Veteran actor says he participated in staged healing before gaining fame in Nollywood
Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has disclosed that he once participated in a staged church healing, where he was paid to pretend to have a physical disability.
Solade made the revelation during an interview with Feel Right News TV published on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, while recounting an incident from his younger years, long before he became a familiar face in the Nigerian film industry.
The actor said he was still a student and had yet to establish himself as a professional entertainer when he was approached to play the role of a disabled person during what was presented as a miraculous healing.
According to Solade, he accepted the offer and acted as though he had a physical disability. He said he was paid for his participation and subsequently spent the money on alcohol.
Recalling the incident, Solade said, “I have been used for miracle then, when I was not popular. I acted as a cripple, they paid, I used the money to drink, then I was a student. The people involved are still alive; I don’t just want to mention names.”
The actor’s account sheds light on the lengths to which some individuals may go to create the appearance of supernatural intervention, particularly in settings where testimonies and healing miracles can attract large congregations and public attention.
Solade, who has enjoyed a long career in Nollywood, made clear that the incident occurred at a much earlier stage of his life, when he was still a student and had not attained the fame and influence that later came with his acting career.
His revelation also comes amid continuing public discussions in Nigeria about staged miracles, religious claims and the methods sometimes allegedly used to convince worshippers of supernatural healings.
Although Solade declined to identify the people involved, he said they are still alive, adding that he preferred not to mention their names.
The disclosure adds another striking episode to the veteran actor’s career and offers a rare personal account of how he became involved in a purported miracle before his rise to prominence in Nollywood.