Nigeria’s biggest filmmakers are all Yoruba, Chude Jideonwo claims

Chude Jideonwo, the media personality, has claimed that Nigeria’s biggest filmmakers are predominantly from the Yoruba tribe.

In an Instagram post, Jideonwo mentioned notable names like Toyin Abraham, Funke Akindele, Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan, and Mo Abudu as examples, while discussing the dominance of Yoruba filmmakers in Nollywood.

He argued that Yoruba-language films have the most presence on global streaming platforms and that Hausa or Igbo-language films are nearly absent.

He added that the Yoruba film culture has successfully blended into other groups, thereby aiding its continued dominance in the Nigerian film industry.

“The biggest filmmakers in Nigeria now are all Yoruba,” he said.

“Think about it: Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan, Jade Osiberu, Mo Abudu, Kayode Kasum, Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham, Mercy Aigbe, Oga Bello’s sons—the ones that do every movie, including ‘Beast of Two Worlds’ and ‘Jagun Jagun’—and Bolanle Austin-Peters.

“Think about it: most of the mainstream, big cinema, and streaming movies are all by Yoruba people.

“What has happened is that the Yoruba filming culture has merged itself into the other groups that are leading again. Can you name one Hausa-language movie on Netflix or Amazon? Or can you name one Igbo-language movie on Netflix or Amazon? The closest was… Genevieve’s ‘Lionheart’ many many years ago. Only Yoruba movies are able to exist on Amazon on Netflix and become mainstream cultural hits.”

Jideonwo is the co-founder of Red Africa and Joy, Inc. He is the executive producer and host of #WithChude, a multimedia show.

In August, the TV host released the first part of a docuseries about the organ trafficking scandal involving Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president.

He was recently appointed Creative-in-Residence at the London School of Economics (LSE).