Veteran Nollywood actor Clemson Cornell Agbogidi has recalled an unusual experience involving actress Liz Benson during the early days of his acting career, claiming that the actress became uncomfortable after encountering what she believed was a genuine native doctor on a movie set.
Agbogidi, who became known for portraying traditional spiritual characters in Nigerian films, shared the story while reflecting on the role of traditional beliefs and practices in Nollywood.
According to the actor, he once worked on a production with Liz Benson in which his portrayal of a native doctor was so convincing that the actress reportedly became frightened and refused to continue acting with him.
Agbogidi claimed that Benson believed the production had brought an actual traditional practitioner to the set rather than simply an actor playing a role.
The veteran actor’s account has since attracted attention because of the reputation he developed for portraying powerful traditional characters on screen.
His roles often involved traditional rituals, spiritual consultations and indigenous belief systems, making him one of the familiar faces associated with the “native doctor” character in old Nollywood movies.
Reflecting on traditional African beliefs, Agbogidi also argued that indigenous religious practices should not automatically be associated with evil.
He pointed to the fact that African traditional beliefs existed long before Christianity arrived on the continent, suggesting that the practices of earlier generations should be understood within their historical and cultural context.
The actor maintained that many of the people who practised traditional religion were not necessarily evil, challenging the tendency to portray all traditional worshippers negatively.
His comments have sparked renewed interest in the way traditional religion was represented in classic Nollywood productions, where native doctors were frequently depicted as mysterious, powerful or dangerous figures.
For many viewers who grew up watching Nigerian films from that era, actors such as Agbogidi became strongly associated with these characters because of their ability to make traditional scenes appear remarkably convincing.
His story about Liz Benson therefore offers another glimpse into the behind-the-scenes experiences that helped shape the dramatic style of early Nollywood.
While Agbogidi’s recollection remains his personal account of what happened on the set, it has nonetheless generated conversation among entertainment fans about how realistic traditional-role performances could become — and how seriously some actors and audiences took such portrayals.
Beyond the anecdote, his comments also touch on a broader cultural debate about the relationship between African traditional beliefs, Christianity and the portrayal of indigenous practices in popular entertainment.
Decades after those classic Nollywood productions, the discussion surrounding traditional spirituality remains a sensitive and fascinating part of Nigeria’s cultural and cinematic history.
