I don't pray for Murphy Afolabi because of his roles as a herbalist or wizard in movies

An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yelma'e, has expressed his firm decision not to offer prayers for the deceased actor Murphy Afolabi, citing the roles he portrayed in movies during his lifetime. According to Sheikh Yelma'e, his Islamic beliefs prevent him from supplicating for the departed soul of the popular actor, as the characters he portrayed in movies contradicted the principles of Islam. The cleric highlighted that Afolabi's on-screen portrayals often included roles such as a herbalist, fetish priest, and wizard, all of which are deemed incompatible with Islamic teachings.
In a video circulating online, Sheikh Yelma'e emphasized that the objectionable content prevalent in Yoruba movies, in particular, frequently involved traditional sacrifices, which actors tend to participate in. Although such acts may be perceived as mere entertainment or jest by the actors, the cleric firmly asserted that matters related to the Almighty Allah should never be treated lightly. Acting as an herbalist, witch, or wizard runs contrary to the tenets of Islam, and the cleric called for greater scrutiny of these issues by religious scholars and students.
Sheikh Yelma'e further elaborated on his stance, stating that it is inconsistent to expect prayers from him for actors who bear Muslim names but engage in roles depicting practices condemned by Islam, such as herbalism in Yoruba movies. While he expressed his refusal to pray for Murphy Afolabi, the cleric also clarified that he refrained from cursing him, as the actor might not have been aware of the religious implications of his actions.

In his words; “What we posted yesterday was that we cannot pray for (late) Murphy Afolabi because in the movies he usually acts, and particularly Yoruba movies, it has a lot of forbidden things including traditional sacrifices and it is rare for the actors not to be involved in such traditional sacrifices.

“They might be acting that way with the thinking that they are joking but anything that has to do with Almighty Allah should not be joked with. Acting like an herbalist, witch, or wizard, is against Islamic teachings and Islam is against such actions.

“What will make a Muslim start using what nonbelievers do to make people laugh? It is common in Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo films, but mostly in Yoruba films. I feel it is time for religious teachers and students to start looking into these issues.

“When any of these actors with a Muslim name acts like an herbalist in Yoruba movies and later dies, it becomes hypocritical for people to expect us to pray for them. As for Murphy Afolabi, I won’t pray for him, and neither will I curse him because he might not know.”