Igbos Built Nollywood, Yorubas Took Over” — Francis Duru Laments

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has sparked a fresh conversation about ethnic representation and influence in Nigeria’s film industry, claiming that while Igbos played a significant role in the development of modern Nollywood, Yoruba filmmakers have become more dominant because of their stronger organisation and promotion of their cultural identity.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Duru made the remarks during a recent interview on Gbam, where he acknowledged the contributions of early Yoruba theatre practitioners, including the late Herbert Ogunde, to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.

The actor, however, maintained that Igbo entrepreneurs, particularly traders, played a major role in driving the home-video industry during the 1990s and early 2000s, which he described as a crucial period in the growth of modern Nollywood.

Duru argued that Yoruba filmmakers have been more successful in pooling resources, creating opportunities for members of their community and deliberately promoting their cultural heritage through films.

He expressed concern that despite the alleged contributions of Igbos to Nollywood, Igbo culture and historical stories are not receiving sufficient representation on major global streaming platforms.

Duru said there are talented Igbo writers and filmmakers capable of telling compelling stories about the region, but alleged that many of these talents are now producing content for Yoruba filmmakers.

He further criticised the portrayal of Igbo culture by filmmakers from outside the ethnic group, arguing that some productions have failed to accurately represent the history and identity of the people.

The veteran actor attributed what he described as the declining influence of Igbos in the industry partly to an individualistic approach, contrasting it with what he considers the more collective strategy adopted by Yoruba creatives.

Duru urged Igbos to focus on building structures that promote their own stories and talents rather than blaming Yoruba filmmakers for their success.

He argued that Yoruba filmmakers had largely taken advantage of available opportunities to preserve and promote their culture, adding that the lack of similar efforts among some Igbo stakeholders had contributed to the situation.

His comments have sparked debate among Nigerians, with social media users and entertainment enthusiasts discussing the respective contributions of different ethnic groups to the development of Nollywood and the importance of cultural representation in the industry.