“The Nollywood industry, who is funding it? It’s tough, it’s not easy. In the beginning, people said Africa or rather Nigeria will not catch up the big leagues like Hollywood and Bollywood in the film industry. Once there is a will, there is a way. People are making films right now. I remember way back, we used to line up at the cinemas and the kind of films we would watch were mainly from the west.

Today, a lot of people are now watching their own films. The stories in Nollywood are not the best stories. The stories in Nollywood, when we watch them in New York are very embarrassing, but do you know why Nollywood has succeeded, I mean the concept? It’s simple, because Nigerians and Africans are seeing themselves through films.

— Nigeria born scholar, Niyi Coker, an E.Desmond Lee Endowed Professor in African/African American Studies, Theatre, Dance and Media Studies.

Interview /Ireho Aito/images /Google