as a normal part of everyday life, here was a respected actor explaining that Islamic knowledge, rather than financial loss or government regulation, led him to abandon the practice.
That testimony deserved wider attention.
Nigeria is witnessing increasing public conversations involving celebrities and Islam. Unfortunately, many of those conversations are driven by controversies or statements that portray the religion negatively, often attracting extensive media coverage and debate.
Balanced reporting does not mean highlighting only controversy or only positive stories. It means presenting the complete picture. If the media can prominently report when a celebrity’s comments about Islam generate controversy, it should also give due attention when another celebrity explains how Islamic teachings inspired him to abandon gambling, pursue knowledge and become a better person. Both are part of the public conversation about Islam.
This is why Muslim-owned media remains important.
Its role is not to produce propaganda or portray Muslims as beyond criticism. Rather, it is to ensure that Muslim experiences are reported fairly, accurately and in their proper context.
When a Muslim explains how Islamic knowledge led him to abandon gambling, that is news.
When a public figure distinguishes between Arabic literacy and genuine understanding of Islam, that is educational.
When someone openly speaks about attending Islamic classes several times each week in pursuit of self-improvement, that is a story worth telling.
The Sunny Alli interview was never only about rejecting money rituals or questioning Nollywood’s portrayal of witchcraft.
At its heart, it was the story of a Muslim committed to seeking knowledge, embracing lifelong learning and allowing faith to shape his choices.
That story deserved to be told.
And that is precisely why Muslim News Nigeria exists: not to create alternative facts or promote propaganda, but to ensure that Muslim stories are told in their fullness. When Muslims tell their own stories with fairness, accuracy and context, the public gets a more complete picture – one that reflects not only controversy, but also the positive influence of faith on individuals and society.
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