Osuofia’s Nollywood Comment Reopens Debate Over Nigeria’s Film History

Veteran Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has reignited discussions about the history of Nollywood after clarifying the role of Yoruba filmmakers in the development of Nigeria's home-video industry.

Speaking on Curiosity Made Me Ask, a YouTube programme hosted by comedian Adebayo Abidemi, popularly known as Bae U, Owoh rejected reports suggesting that he claimed Yoruba people started Nollywood.

He explained that the name Nollywood did not exist when filmmakers began producing movies, arguing that Yoruba filmmakers pioneered and popularised home-video productions rather than establishing Nollywood as the industry is known today.

“The Yoruba did not start Nollywood. They started Home video,” Owoh said.

He specifically acknowledged the contributions of veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde and Adebayo, whose works he said he admired.

Why Nollywood's History Matters

Nigeria's film industry did not develop through the efforts of one ethnic group or generation. Its history includes theatre practitioners, filmmakers, producers, marketers, actors and distributors from different parts of the country.

Yoruba travelling theatre pioneers, including Hubert Ogunde and Duro Ladipo, helped establish an important foundation for Nigerian screen entertainment through stage performances and early film productions.

The commercial home-video boom of the 1990s brought another significant chapter. Kenneth Nnebue's 1992 film Living in Bondage is widely credited with helping popularise the modern direct-to-video market that became the foundation of Nollywood.

The industry's name also came later. The term Nollywood gained international recognition in 2002 following a newspaper report about Nigeria's growing film industry.

Understanding these different stages helps explain why the contributions of Yoruba and Igbo filmmakers continue to feature in discussions about Nigerian cinema.

A Debate About Recognition and Contributions

Owoh's clarification comes amid renewed discussions about the respective contributions of Yoruba and Igbo filmmakers.

The debate gained attention in August 2026 following comments by late actor Francis Duru, who highlighted the role of Igbo entrepreneurs in building modern Nollywood through the home-video boom of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Owoh's latest remarks have brought the discussion back into focus, particularly around the distinction between pioneering home-video filmmaking and building the commercial industry.

For film lovers, the discussion raises an important historical question: how should the contributions of different generations and filmmaking communities be recognised?

While different perspectives exist about which developments were most influential, Nigeria's film history reflects contributions from several communities.

Beyond the debate, the conversation offers an opportunity to appreciate the pioneers whose creativity, investment and storytelling helped build an industry that now reaches audiences across the world.