“Igbos created modern Nollywood, but Yorubas are dominating it” – Francis Duru laments

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has spoken about ethnic influence in Nigeria’s film industry, arguing that although Igbos played a major role in building modern Nollywood, Yorubas have become more dominant because they are better at organising and promoting their own.

Duru made the statement while speaking on Gbam, he acknowledged Yoruba pioneers such as Herbert Ogunde, who contributed significantly to Nigerian theatre and performance arts in the 1950s.

However, the actor said Igbo entrepreneurs, particularly traders, largely drove the home-video industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. He also argued that Yorubas have been more effective at pooling resources, creating opportunities for their people and protecting their culture.

“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.

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.”

Duru blamed what he described as an individualistic mentality among some Igbos for their declining influence in the industry, saying Igbo history and culture were increasingly being portrayed by outsiders.

He urged Igbos not to be angry with Yoruba filmmakers, arguing that they had simply protected their own culture and created opportunities for themselves.

“These are people who saw their own and protected their own. When was the last time you saw the epic of one of these great men?” he further questioned.

His comments have generated discussions among Nigerians, with many debating the roles played by different ethnic groups in the development and growth of Nollywood.