Francis Duru Critiques Igbo Representation in Nollywood

Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru lamented the inability of the Igbo people to dominate the film industry with indigenous stories during an interview on Gbam, aired on the Yan Content Factory YouTube channel on Friday. Duru stated that the Yoruba have surpassed the Igbos in Nollywood due to better organization and support.

He acknowledged that while Yoruba figures like Herbert Ogunde were early pioneers in the 1950s, Nollywood's true emergence came when Igbos introduced home video in the 1990s and early 2000s. Duru criticized Yoruba filmmakers for writing Igbo stories and misrepresenting Igbo identity, urging Igbos to protect and project their own culture.

He pointed out that despite the presence of great Igbo writers, their stories are often written for Yoruba productions. Duru emphasized the need for Igbos to be proactive and collaborative, rather than individualistic, to reclaim their narrative in the film industry.