Why I became a Korope driver, Actor Sunday Afolabi opens up

Veteran Nollywood actor, Sunday Afolabi, has spoken out after a video of him calling passengers into a minibus, known as Korope, went viral. He shared how distance, money problems, and accidents have affected his career and family life.

In an interview on the Talk to B Show with actress Biola Adebayo, which aired on Tuesday, Afolabi explained what led to his current situation.

Afolabi said he moved to Badagry, a suburb in Lagos State, to build a home within his tight budget. But this move cut him off from the main film industry in Lagos.
“I relocated to Badagry because I wanted to have a building of my own. As at that time, the little money I had could only buy me land in that area,” Afolabi said. “Out of sight is out of mind, but the distance of the house to the city has been a barrier… The kind of job I do, you don’t really make much, and you struggle a lot.”

He talked about his financial troubles, explaining how he had to sell his car, take up commercial cycling, and learn different trades to survive.
“I lost my Nissan Quest; I couldn’t afford to fix the shock absorber for almost two years,” he recalled. “I sold my Nissan Quest for N180,000 to settle some debts and buy a fairly used motorcycle… I was not used to motorcycling, so I kept falling,” he said.

Afolabi revealed that his time as a motorcycle rider ended after he had serious injuries. He fell into a pothole while doing plumbing work, which injured his jaw, and then had another accident that left him in the hospital for almost two weeks.

Rather than beg for money, Afolabi said he tried tailoring, solar panel installation, photography, and driving commercial buses.
“So, if I call myself a jack of all trades and master of all, there’s no mistake in it, because what I hate most in my life is to beg for food. I’ll rather do any legitimate job,” he declared.

About the viral clip of him loading a commercial minibus, Afolabi said that while he felt bad about how people viewed him, he is still willing to work honestly.
“People’s reaction to the video made me feel bad. Because people felt bad, I also felt bad that this is a wrong presentation of me to the world. It might be discouraging to anyone who wants to call me for a job, but I hoped for a positive impact,” he admitted. “Currently, the minibus is not working.”

Afolabi believes that having a reliable vehicle for e-hailing services and moving closer to central Lagos would help him get back into acting and reach film locations easily.
“If I can get accommodation help, it will help me get acting jobs… If I can also get the help of a good car, Toyota brand or anyone, I wouldn’t mind, just a good car that I can use for Uber,” he appealed. “I’ll stop calling passengers into a minibus and strategically position myself as an Uber driver… There’s no shame in it,” he added.

Sunday Afolabi’s story shows a common issue of financial struggles, health problems, and housing difficulties faced by many veteran Nigerian entertainers. Afolabi, who started acting in 1970 with Adelove Theatre Troupe and has been part of classics like Owo Blow, Madam Dearest, Super Story, and Village Headmaster, expressed deep gratitude to his wife for her loyalty. He hopes his request for housing and a vehicle for e-hailing will help him get back on his feet.