Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan recently revealed that he does not watch Nollywood movies. This statement stirred his colleague Egor Efiok to agitate in a rant on Facebook. Many fans and observers have taken to the defence of the veteran producer
In a recent disclosure, Kunle Afolayan admitted that he is not all out for seeing Nigerian produced movies. According to him, it was not in his best interest to patronise Nollywood movies because they do not pose that challenge and reorientation that he seeks.
The popular filmmaker put his assertion this way: “Truth be told, I hardly watch them because I am keen on watching movies that will challenge me and change my orientation about certain things. My children watch them a lot and that does not make them speak bad English.”
Fellow filmmaker Egor Efiok was not pleased with this statement made by the veteran actor and producer. The Nigerian woman took to Facebook to express her dissatisfaction with his opinion of Nollywood movies.
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On a general note, she hinted that it was pride that made the producer and director of movies like Phone Swap, October to stay off indigenous films. While she admitted that Kunle had achieved some remarkable feats, she also thought he was egotistical and did not acknowledge other great Nollywood producers like Genevieve Nnaji who recently bagged a deal with Netflix, an American media service provider.
See Egor’s full post which ended with an advice to the filmmaker to embrace humility:
“When God elevates you and you allow pride take over and begin to look down on others, remember the fate of King Nebuchadnezzar. #PrideGoesBeforeAFall #Word
*rant begins* Kunle Afolayan now has all these endorsement deals, courtesy of his good business acumen; hence he has forgotten his humble beginnings and now feels like he is better than Nollywood greats like Tunde Kelani, Izu Ojukwu, Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Obi Emelonye and others, too many to mention.
Only someone with self esteem issues would utter such balderdash. You don’t watch Nollywood movies, yet you expect other people to watch your own Nollywood movies. Look at Genevieve Nnaji. She did not make noise for years and then came out with this groundbreaking deal with her film, Lionheart, starring an all Nigerian (aka Nollywood) cast. Netflix bought the film and she took Nollywood straight to Hollywood, with Richard Quest also breaking the news on CNN. She put Nollywood on the international map and will always be highly respected for it. You should emulate her rather than run your mouth.
I give it to you, your films have made their marks too, but you have always been an egomaniac. This is not the first time you have infuriated your fellow Nollywood filmmakers with your self serving remarks. Remember the furore you caused a few years ago and nearly succeeded in banging the heads of Yoruba and Igbo filmmakers together? You keep trying to cause disunity in Nollywood for reasons best known to yourself.
I used to be a great fan and even let you join my entourage to the presidential villa in July 2013. I will NEVER again watch any movie of yours. Learn humility from colleagues of yours like Obi Emelonye, who by the way, has also made Hollywood Meets Nollywood movies and put Nollywood on the international map, yet he never misses an opportunity to promote Nollywood.
For the rest of us who watch Nollywood and Hollywood movies, let us continue to believe in our Nollywood. If you are a Nigerian filmmaker who trained abroad, rather than criticise Nollywood, please bring your talent back home and help to improve Nollywood. Kene Mkparu brought his talent back home to Nigeria and encouraged other British born Nigerians to do the same. “Wedding Party” and “When Love Happens” were birthed as a result and many actors’ careers soared.
He could have boasted like Kunle that he doesn’t watch Nollywood movies; rather he infused his knowledge from watching both Nollywood and Hollywood movies and came up with a stellar cast of Nollywood veterans and upcoming stars in “Wedding Party”, with his team of fellow respected producers, to create a blockbuster. Now, this is what I am talking about.
Kunle Afolayan, lose the attitude and embrace humility. It is not too late. Humility will take you a long way. *rant over* *drops mic* “
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Many people took the liberty to comment on the post of the female filmmaker and this includes Obi Emelonye himself. Of all the striking replies, though, a particular one highlighted the fact that the accusations meted against Kunle were misplaced and twisted.
According to the person who made the comment, the award-winning filmmaker had made the statement during an extensive interview with The Cable and the statement was meant to address a question about badly scripted indigenous movies.
Many more who read the comment of the person who goes by the name Shaibu Husseini on Facebook agreed that there might be indeed two sides to the story.
Another interesting topic; Kunle Afolayan: How Kembes I Bought In India Motivated Me To Start Clothing Line
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