‘Yoruba did not start Nollywood’ — Osuofia sets record straight on film history
Veteran actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has rejected claims that Yoruba people started Nollywood, insisting that his comments were about the origins of home video in Nigeria. Osuofia explained that the name Nollywood did not exist when he and other filmmakers began making films, adding that it was adopted later after discussions among […] ‘Yoruba did not start Nollywood’ — Osuofia…
Renowned actor Nkem Owoh, widely recognized as Osuofia, has dismissed assertions that Yoruba people were responsible for initiating Nollywood. He clarified that his remarks pertained to the inception of home video in Nigeria. During those early days of filmmaking, the term Nollywood did not exist; it was only coined later through deliberations among industry professionals.
"I never stated that Yoruba initiated Nollywood," Owoh declared. He acknowledged the Yoruba filmmakers, such as the revered Hubert Ogunde, as pioneers of the home-video movement and instrumental in its popularity. "Ogunde, who is not Igbo, is the one who kickstarted it," Owoh emphasized. He reiterated that his perspective had been misconstrued, stressing that his assertion was centered on home video, not the birth of Nollywood.
"Yoruba did not spawn Nollywood; they were the ones who pioneered home video and the rest followed," he concluded.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
