Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has clarified his position on the origins of Nigeria’s film industry, dismissing claims that he declared Yoruba people the founders of Nollywood.
The celebrated actor explained that his comments were specifically about the emergence and development of home-video filmmaking in Nigeria, rather than the establishment of Nollywood as an industry.
Owoh maintained that the term Nollywood was not in existence when he and other practitioners began their careers in filmmaking, arguing that the name was introduced much later following discussions among stakeholders in the entertainment industry.
He made the clarification while addressing the controversy surrounding his earlier remarks, which reportedly generated reactions and debates among Nigerians, particularly supporters of the country’s major film industries.
According to the actor, it was inaccurate to interpret his comments as suggesting that Yoruba filmmakers founded Nollywood.
“I never said Yoruba started Nollywood. When did Nollywood come out? When we started film, there was no Nollywood as a name,” he said.
Osuofia Credits Hubert Ogunde, Yoruba Filmmakers
While rejecting the claim that Yoruba people founded Nollywood, Owoh acknowledged the contributions of Yoruba theatre practitioners and filmmakers to the development of Nigeria’s home-video industry.
He specifically mentioned veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde, recognising his role in laying the foundation for indigenous theatrical productions and the growth of Nigerian screen entertainment.
Owoh stressed that Ogunde’s contributions to the country’s filmmaking history could not be overlooked simply because he belonged to a different ethnic group.
“Ogunde is not Igbo. I am telling you that Yoruba started it,” the actor stated.
He further explained that his argument was centred on the historical development of home-video production, which gained popularity in Nigeria through the contributions of filmmakers from different backgrounds.
Reiterating his position, Owoh maintained that Yoruba filmmakers played a pioneering role in the home-video tradition but insisted that this should not be confused with the origins of Nollywood as a recognised film industry.
“Yoruba did not start Nollywood; they started home video and the rest,” he added.
Debate Over Nollywood’s History
The actor’s clarification comes amid recurring discussions about the contributions of different ethnic groups and filmmaking centres to the evolution of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
While Yoruba travelling theatre practitioners played significant roles in the development of indigenous filmmaking, other filmmakers, particularly in the eastern part of the country, also contributed to the growth of the home-video market.
The emergence of commercially successful productions helped transform Nigerian filmmaking into the industry widely recognised today as Nollywood.
Owoh’s remarks have therefore brought renewed attention to the distinction between the origins of Yoruba travelling theatre, Nigerian home-video production and the broader Nollywood industry.
