Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has sparked a fresh conversation about ethnic representation in Nigeria’s film industry after offering his perspective on the growing visibility of Yoruba filmmakers and stories.
Duru made the remarks during an interview with Yan Kontent Factory, where he discussed the evolution of Nollywood and the changing influence of different ethnic groups within the industry.
While acknowledging the contributions of Yoruba pioneers such as the late Herbert Ogunde to Nigeria’s theatre and performance tradition, Duru argued that the modern home-video industry that became known as Nollywood was heavily driven by Igbo entrepreneurs during the 1990s and early 2000s.
According to the actor, Yoruba filmmakers have since gained greater visibility because of their ability to organise, pool resources and deliberately promote their cultural identity.
“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?” Duru said.
He also expressed concern about the limited presence of Igbo cultural stories on major international streaming platforms.
“We created an industry. It’s so shameful. Go to Netflix today; you hardly see one Igbo film that speaks of Igbo heritage,” he said.
Duru attributed what he described as the decline in Igbo cultural visibility partly to an individualistic approach, arguing that greater cooperation and strategic investment could help filmmakers reclaim more space.
He urged Igbo filmmakers, investors and cultural stakeholders to study the strategies adopted by their Yoruba counterparts rather than view their success as a threat.
The actor’s comments have generated discussion about cultural representation, collective investment and competition within Nollywood. They have also renewed questions about how Nigeria’s diverse cultural identities are presented to international audiences.
Nollywood has evolved considerably since the emergence of the home-video era, with Nigerian films now reaching global audiences through cinemas, television networks and streaming services.
Duru’s intervention ultimately highlights the importance of investing in indigenous storytelling and ensuring that Nigeria’s different cultural traditions continue to find space within the country’s rapidly expanding film industry.
