nairalandist:
Even Dr. Omalu himself doesn't sound like a typical Nigerian... I played both videos and I heard the way he spoke, that's like a middle-belt Nigeria accent, not the typical Nigerian City accent. Either ways, I'd say Will is a fantastic actor... I think they should have used Adewale Agbaje for the role, but it's okay, Will Smith's a bigger name so it's better for business. . .

Is Middlebelt in cotonou? Who said anything like a typical Nigerian accent? What is a typical Nigerian accent?

Adewale Agbaje wouldn't have delivered this role properly and that is why despite being in the industry for decades, he is yet to the main character in any major hollywood production owing to his physical build. I think Ejiofor or Oyelowo sounds more like it.

b0y:
What happened to using David Oyelowo for this strategic role

on the other hand, i think that Will Smith is ageing UNgracefully or is it just me

Actually, Adewale Akinnuoye- Agbaje acted as an American in the movie while will Will Smith acted as a Nigerian. Shows how dynamic the movie industry is.

sonnie10:
To most of them, African is one country. I asked someone the other day what is the capital of Egypt and he replied, "Nigeria of course."

Omg! This is pathetically hilarious!

I do agree with the Op here. If you're trying to depict someone, then depict him in his entirety.
For those that said Bennett does not have the Nigerian accent, he does! I bet most people just watched the first 3 mins of the video and concluded.
Will's portrayal of a Nigerian accent is laughable. Not even remotely close .

And there is a Nigerian accent!!! Irrespective of tribe there's an accent that's peculiar to every Nigerian that makes you call them Nigerian when they speak.

and you want him to use a thick Igbo or Yoruba accent? I think he did a great job in my opinion. There's a limit to which you can adapt temporarily to an alien accent.

1stCitizen:


You mean the house niggas with serious inferiority complex issues?

If you have lived in the US for awhile, I am certain that someone must have asked you if you speak African, as if African is a particular language.

nex:


Will Smith stars in the new movie Concussion which is the real-life story of Nigerian-American doctor Bennet Ifekandu Omalu, the doctor who first discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE) after he conducted an autopsy on former NFL player Mike Webster. The movie follows Omalu’s struggle to get NFL executives to recognise the life threatening disease.

The movie is set for release in December.

While watching the movie trailer which was just released the one thing that struck me was Will Smith’s terrible “Nigerian” accent.


I do not know any Nigerian or Nigeria/American that speaks with the accent Will Smith is using in this movie. The accent sounds very East/Southern African to me. I would have expected an actor of Will Smith’s caliber to have done thorough research before taking on a movie like this and not followed the path of other mediocre actors who have also wrongly portrayed the Nigerian accent on film.

Surely it can’t be that hard to find Nigerians in America…I am disappointed…Big Willy fell my hand.

Americans need to realize Africans don’t all have the same accent…

Watch the trailer below & you decide if he nailed the Nigerian accent or not. I have also included a video of Bennet Omalu so you can listen for yourself & compare the accents.

Concussion Trailer:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk-1TLVUPZk



Dr. Bennett Omalu Speaking:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOKvhcBelwQ



I rest my case…


SOURCE: http://www.that1960chick.com/2015/09/01/will-smith-has-a-really-terrible-nigerian-accent-as-he-portrays-dr-bennet-omalu-in-new-movie-concussion

And what's the complaint about Nigeria has a lot of tribes with different dialect and subsequently accent, was he supposed to use all the accent at a time. As Nigerian can you speak effectively two Nigerian languages without one being awfully accented I doubt that! Here you are trying to taint someone(an American) portray of a Nigerian. You surprise me! If your pain is that the accent sounded typical of the south-east, well i suggest suicide

whn i finish cookin my concussion rice i wl watch it n tel u guys if he tried or nt.so apy nu mnth pals wishin u al a blesed ember month stay safe n pray hard.raphycares

Truth bomb... Hollywood does not give a rat's ass about your criticism. Just as Americans don't criticise the pathetic 'American accent in nollywood '... we should learn to mind our business once in a while.

mya1:



Omg! This is pathetically hilarious!

I do agree with the Op here. If you're trying to depict someone, then depict him in his entirety.
For those that said Bennett does not have the Nigerian accent, he does! I bet most people just watched the first 3 mins of the video and concluded.
Will's portrayal of a Nigerian accent is laughable. Not even remotely close .

And there is a Nigerian accent!!! Irrespective of tribe there's an accent that's peculiar to every Nigerian that makes you call them Nigerian when they speak.

You do know all Africans sound alike to the whites ba. There's nothing like Nigerian accent or South African accent to them. In their ears Africans talk slowly and single words out.

I think the accent was alright. it's the typical accent of adult nigerians who have lived in the US for a while.

In all his big budget movies, Will Smith almost never has the carefree, happy persona he portrayed in Fresh Prince.


I guess its because Fresh Prince was comedy.

as per accent, happens all the time.

Dr Omalu sounds more like a northerner though.

so much focus on Will Smith's accent and no focus on what the film was actually about.

This film exposes the corruption of the NFL and how it will stop at nothing to crush anyone who gets in its way.

Were any of you aware of the fact that when Dr Omalu discovered CTE (the disease that American footballers are susceptible to when they rec4eive repeat4ed blows to the head as a result of playing football) the NFL brought in their most powerful guns to discredit him, calling him a Voodoo Witchdoctor from a third world backwater country.

Dr. Omalu is quite an intelligent Dr. I watched the over 70mins youtube video.

So Blessed to be A Nigerian! http://www.bummyla.com

Will meet tried his best. I'm impressed

What do u expect when ppl like Kanayo are not prepared?

We no fit sue them sef, I'm now even sure mostt of them knows Nigeria, whatt they know is lagos. See as one unknown man come dey form Igbo language for one Xmen movie.

Afam4eva:

Is Middlebelt in cotonou? Who said anything like a typical Nigerian accent? What is a typical Nigerian accent?

Adewale Agbaje wouldn't have delivered this role properly and that is why despite being in the industry for decades, he is yet to the main character in any major hollywood production owing to his physical build. I think Ejiofor or Oyelowo sounds more like it.

Afam, you should know what I was referring to when i said 'typical'. There's this regular accent for each major tribe; Yoruba, Ibo and Hausa. That voice of Dr. Omalu's is not one you can easily tag a Nigerian's because it isn't similar to that of a major tribe. . . Hope you get what I mean now.

And as for your citing of Ejiofor or Oyelowo as a better lead, it's still all about the Benjamins. . . The director just wants a name that brings more D's If you know what I mean...

Ok that 'Nigerian' accent is quite frankly terrible... no argument there.

But why are we complaining when we're too blind & dumb to see just how incredible ridiculous WE likewise sound when we keep on forcing-guy some useless 'yankee' accent borrowed from some flea-market? Nigerian general public take note... Nigerian so-called 'A-listers' & wannabes take even bigger note. As your own natural accent dey shame you keep on squealing that ear-damaging crap in the name of being 'yankee'fied! Na only una fellow inferiority-complex brethrens una fit impress with that strange stuff. And that is the number one reason why Nigerian films do not regularly make an impression on the world stage! STOP KILLING THE EARS OF PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY SPEAK 'REAL' ENGLISH.
Bad 'audio'(accents) = bad film. Period.

tpiander:
In all his big budget movies, Will Smith almost never has the carefree, happy persona he portrayed in Fresh Prince.


I guess its because Fresh Prince was comedy.

as per accent, happens all the time.

Dr Omalu sounds more like a northerner though.

No SIR. Omalu is Igbo from anambra state. graduated from UNN with MBBS...