Ray Emordi is back in Nollywood after a break for music

Nollywood actor Ray Emordi is back in acting after taking time off to focus on his music career.

In February, he announced he was stepping away from acting to pursue music full-time. The 35-year-old said music had always been his first love. He wanted to focus completely on building his music career after years of balancing both acting and music.

Emordi, who has acted in many Nollywood films, especially on YouTube and streaming platforms, said he felt a renewed passion for acting after a four-month break.

He shared this news in a video on his YouTube channel titled "Nollywood, I Am Sorry."

In the almost 7-minute video, he talked about how he did not realize how much his acting schedule affected him.

He revealed that he had acted in around 300 productions, including films and TV series, from 2017 to the end of 2022, with little time off.

"I stopped acting because I was tired," he said.

"Imagine acting from 2017 till the end of last year, about 300 productions. Eight years without vacations. If you do something too much, you naturally become exhausted."

Emordi said the break helped him rediscover his love for acting. He emphasized that acting is a craft he respects a lot.

With a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in acting, he plans to be more careful about the projects he takes on in the future.

"I have only myself to blame. I took on too many movies, and I didn’t manage the workload properly,” he said.

He also apologized to his fans for his earlier decision. He promised that this time, he would approach acting differently.

"This time, I won’t overdo it. I will only take on enough work to satisfy me creatively without becoming physically exhausted."

Before stepping back from acting, Emordi was working hard to make a name for himself in music. He has released several Afrobeats and Afro-fusion songs like ‘My Lane’, ‘Alone’, ‘Overdose’, and ‘Attention’ in recent years. He promoted his music through social media and streaming platforms. But his music career did not grow as he had hoped.

In February, he said music had always been important to him, and acting was just the career that got more attention first.

He called songwriting and recording personal expressions and aimed to build a lasting music career while exploring other creative areas.

Even though he is back in Nollywood, Emordi made it clear he will not stop making music. He hopes to balance both careers in a healthier way.

Emordi became well-known for his roles in romantic dramas and family films, especially on YouTube. He has built a loyal fan base in Nigeria and abroad.

His work in films like ‘Heaven in Mind’ (2018) and ‘Strength of Love’ (2025) helped him gain recognition as one of the industry’s most popular young actors.

He said he is returning not for the money but to create meaningful films.

"My general theme for acting is not to make money but to leave a positive impact. I want to leave a positive footprint in the world before I go,” he said.