Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has sparked a fresh debate about culture and influence in Nigeria’s film industry.
Speaking on the GBAM Podcast, the actor compared the approach of Igbo and Yoruba creatives in Nollywood.
“The Yorubas are organized. That’s why they’ve taken over Nollywood and every other entertainment industry which were created by the Igbos. The Igbos need to learn from them.”
Duru argued that stronger teamwork has helped Yoruba filmmakers build a bigger presence across the entertainment industry.
He said Yoruba creators have successfully used film to promote their language, traditions and history to global audiences.
According to Duru, the Igbo film industry faces challenges because creatives often struggle to work together around shared goals.
He linked this problem to the popular idea of “Igbo Enweghi Eze,” meaning Igbos have no king.
Duru said the absence of strong collective leadership has made it harder to build lasting structures within Igbo entertainment.
He also recalled the major role Igbo entrepreneurs played in the early growth of Nollywood.
He pointed to popular projects such as Living in Bondage as examples of Igbo contributions to Nigerian cinema.
However, he said many early investors viewed filmmaking mainly as business instead of a way to preserve culture.
Duru also raised concerns about Igbo stories being handled by writers from outside the culture. He argued that this can weaken the accuracy of Igbo traditions and experiences shown on screen.
The actor urged Igbo producers and filmmakers to take their culture more seriously.
He called for stronger cooperation and more investment in stories that reflect authentic Igbo heritage.
