₦airaland Forum

LZAA:
I am going to use rap as a example so listen and observe real close
Rap pioneers include Afrika Baambata,Public Enemy,Rahim and Eric B,Run DMC and LL Cool J

Now ask rap observers Old or YOUNG to list a top 10 you would notice those names will be pushed to the Top 20
Notice I didn't mention 2pac or Notorious BIG

Again stop comparing yourselves to Ndigbo
Ken Nnebue,Okey Oguejifor and Amaka Igwe made the current Nollywood
Eddie ugbomah I mentioned so I could show you that Movie making had other regions that made films as well

ednut1:
Are igbos obsessed with Yorubas? Because wetin be this

flokii:
They obviously are.. they always want to claim credit for things Yorubas built. Unfortunately for them, the modern age rewards talent and hardwork.

See how one was trying to downplay Fela who pioneered afrobeat , just because they want to rewrite history.

See the way Lagos is rapidly developing today, with rails and infrastructure, tomorrow one of them will open mouth to say they built Lagos from scratch.
PBAT should do and bring back regionalism, we are tired of unhealthy rivalry and loudmouths invading our space.

Tzar:
Awon builder ati developer isonu.

AlphaTaikun:
Your claim in the FIRST two paragraphs is totally FALSE. I personally witnessed the cinema-going celluloid film industry of the 1960s to the 1980s and the home video industry of 1988 with the FIRST EVER Yoruba home video subtitled in English produced and screened at the National Theatre. Prince Alade Aromire produced his own home videos and Prince 'Jide Kosoko also produced home videos long before 1993 when the FIRST EVER Ibo home video subtitled in English came into existence via Kenneth Nnebue. Kenneth Nnebue himself granted a newspaper interview in 1998 to "ThisDay" newspaper [long before the American journalist irresponsible coined the condescending term "Nollywood" in 2003] confessed that the Yorubas started the home video industry in Nigeria in the 1980s and he worked and understudied the Yorubas. He even listed several home videos made in the Yoruba home video sector of the Nigerian movie industry. I personally have a copy of that ThisDay newspaper interview in my archives and Kenneth Nnebue himself ALSO confessed that he wanted to produce his film in Yoruba language and subtitled in English but he decided to take a gamble and do it in Ibo language in 1992/1993 and it became a hit due to the FACT that Ibos were desperate for their own language in the home video industry as well after seeing what Yorubas were doing with home videos with Lagos State as the major home video film hub. The buzz created made the film popular being the first Ibo film on home video. Even the FIRST EVER Ibo language celluloid film entitled "AMADI" which was screened in Lagos State was produced in 1975 by the veteran movie maker, Dr. Ola Balogun who was born in Aba (now in Abia State) to Yoruba parents with his father being a lawyer. Dr. Ola Balogun spoke Ibo as his first language as a child hence his interest in doing a celluloid film in that language.

That condescending title called "Nollywood" which infers that the Nigerian movie industry is a "Hollywood wannabe" was ONLY invented or coined by an American journalist in 2003 long after the Nigerian movie industry had been in existence in celluloid cinema format and video formats. This is why the Indians HATE being called "Bollywood" and have expunged it. It's ONLY uninformed Nigerians with self-esteem issues in the media and elsewhere who continue to use that irresponsible terminology fabricated by an American journalist in a mere 2003. The Nigerian movie industry is simply what I use to describe the movie industry just like India uses the Indian movie industry.

The Indian movie industry currently operates based on a multiplex cinema format in major Indian cities just like the United States and NOT based on home video formats hence curbing piracy of videos and loss of income.

It's very important to ALWAYS keep historical records of events and unknown to some young people and older folks from the East like Francis Duru, the Yoruba folks [who pioneered the celluloid film industry with Professor Wole Soyinka's adaptation of "Kongi's Harvest" as a movie and FIRST screened in Lagos State in 1969, and "Soso Ekun" the FIRST Yoruba home video subtitled in English language in 1988], have their histories well documented. The rise of the Internet and social media is what led to the spread of disinformation by young Ibos online and even some Yorubas and non-Yorubas who do NOT read history and pushed the highly misleading information that the home videos started in 1992 by Kenneth Nnebue meanwhile it started in 1988 with the Yoruba home video "Soso Ekun." Kenneth Nnebue himself NEVER claimed in that ThisDay newspaper interview that he started home videos in Nigeria.

Last but NOT least, in order to put history into proper perspective, [I would like to release to the media and reputable museums such as the Onikan, Lagos-based "Yoruba Cultural Center and the "Wole Soyinka National Theatre and Cultural Center for Arts" in Iganmu, Lagos"] the scanned copies of that 1998 ThisDay newspaper interview where Kenneth Nnebue personally affirmed that the Yoruba sector of the Nigerian movie industry started the home video industry 4 years before he did his own home video in 1992/1993 and he gave credit to the Yoruba and Indian movie industries for inspiring him. However, the FIRST EVER "music home video" was produced in the early 1980s in Lagos State for the iconic pop star, Chris Okotie, who is now a pastor.


I hope that helps.



P.S. This topic was totally discussed on this this 22-page NL thread right BELOW back in 2023.
https://www.nairaland.com/7818214/yorubas-started-nollywood-own-it

LZAA:
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 😄

cr7lomo:
He is absolutely right....

Kalulu44:
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?
.
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.
.
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.
.
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!

Bluffly:
My friend what is right about his absolutely right. Go and check history properly and stop this unscrupulous chest beating

Cmeo:
That Francis Duru word is very incorrect and half truth that could be termed mischievous from a man of his age.

Cinematic part of Nollywood was started by the Yourbas with the like of Hubert Ogunde in the 70's. The Soap-Opera part of Nollywood was first stated by Laolu Ogunniyi in the late 70's (another Yoruba man) and Alade Aromire (again, Yoruba man) started the home videos part of Nollywood in the late 80's that also becomes a critical part of Nollywood today. Nollywood has its root and present day sustenance in the hands of Yorubas, although we cannot deny the fact that the Igbo made Nollywood competitive in the 90's.

I challenge anyone to fact check this. Francis Duru should not tell us that "Living in the bondage" was the beginning of what is called Nollywood today.

wellmax:
Igbos can claim everything.

Cinema and movies started in the west.

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.

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/

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

delpee:
8

If you grew up before the 90s you'll know that stage plays were prevalent in the SW and there were films by Herbert Ogunde, Moses Olaiya etc.

Let's say Igbos commercialised it but that also led to piracy which ruined some theatre practitioners like Moses Olaiya.

Now it's more streamlined and only those with real talent excel.

Kdon2:
When did they even get civilized enough to start acting film sef? Yoruba started the acting profession in Nigeria . The history is there. The first people to begin to appear on the television were Yorubas. They had the first exposure to television and consequently cinematography aspect of it. I don't know why they like this unhealthy competition that is not doing them any good. ☹️

cr7lomo:
Tomorrow, una wan go wan claim say na una start Netflix... Genevieve pioneered Netflix produced naija movies ...just like the Igboa pioneered what we have today

aariwa:
It was only recently the Yorubas got the Netflix contract but lost it after mismanaging it the Tinubu’s way… imagine losing a big opportunity like that because you can’t manage anything. Tinubu helped them bribe their way to get the contract back.

cr7lomo:
Una de civilised..na e Agbero full street for lagos de beg like almajiri ...

Seeplusplus:
If you grew up in the 90s and 2000s, you'll have to agree with Francis Duru.

Apart from Omotola and a few other Yoruba names, the entire Nollywood was dominated by the Igbos.

Unfortunately for them, that era saw a huge boom in the piracy business

Somehow, the Igbos have lost grip on the entertainment industry and they are now spectators.

Yoruba people are so good.

They are not into cho Cho Cho like the Igbos. They are very strategic.

All we now see from them is WORKINGS

aariwa:
I don’t know what is wrong with that Francis Duru, refused to shine and always talking out of point. Every region have been making movies in Nigeria in their languages since the advent of television but Igbos broke that path and make things fall apart a block buster in 1985 and then almost 10 years after Keneth Nnebue made the living in bondage home video in 1992 and due to the unprecedented boost Igbos gave that industry they rebranded it Nollywood around 1995 and started making it in CD cassette players and shipping overseas and cable companies in Nigeria and Africa we’re playing the movies . It was only recently the Yorubas got the Netflix contract but lost it after mismanaging it the Tinubu’s way… imagine losing a big opportunity like that because you can’t manage anything. Tinubu helped them bribe their way to get the contract back but how many people are watching it because they only show movies acted in Yoruba language compared to almost the whole of Africa watching the contents coming from Asaba spoken in English so like I said I don’t really know what is wrong with that Francis Duru guy

aariwa:
I don’t know what is wrong with that Francis Duru, refused to shine and always talking out of point. Every region have been making movies in Nigeria in their languages since the advent of television but Igbos broke that path and make things fall apart a block buster in 1985 and then almost 10 years after Keneth Nnebue made the living in bondage home video in 1992 and due to the unprecedented boost Igbos gave that industry they rebranded it Nollywood around 1995 and started making it in CD cassette players and shipping overseas and cable companies in Nigeria and Africa we’re playing the movies . It was only recently the Yorubas got the Netflix contract but lost it after mismanaging it the Tinubu’s way… imagine losing a big opportunity like that because you can’t manage anything. Tinubu helped them bribe their way to get the contract back but how many people are watching it because they only show movies acted in Yoruba language compared to almost the whole of Africa watching the contents coming from Asaba spoken in English so like I said I don’t really know what is wrong with that Francis Duru guy

georgeakins:
I believe Ibos destroyed Nollywood.

I am happy that people like Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, Toyin Abraham, Femi Adebayo, Ibrahim Chitta and others are being used by God to restore Nollywood

Ritchiee:
Was wedding bell etc done in Yoruba language?
This is why Yoruba are way,way above you people.They project the two languages but deliberately give upper hand to their culture knowing that you can't beat Europeans in their thing.
Don't be ashamed of your culture,project it and your movies will come close in grossing to Yoruba movies. Can't you see that Asians,Indians and Yorubas are deliberate?
Do you know that Yorubas do not only lead Nigeria in movies and music,they lead Africa and they have been consistent and resilient.
It is all about Grace and talent.

Ritchiee:
quickly
Your people are in millions in the SW begging for alms but you will never see a Yoruba person doing that in your dry SE.
Unfortunately,you have your own agberos too so what is your point?

LZAA:
Funke Akindele included just go to any African country and ask them if they know those actors they will look at you like you have horns on top your head
But just mention Osuofia,Chinwetalu or Sam loco and see their immediate recognition
Why are you people hell bent on trying to distort facts na😄

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.