Francis Duru on Yoruba Dominance in Nollywood

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru explained the current dominance of Yoruba actors in Nollywood, despite the Igbo community being at the forefront during the industry's early stages. He acknowledged that while Yoruba pioneers like Herbert Ogunde were recognized in the 1950s, the phenomenon of Nollywood emerged when the Igbo community introduced home video in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Duru attributed the Yoruba's success to their better organization and support for each other, stating, “The Yorubas epitomise the saying, ‘Charity begins at home.’” He criticized the Igbo community for their individualistic mentality, which he believes has hindered their progress in the film industry. Duru lamented the lack of Igbo heritage representation on platforms like Netflix and pointed out that many Igbo writers are now writing for Yoruba productions, which he feels misrepresents their culture.