Gideon Okeke, a movie star, has called on Nigerians to boycott Nollywood movies, TV shows, alleging ill-treatment of actors in the industry.
In an anger-laced video on Tuesday, the actor expressed his grievances with the country’s movie industry which he described as a “beast”.
The ‘Tinsel’ star, while threatening to quit the industry, decried that actors and actresses don’t receive royalties and residuals for all their works in Nigeria.
He also recalled how he resigned from a TV show he worked with for 10 years as a “result of the poor treatment of their actors.”
“May what is due to me never elude me… If I told you why I walked away from a certain television show that I had worked for 10 years, if I told you why I walked away from that show free of charge, you will begin to understand why they call me the upstart, the rebel, the knucklehead and that’s because I know the truth and I speak the truth and like the Bible says ‘speak the truth and it will set you free’. If I shared all my career anecdotes with you, you will understand that this industry is a beast,” he said.
“Why is it not right for the actor to receive royalties and residuals for his life’ s work? Is it because it is in the contract? Is there really a contract always? What really is the union or guild representing?… You are a thief if you support a system that does not give what is due to the performer.
“I’ve begun to feel really frustrated with this thing that I’m really gifted with… You the audience are the real bosses, you are the real real oga not the producers or their television network or the money guy…
“If you will, if you could I would suggest you boycott everything that is Nigerian movies, TV, or whatever because the Industry is a beast, it doesn’t allow or rather it perpetually improvises the performers who keep your sanity in check.”
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In July, Okeke had narrated how an unnamed woman threatened to frustrate his acting career for speaking the “truth” seven years ago.
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