₦airaland Forum

harjay1986:
To me ooh, he is right yes Yoruba might be pioneer of stage play, like late Ogunde and Ade Love, the Igbo modernize it into what we call Noollywood today.. Just like he mentioned self center producer loose it when some part begin to embrace their history

It would be historically inaccurate to say the Igbo single-handedly modernized the Nigerian film industry into Nollywood.
Nollywood, however, developed through contributions from people across Nigeria, including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and others. Giving credit to Igbo for modernizing our film industry into what we call Nollywood today shouldn’t require minimizing the contributions of the rest.

chatinent:
Igbos did not build Nollywood. Neither did Yorubas.

Nigeria as a whole built it.

The world doesn't revolve around Igbos and Yorubas alone. There are Efik, Ibibio, Kalabari, Tiv, Idoma etc too!

The Yorubas never came out beating their chest that they invented or started anything .

You should take your complain to Duru who sees everything from his thick ethnic lens by falsely claiming Ibos started Nollywood.

They only saturated it with their mediocre and silly movies.

harjay1986:
To me ooh, he is right yes Yoruba might be pioneer of stage play, like late Ogunde and Ade Love, the Igbo modernize it into what we call Noollywood today.. Just like he mentioned self center producer loose it when some part begin to embrace their history

Igbos didn't modernise anything. Instead, they were pirating movies.

With the advent of digital media, they are out of jobs and now crying about.

chatinent:
Igbos did not build Nollywood. Neither did Yorubas.
Nigeria as a whole built it.

The world doesn't revolve around Igbos and Yorubas alone. There are Efik, Ibibio, Kalabari, Tiv, Idoma etc too!

These two are the loudest, the noise makers.

Wickedfacts:
Genevieve who got funding from Netflix to produce movies, produced rubbish, chopped the majority of the fund and Netflix said never again.

How many movies produced by Igbos made waves in the cinemas?

Kemi Adetiba alone has recorded more successes in the cinemas than all Igbo movie directors, living and dead.

apart from king of boys and wedding party,which were in 2016 up, do you have anyone she written and directed plus across bloodied ocean

Wickedfacts:
Igbos didn't modernise anything. Instead, they were pirating movies.

With the advent of digital media, they are out of jobs and now crying about.

Why are they not steaming their Ibo movies ?

Are the stream sites rejecting their movies or they don't enjoy same traffic as the Yoruba directed movies.

His debut home video is #THE MISSSING MASK# with a stage name (AHAMBA) featuring (Mbaogu) Mr Chika Anyanwu

FSBoperator:
The Yorubas never came out beating their chest that they invented or started anything .

You should take your complain to Duru who sees everything from his thick ethnic lens by falsely claiming Ibos started Nollywood.

They only saturated it with their mediocre and silly movies.

This shouldn't be a competition, but every part of Nigeria played a role in developing our entertainment industry.

What Duru was talking about is HOME VIDEO. Direct-to-home entertainment. Not the ones you only watch on NTA or other TV channels, or on stage or theatre. But movies you can buy on cassette and watch at home.

Always talking nonsense. Nollywood is nigeria. Thats it.

omooba969:
You're not thinking straight oga ade.

You don't think it makes sense that the country seceded along those lines? Or you just enjoy teaching the igbos political lessons while you leech off the oil from the Niger Delta?

The IGR from Lagos and Ogun should be enough to cater for the likes of Ondo and Ekiti, don't you think?

0Brien:
This shouldn't be a competition, but every part of Nigeria played a role in developing our entertainment industry.

What Duru was talking about is HOME VIDEO. Direct-to-home entertainment. Not the ones you only watch on NTA or other TV channels, or on stage or theatre. But movies you can buy on cassette and watch at home.

That concept only worked because of video/CD rentals.

Now that video/CD rentals are dead why did their own Nollywood die?

Could it be because nobody is going to waste data and space streaming crap ?

Nteogwuija:
You don't think it makes sense that the country seceded along those lines? Or you just enjoy teaching the igbos political lessons while you leech off the oil from the Niger Delta?

The IGR from Lagos and Ogun should be enough to cater for the likes of Ondo and Ekiti, don't you think?

Statements like these make my blood boil.

The reason Ojukwu went to war was because of that same Niger Delta oil which does not belong to you .

Gen Z don dey take over. If not who dey argue Nollywood owners before when we all know normal yoruba hood and arewa hausa own dem get their names.

Yorubas brag.
Igbos brag.

FSBoperator:
The Yorubas never came out beating their chest that they invented or started anything .

You should take your complain to Duru who sees everything from his thick ethnic lens by falsely claiming Ibos started Nollywood.

They only saturated it with their mediocre and silly movies.

Yoruba producers and actors are leveraging on the rich cultural heritage that has been painstakingly preserved over the centuries from Ile-Ife to Brazil. We were an empire who had strong leadership and foresight. The digital age only made it more easy to push the right projects, secure appropriate funding and produce quality films instead of quantity.

Our Igbo and Kannywood counterparts can learn a thing or two from this innovative way of thinking and return to the drawing board. Competition is good as long as it is healthy and unscrupulous means are avoided to achieve status, The Igbo culture is equally beautiful if properly harnessed.

Kingzjayzee:
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has sparked debate with his views on the changing ethnic influence within Nigeria’s film industry, arguing that the Yoruba community has become more dominant because of its ability to organise and promote its own.

In a recent interview on Gbam, aired on the Yan Content Factory YouTube channel on Friday, Duru acknowledged the contributions of Yoruba pioneers such as Herbert Ogunde to Nigerian theatre and performance arts in the 1950s.

However, he argued that the modern Nollywood home-video industry was largely driven by Igbo entrepreneurs during the 1990s and early 2000s.

According to the actor, Igbo traders played a major role in developing the home-video market that eventually evolved into the Nollywood industry known globally today.

Duru argued that the Yoruba community was more effective at pooling resources, creating opportunities for its members and protecting its cultural interests.

“The Yorubas epitomise the saying, ‘Charity begins at home.’ We need to learn from them. If you don’t protect and project your own, who will do it?” he said.

He also cited streaming platforms such as Netflix as evidence of what he described as the decline in the visibility of Igbo stories within Nollywood.

“We [Igbos] created Nollywood, but if you go to Netflix today, you hardly see one movie that speaks of Igbo heritage. But the Yorubas, on the other hand, created opportunities for themselves and utilised them,” Duru stated.

The actor blamed what he described as an individualistic mindset among some Igbos for the loss of influence.

“Igbos failed to learn because of their individualistic mentality. You think you are the big man, so you are self-centred. But you forget that a time will come when you need to be expansive,” he said.

Duru further expressed concern that Igbo history and culture are increasingly being portrayed by filmmakers from outside the community.

“We have great writers who are now writing for the Yorubas. You even see the Yorubas crossing over to write Igbo stories like Ahamefuna and making a mess of who we are,” he said.

Despite his criticism, Duru said his comments should not be interpreted as an attack on Yoruba filmmakers. Instead, he urged Igbos to learn from how the Yoruba community has promoted its own people and culture.

“Don’t get angry with them. These are people who saw their own and protected their own. What happened to you?” he asked.

He also questioned why more films had not been made about prominent Igbo figures and historical personalities.

“Igbos have many great men in Nigeria. When was the last time you saw the epic of one of these great men?” Duru asked.

His comments have since generated discussions around ethnicity, cultural ownership, collective investment and representation in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/igbos-built-nollywood-but-yorubas-have-become-dominant-francis-duru/

The first home video in Nigeria was Soso Meji by Ade AJiboye Big Abas He is a Yoruba man

Wickedfacts:
Genevieve who got funding from Netflix to produce movies, produced rubbish, chopped the majority of the fund and Netflix said never again.

How many movies produced by Igbos made waves in the cinemas?

Kemi Adetiba alone has recorded more successes in the cinemas than all Igbo movie directors, living and dead.

Yoruba might have been the pioneer bro no disputing but comparing funke who is just a comic to guys who made nolly even extend and collobrate with Ghanaian,like the likes of Jim iyke,chioma chukwuka,to name few, liv talk bro

chatinent:
Yorubas brag.
Igbos brag.

Yorubas are not into bragging.

It is seen as very uncultured and disrespectful to do so.

Yorubas are confident which to some may appear as arrogant

Ibos on the other hand brag and are arrogant in other to appear confident.

My observation

FSBoperator:
That concept only worked because of video/CD rentals.

Now that video/CD rentals are dead why did their own Nollywood die?

Could it be because nobody is going to waste data and space streaming crap ?

No, it didn't die. They still make movies, but mostly not for the cinema or Netflix. Most producers now use other less expensive means like youtube to publish their movies.

Most of the movies produced for Cinemas and Netflix standards require huge capital that many cannot afford, and the few who manage to do so take heavy loans to produce them. Very few producers can do that and they're mostly concentrated in Lagos, inevitably giving the movies that youruba effect and advantage. Many of the cast and crew of those movies still come from different parts of Nigeria

👇👇

0Brien:
Not at all. There are lots Igbo producers behind many of the blockbuster movies of recent times, like Charles Okpaleke, Chinaza Onuzo, Kenechukwu Egbue e.t.c. Because most of these movies are set in Lagos, it makes people assume they're all yoruba movies.

If you look through the credits of these movies, you'll see cast and crew members from different parts of Nigeria.

We also have lots of producers from other tribes making good movies largely set in Lagos. Like
Moses Inwang, Jade Osiberu, Eku Edewor, Desmond Ovbiagele, Izu Ojukwu, Adonijah Owiriwa, Timini Egbuson, Ayo Makun

Their movies aren't "yoruba movies" just because they were shot in Lagos to give the movies a more cosmopolitan appeal

FSBoperator:
Statements like these make my blood boil.

The reason Ojukwu went to war was because of that same Niger Delta oil which does not belong to you .

Wetin consign me with Ojukwu? Learn to read in between lines. NL is not occupied by only Yorubas and Igbos.

This statement has so many flaws i don't know where to begin
Yes Ndigbo built Nollywood and ARE still running it to this day
Heck even Irokotv with it's issues are still bossing the movie game
Not to mention Asaba where no touts are disturbing movie shoots
The only reason anyone thinks some folks are dominant is the Lagos Ibadan press
Simple as that
Dominant my bootlace 😄

0Brien:
No, it didn't die. They still make movies, but not for the cinema. Unfortunately most producers now have to use other less expensive means like youtube to distribute their movies.

There's no cinema on earth that still uses cinema projectors.

All have gone digital and even some Indie films out of the US are now being shot using HD digital cameras .

I believe Duru is right by saying that Igbo Nollywood is stuck in their recycling genre of setting their flicks around village settings that does not resonate with a wider more modern audience.

And uhna want peace and collaboration abi..
Everything little thing, you guys push it to ethic supremacy...
How do you now collaborate...
I don tire oo

FSBoperator:
There's no cinema on earth that still uses cinema projectors.

All have gone digital and even some Indie films out of the US are now being shot using HD digital cameras .

I believe Duru is right by saying that Igbo Nollywood is stuck in their recycling genre of setting their flicks around village settings that does not resonate with a wider more modern audience.

Not really about the setting. You can still shoot a good movie and tell great stories using any setting. And, no, most of their movies they make use modern settings now with HD cameras. They're just not made for Cinema or Netflix

Most of the movies produced for Cinemas and Netflix standards now require huge capital that many cannot afford, and the few who manage to do so take heavy loans to shoot them.

Only very few producers can afford that now and they're mostly concentrated in Lagos, inevitably giving the movies that yoruba effect and advantage. Many of the crew and cast of those movies still come from different parts of Nigeria

The Yorubas have taken Nollywood to another level. All thanks to their rich culture and heritage unlike the Igbos who have adopted western culture.

0Brien:
Not really about the setting. You can still shoot a good movie and tell great stories using any setting. And, no, most of their movies they make use modern settings now with HD cameras.

Most of the movies produced for Cinemas and Netflix standards now require huge capital that many cannot afford, and the few who manage to do so take heavy loans to shoot them.

Only very few producers can afford that now and they're mostly concentrated in Lagos, inevitably giving them that youruba effect and advantage. Many of the crew and cast of those movies still come from different parts of Nigeria

That's why I always laugh when I hear this so called "Dominance" In the movie game
Most of their films are YouTube movies where their earnings like their cinema earnings are massively exaggerated
Someone even said it's "Village movies" yet went on to praise their culture in the same breath
I swear tribalism is a disease

0Brien:
Not really about the setting. You can still shoot a good movie and tell great stories using any setting. And, no, most of their movies they make use modern settings now with HD cameras.

Most of the movies produced for Cinemas and Netflix standards now require huge capital that many cannot afford, and the few who manage to do so take heavy loans to shoot them.

Only very few producers can afford that now and they're mostly concentrated in Lagos, inevitably giving them that youruba effect and advantage. Many of the crew and cast of those movies still come from different parts of Nigeria

It all comes down to the script.

Nobody will invest millions to shoot a shitty movie set in a village somewhere in the SE that is centred on betrayal , jealousy and voodoo superstition.

People want to be entertained about modern relations to everyday modern living.

FSBoperator:
It all comes down to the script.

Nobody will invest millions to shoot a shitty movie set in a village somewhere in the SE that is centred on betrayal , jealousy and voodoo superstition.

People want to be entertained about modern relations to everyday modern living.

Good point. Those same "shitty movies" depicts African traditional beliefs and superstitions clearly, nevertheless, and still made waves in the international markets, making many of the actors very popular, even before Yotube and Netflix came into existence. In fact, they were the movies many of us grew up watching at homes. People connected with them because they told stories that we grew up hearing and connected with easily.

As a matter of fact, there are many people today who still prefer those early movies to these modern ones because of their originality and naturalness. And they still remain the only nollywood they can watch easily in the comfort of their homes till date.

I guess everything boils down to what your target market is and how much you're able to invest.

If someone don't hate something, most of you will you just want somebody to do so.
I'm still asking, when did this war between Igbo and Yoruba really started?
As a growing up boy born by both Igbo parents in Lagos.
Lagos of the late 80s and early 90s to 2000s was so sweet that the two tribe mingle together without rancour.
Igbos and Yorubas inter marry which are the product of mixed tribes of this days.
.
So who's the person or group that started splitting us between tribal lines.
I have lived 90% of my life in Lagos. I can speak Yoruba fluently than my own Igbo.
My major friends, colleagues, bosses are Yorubas and we all work together very well.
Then why is that any small thing we bring tribal insults into it.
Francis Duru has said his own and gave his reasons, while most of you the Yorubas also gave good reasoning.
The only mistake here is the name Nollywood.
.
Nobody is denying Yoruba started film making thru stage play by the likes of Herbert Ogunde back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. But was it call Nollywood then?
The Hollywood we copied has been in existence since 1900s.
But the question here which I believe Francis Duru is trying to portray is that when did it metarphose into Nollywood.
What gave birth to Nollywood in Nigeria?
Alade Aromire and co were doing well with their movies thru tv programs that still has the likes of Behind The Cloud, Willie Willie, Supples, Village Headmasters, New Masquerades, Tales By Moonlight to mention a few.
But when was all these culminated into being called Nollywood?
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If truth must be said here, Living In Bondage an Igbo Movie was the game changer. And Rattlesnake an Igbo movie also escalated it further, that made the world refer to our movies as Nollywood. Most of you didn't know, it wasn't Nigerians that nicknamed it Nollywood.
Those two movies was aclaimed worldwide unlike the others I mentioned earlier. Which made foreigners started calling Nigeria film industry as Nollywood after Hollywood and Bollywood.
Nigerian filmakers quickly accepted and adopted it.
Since 1993 Living In Bondage and 1994 when Rattlesnake was produce till the late 2000s.
No movie be it Igbo or Yoruba own grossed more money than those two films.
They were later translated into so many foreign languages.
They revolutionise our movies and made foreigners gave us that name Nollywood.
And Francis Duru been part of one of the movies is speaking from that angle which I understand.
And another fact, from that 1993 till same late 2000s that English movies were being produce. 60-70% of the actor/actress, Producers/Directors and crew members were dominated by the Igbos.
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Like I said earlier, nobody or I is denying Yoruba started anything film making in Nigeria. But what makes it become Nollywood we call it today was started by the Igbos and that's were I think Francis Duru is taking his views from.
And to think he acknowledged Yorubas has taking over bcus they're more United than the Igbos, and still most Yorubas here has turned it to their usual Yoruba/Igbo tribes war of a thing that always got them engaged instead of thinking out of the box on how to make our beloved Nigeria great again.
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I spit on the grave of whoever cause this division for us and also to some Nairalanders who continue to propagate it.
I am a detribalised Nigerian and I hate anybody who's tribalistic.
Just as some of you guys rightly discredit Tekno saying Highlife music and Afrobeat are same. So is same about Francis Duru differentiating former film making with Nollywood that he was part and parcel that started it.
I don't want to say much cus I have said much already, but the simple truth is that. Tribalism will kill most of you people here. Be it an Igbo or Yoruba person that's propagating it, cus it will take you and I no where. Abeg I am out of here jor!