Why I Said Nollywood Will Soon Die and How It's Now Happening - Emeka Ike

Nollywood actor Emeka Ike is one of the names most people will recognize when you speak about the Nigerian movie industry especially in the early 2000s. Emeka Ike is a very popular name and face in the Nigerian entertainment industry, but in recent times, the actor has not been in front of our faces as much as he used to be in the past. These days, the only times we really hear about Emeka Ike are the times when he has something to say about Nollywood or entertainment, or something to get off his chest. Today, he is once again speaking and this time around, it is about what he sees as the death of Nollywood and how the government has failed the Nigerian entertainment sector.

During a new interview with The Punch, the actor opened up about his thoughts on Nollywood and it's coming death as he calls it. Here is what the actor said.

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Speaking about how Nollywood is dying and the lack of government interest in the sector, Emeka Ike said to Saturday Beats:

EMEKA IKE: If the government had realized that they had a multibillion-dollar (Nollywood) industry, they wouldn’t have allowed it to be lost in the first place. When I said it was a multimillion-dollar industry, it was not just the actors that were making the money. The youth got a distraction from everything illicit but what we have right now are individuals making movies. Yet, the government keeps referring to Nollywood as a collective industry.

There was a time I said Nollywood would soon die. Where it is right now does not favour us, it only favours a few. One does not see Nollywood movies everywhere; one only sees them on Netflix and the likes for those who can afford it. Now, everyone is on their own trying to meet up with the digital arrangement. I’ve had encomiums and awards from what I have achieved so far. I will only do a blockbuster movie because it is what I want to do and I am in no competition with anybody.

If the government has to be real, they should see it as every other sector, make it an institution, and reduce the cost of filming. If they start by doing this, with Nollywood having a contact place, they can start by building a mega city that we can call our own. In this place, all facilities needed will be made available and accessible to people regardless of the department in the industry.

What do you think about what Emeka Ike said? Do you agree with him? Do you disagree? Do you think the entrance of streaming platforms like Netflix, and Prime Video have killed Nollywood, or do you think it has taken it to a newer height? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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