Renowned Nigerian actress and film producer, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has called for a thorough structural overhaul in Nollywood, Nigeria’s movie industry. In a widely discussed Instagram post shared on Saturday, the screen veteran with a career spanning more than three decades in the Nigerian film scene, emphasized the need for systemic change. Reflecting on her experiences in both Hollywood and Nollywood, Omotola drew attention to a key area of disparity between the two industries: royalty payments. She conveyed her dissatisfaction with how Nigerian actors are treated, especially concerning the non-existence of residual income in Nollywood. Contrasting it with her experience abroad, she noted that in Hollywood, she receives monthly residuals from just two experimental projects completed within a short four-year span. “Only four years in Hollywood. Two pilot projects. Still getting monthly residuals,” she wrote. In the post, she included a photo of a mail envelope from SAG-AFTRA, the American guild for film and media professionals. She then contrasted this with her career in Nigeria. “Meanwhile, 30 years in Nollywood, over 310 film roles – not a single residual. #NollywoodNeedsStructure #UnlearntoRelearn”
