Veteran Nollywood actress Jaiye Kuti has lamented the lack of unity and genuine support within the Nigerian film industry, saying many practitioners are only pretending that everything is fine despite the challenges they all face.
Speaking on the Oyinmomo podcast, the actress said the industry’s relationship is gradually breaking down because everyone is facing the same problems but chooses to remain silent.
According to her, “everybody is just acting” and pretending things are okay, even though they know where the challenges lie.
“Our relationship is gradually breaking down… Everybody is just acting like it’s okay. How is it okay?” she said
She also highlighted the financial burden of film production and cinema distribution, noting that many people do not understand what it takes for producers to recoup their investments.
Jaiye also questioned the public’s admiration for celebrities, suggesting that many people are inspired by images that do not reflect reality.
“The people you’re emulating and looking at as an example, do you really want to know them? The people you call celebrities and follow on social media,” she said.
Recalling her personal experience, Jaiye said that when she publicly complained about her movie being removed from several cinemas, none of her colleagues stood by her or publicly supported her, even though they were facing similar challenges themselves.
“Not one actor went to those cinemas or even supported me, even though we’re all going through the same thing,” she said.
She contrasted that silence with how colleagues are quick to send birthday wishes, saying she has stopped wishing others happy birthday because she no longer wants anyone to wish her on hers.
“But if I celebrate my birthday, the next day they’d wish me a happy birthday. So I stopped wishing people a happy birthday because I don’t want anyone to wish me on my birthday. Please don’t,” she said.
