Nkem Owoh clarifies Yoruba role in Nigeria's home‑video era, not the birth of Nollywood

Veteran Nollywood star Nkem Owoh, popularly called Osuofia, used a recent appearance on the YouTube series *Curiosity Made Me Ask* to correct earlier reports that he claimed the Yoruba people founded Nollywood. Hosted by comedian‑content creator Adebayo Abidemi (known as Bae U), the interview was uploaded on 7 November 2026 and quickly attracted online attention.

Owoh explained that the word “Nollywood” did not exist when he and his contemporaries began making films. He said the industry’s name was later agreed upon by stakeholders after the early home‑video activities had already taken place. While rejecting the notion that Yoruba people started Nollywood, he affirmed that Yoruba filmmakers were the first to popularise home‑video productions in Nigeria.

He specifically praised veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde and another figure, Adebayo Papa, for their pioneering work in the home‑video market. When the host jokingly suggested that Ogunde might have been Igbo, Owoh firmly insisted that Ogunde was Yoruba, underscoring his view that the Yoruba community led the early video boom.

Background

The discussion revives a debate that resurfaced in August 2026 when the late actor Francis Duru argued that Igbo entrepreneurs drove the modern home‑video surge of the 1990s and early 2000s, though he acknowledged the Yoruba community’s later dominance through organisation and promotion. Duru, who passed away in October 2026, maintained that the Igbo were the primary architects of the contemporary Nollywood industry.

Owoh’s earlier comments, reported in the media, were interpreted as suggesting that Yoruba people started Nollywood rather than the Igbo. He later clarified that his remarks were about the earlier home‑video tradition, not the later branded industry. All three sources – Punch, Legit.ng and Vanguard – report the same interview details, including the host’s name, the date of publication, and Owoh’s distinction between home‑video origins and the later Nollywood label.

Why it matters

The clarification touches on long‑standing ethnic sensitivities within Nigeria’s film sector. By attributing the home‑video tradition to Yoruba pioneers while acknowledging that the Nollywood brand emerged later, Owoh’s statements may influence how industry history is taught and celebrated. The debate also affects contemporary perceptions of cultural contribution, potentially impacting funding, recognition, and the narrative surrounding Nigeria’s creative economy.

Online reactions have highlighted the split views: some viewers support Owoh’s emphasis on Yoruba contributions, while others continue to cite Duru’s earlier claim that Igbo entrepreneurs were the primary drivers of the 1990s‑2000s video boom. The discussion underscores the broader conversation about representation and credit within a multi‑ethnic industry.

What happens next

No further actions or official decisions were announced in the sources. The interview remains available on the host’s YouTube channel, and the debate is expected to continue in public forums and media commentary as stakeholders reflect on the historical record.