Foremost film maker, Mr. Wale Adenuga, seeks regeneration in the Nigerian film
industry, AKEEM LASISI writes
It is an interesting moment in Nigeria as the current political transition has
reached the peak. For many politicians, it is time to abandon the umbrella,
which is the symbol of the Peoples Democratic Party, from whom the All
Progressives Congress has snatched power – even if not at gun point but at
ballot point. Such politicians would rather drop the umbrella and embrace the
broom, the symbol of the APC.
For renowned film maker, Mr. Wale Adenuga, however, this is a time for the
Nigerian film industry to embrace both the umbrella and the broom. But the
acclaimed publisher of comic works that include Ikebe Super , and producer of
popular dramas and films such as Papa Ajasco and Superstory, is not thinking
like many of his colleagues who are eager to just sing and dance for politicians
to secure crumbs of the the national cake. Instead, Adenuga is using the
occasion of the envisaged national rebirth to chart a new course for the film
industry.
The way only too few practitioners bother to do nowadays, Adenuga rose above
the din on Tuesday when he called a press conference in Lagos. Unlike many of
such he had called in the past, where he announced the coming of new works,
it was a time to propound what he summarised as the philosophy of the broom
and umbrella. He took a cursory look at the industry and gave a verdict that it
has failed to realise its potential due to factors that are mostly self-inflicted.
Adenuga said, “Now, we need what I would describe as the broom and umbrella
philosophy. We need the broom to sweep away all the issues militating against
the industry and an umbrella to accommodate us all.”
He noted that as a major stakeholder, he could no more wait to inspire and rally
his colleagues and other stakeholders to address factors that are holding down
the sector.
In a moving speech, Adenuga said, “As someone who has been in this industry
for close to four decades, I have called this meeting to share my opinion on how
to make the best of our industry and lay a solid foundation for unborn
generations who may be interested in the business of filmmaking.
“Seemingly, these are the best of times for Nollywood as the film making
business in Nigeria has come to be known. When the national economy was
rebased in April last year, Nollywood was said to have contributed 1.2 per cent
to the new GDP of N80.2 tn ( US$509.9bn.). This means that Nollywood added
about N1.72tn to the revised GDP for 2013.
“The business of filmmaking in Nigeria, which is among the first three in the
world, has also become a major source of employment for our teeming youths,
a reason for which we believe that we have a lot to celebrate.”
He, however, added that a keener assessment of the situation would show that
the practitioners just had a lot of glittering without substance. He identified the
challenges militating against real progress to include arguments on the history
of film making in Nigeria, divisions along ethnic lines, lack of an umbrella
association, lack of quality control and absence of fundamental government
support.
Adenuga said, “The first and most important issue that we have to contend
with, in my opinion, is the silent war that is going on among producers of the
Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups over the history of film making in Nigeria. I
imagine that this is at the root of all other problems as a house divided against
itself cannot stand much less make progress.
“A corollary to the foregoing is the unhealthy situation in which we now have
Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa operating separately under the aegis of Nollywood,
Yorubawood and Kannywood respectively. Even within these groups, we still
have in-fighting and misunderstanding over leadership. In spite of this lack of
cohesion, however, each of the ‘woods’ has her own guild where separatism is
very apparent in their dealings, especially casting.”
He linked this to the inability of the film makers to come under a national
umbrella, which he finds very embarrassing.
“Although the average Nigerian may find this shocking, our industry is the only
one in Nigeria where you do not have a national body or association. This
country cannot speak of a national association of film makers, the way doctors
talk about the Nigerian Medical Association, lawyers talk about the Nigerian Bar
Association the press have the Nigerian Union of Journalists. It is true that we
have all manner of guilds but these are all based on the sentiments that I
described earlier.
“I am persuaded to believe that our inability to come together under an
umbrella is one of the reasons why we have some of the problems that detract
from the development of the business in Nigeria,” he explained.
To move forward, Adenuga said piracy must be circumvented, with all
stakeholders having to fight it with one voice.
Acknowledging that the Jonathan administration initiated a N3bn. intervention,
Adenuga believes that more needs to be done. First, he wants his colleagues to
play down the issue film making history in Nigeria – the way doctors do not
haggle over who started practice in the country. He wants stakeholders to work
together and shun petty sentiments, while he cannot wait to see a national
association of film makers formed.
Adenuga said, “I think the urgent formation of a national body of film makers is
one thing that we cannot avoid if we are serious about making the best out of
the industry. My suggestion is that we start with the formation of truly national
guilds for all the professions that form the industry.
“These include producers, directors, makeup artistes, editors, actors, production
managers, set designers, location managers, cameramen, continuity men,
costumiers, lights men, sound recordists and marketers, among others. All of
these guilds will elect their individual president and these presidents of guilds
will come together to elect the president of the overall association of
filmmakers. The association can then have a secretariat in Abuja where all the
guilds would have offices.
“The national executive of the association will then be able to work with the
government at all levels and corporate bodies on issues affecting the industry
like piracy and funding. Such a body would be in a position to lobby for the
review of laws guiding piracy and ensure that the government funding gets into
the right hands through the state or zonal offices.”
To stem piracy, Adenuga advocates the establishment of a cinema in each local
government area in the country, so that the home video culture will become
secondary. Also, he wants the governments and other relevant bodies to create
funds that stakeholders can access.
Like a sage, Adenuga said, “I have a feeling that I am not the only one thinking
about the urgent need for us to have a national body for film makers but this
has not worked because of the interest of people who exploit the poorly
constituted guilds for their personal needs. Such individuals nurse the fear that
they will lose out in a democratic environment and will continue to do
everything to resist change.
“Some people will also not support this initiative unless they are sure that they
would emerge as leaders. They consider the leadership of any such association
their birthright and would not support its establishment unless they are assured
of the opportunity to lead.
“But this is the time for everyone to put all their personal ambition aside and let
us all work together for an industry which would be a befitting legacy for our
children. With the talents that God has endowed the industry with and the
inspiring population that Nigeria is blessed with, nothing will be able to hold us
back from shaking the world if only we are able to harness our resources.” sourc e. http://www.punchng.com/entertainment/arts-life/igbo-yoruba-rivalry-killing-our-film-industry-adenuga/

Ok

Nairalanders dey hear
I no werin go end dis thread



Dos pikin go soon show now


I, e.
d third and d sixth guy wey comment below

Tribalism is really a problem in this nation.

Someone called me an ofe.mmanu this week, having being a nler for years, I just smiled.

I hope we shall get over it someday sha.

It is well.

Ask wale adenuga How many igbos He feature in his drama?

Bullshyt!

funkybully:
Ask wale adenuga How many igbos He feature in his drama?

Bullshyt!

u Don start again! chai!

Wale Adenuga should hug a transformer for all I care. Its the Yoruba producers that are at fault. No wonder some were angry when Africa Magic Igbo was launched.

Is saul also among the prophets?

Let their be peace.... In as much as there is need for unison.. There shld also be room for the production of local films that show case our culture and languages...

Mr wale. if you are not loyal to the Igbo marketers how you wan take sell. The marketers are the industry.
The fact remains, the igbos are the movers of the industry, thats what every intending entertainment investor should first know before thinking of succeeding in the venture.

The only wood i know is Nollywood.

zimoni:
Tribalism is really a problem in this nation.

Someone called me an Yoruba this week, having being a nler for years, I just smiled.

I hope we shall get over it someday sha.

It is well.

U're lucky he didn't call you YERIBA...

Demburrows:
Mr wale. if you are not loyal to the Igbo marketers how you wan take sell. The marketers are the industry.
The fact remains, the igbos are the movers of the industry, thats what every intending entertainment investor should first know before thinking of succeeding in the venture.

dude, dey try use this brain na. wale adenuga is not bothered about selling because he is into TV programmes and not home videos. he shld be glad he is not into home videos, else, your Igbo brothers, the supposedly movers of the industry will pirate his life and destroy his talents. that's all you're known for...

There are 3 movie industry in nigeria nollywood controlled by igbos and niger delta, yorubawood controlled by yorubas and kanny wood controlled by the hausas.

There's really no need for the friction except some people who want to operate in more than one industry and when it comes to struggle you complain of being discriminated by the people who control that industry

[quote author=Demburrows post=34229382]Mr wale. if you are not loyal to the Igbo marketers how you wan take sell. The marketers are the industry.
The fact remains, the igbos are the movers of the industry, thats what every intending entertainment investor should first know before thinking of succeeding in the venture. [/quote

Nollywood actually blew from 1992 that is when people start watching movies like living in bondage,rattle snake that was when other african countries started watching Nollywood..before then, nigeria were mostly drama series e.i tales by moonlight,they are not actually movies and those actors and actress might as well look for another job because they earn almost nothing those years.......you might as well say those movies (living in bondage&rattle snake etc)gave birth to nollywood as of today... living in bondage was so big sold millions of tapes,many rich Igbo business men and women took that opportunity jump into the market invest on it before other tribes in nigeria started noticing there is a big money to make in it by then it was a bit late for them..the igbos have gone too deep on it both in producing and marketing and it will stay that way for a very long time is natural, you cant build a plane from scratched in one day....if it is so some rich countries can manufacture military hardware on their own without looking for US or russia to buy from

Wale adenuga and his kinds dey envy us Na so dem dhe do Dem no fit reach us so dem dhe beef

Yoruba people are at fault here pls ....

Lemon12:
Yoruba people are at fault here pls ....

how... Explain...

We have a culture of meritocracy and competition in d east. We will not join u in d formation of a body wia u will collaborate wit ur slave master to hv d advantage of producing d leader and marginaze us d industry we created frm d scratch. We r still groaning in d pain of our inability to produce a president due to ur tracherous alliance, we will compensate 4 dat by taking all sectors dat has no govt influence such as Nollywood

Rich4god:
how... Explain...

Yoruba should simply follow their yoruba wood while igbos follow nollywood else the clash would continue.
Igbos don't need yoruba wood and don't interfere in it, yorubas should do likewise to nollywood

My signature

Yorubas should just accept defeat in this domain and go back to fuel subsidy begging

basilo101:
We have a culture of meritocracy and competition in d east. We will not join u in d formation of a body wia u will collaborate wit ur slave master to hv d advantage of producing d leader and marginaze us d industry we created frm d scratch. We r still groaning in d pain of our inability to produce a president due to ur tracherous alliance, we will compensate 4 dat by taking all sectors dat has no govt influence such as Nollywood

This is wisdom!

Nollywood must be separated from Yorubawood and Kannywood. The Arewa-Odua gang up is real and must be avoided.

zimoni:
Tribalism is really a problem in this nation.

Someone called me an ofe.mmanu this week, having being a nler for years, I just smiled.

I hope we shall get over it someday sha.

It is well.

by are you not ofe mmannu

[quote author=zimoni post=34227981]Tribalism is really a problem in this nation.

Someone called me an ofe.mmanu this week, having being a nler for years, I just smiled.

I hope we shall get over it someday sha.

It is well.[/quote are you not ofe mmannu

Lovely. Simply shows we are not one. Wale, why don't u combine Yorubawood and Kannywood to beat Nollywood ? Must u bring all together ?

Biafra around the corner.

funkybully:
Ask wale adenuga How many igbos He feature in his drama?

Bullshyt!

don't mind them

There are many great Yoruba producers who can do well on their own. Must u Yorubas always wish to do Igbos harm ? Allow them manage this little while u manage urs, must u bring them in to cheat them with Hausas in conspiration ?


Loving this. I was initially afraid about this industry in the event of our break away. Thank God it has settled itself.

This people hate gibi with persion but when igbos ask to divide Nigeria they will say no....

they are coward and hypocrise

This people hate igbo with persion but when igbos ask to divide Nigeria they will say no....

they are coward and hypocrise

I know Wale Adunuga would not complain if nolywood was controlled by yorubas.
Bunch of lazy cowards that hates anything competion.

Most movies with highest revenues were directed by Yorubas.

Yoruba produces just need to revamp Nollywood with their genius skills, regardless of language barrier.

Nollywood needs the likes of Kunle Afolayan, Biyi Bandele, Tunde Olaoye and Tunde Kelani to produce meaningful movies, unlike the crab Nollywood's one-day-shooting movies.

Yoruba culture is high in demand. They need to find ways to market it.