I was told to renounce my faith for fame – Actress Ekene Umenwa

Nollywood actress Ekene Umenwa has openly discussed the spiritual challenges she faced while rising in the Nigerian film industry.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, she shared a video of herself joyfully dancing to the viral gospel anthem “No Turning Back” by Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor, celebrating her unwavering commitment to her Christian faith.

In her post, Ekene revealed that during her early days in Nollywood, some industry insiders encouraged her to compromise her beliefs in exchange for success. She recalled being told to “drop Jesus” and “move with the flow” if she truly wanted to thrive in the competitive film scene.

Rather than conforming, Ekene chose a different path. She held on tightly to her faith, seeking solace and guidance from her spiritual convictions. She mentioned that “Jesus encouraged” her to remain steadfast, promising that others would eventually embrace the same boldness in faith.

“When I came to Nollywood years ago, some people told me to drop my Jesus and Mary and just go with the flow to succeed. I was shocked and ran to my Father,” she wrote.

 “Jesus told me, ‘I am with you. Keep moving, and they will join us. Just concentrate and don’t look back so you won’t be distracted.’ Today, everyone talks about Jesus and Mother Mary boldly. I am so happy that God never failed His own. He brought me to the top and made me an example, so His lost sons and daughters could believe. Jesus igweeeeeee. I was so moved that my noise made my parents rush downstairs.”