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Lifestyle（https://www.nollywoodtimes.com/search/label/Lifestyle） 'Yoruba did not start Nollywood’ – Nkem Owoh
'Yoruba did not start Nollywood’ – Nkem Owoh
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11/08/2026 09:28:00 AM（https://www.nollywoodtimes.com/2026/11/yoruba-did-not-start-nollywood-nkem-owoh.html）
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Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, has clarified his position on the origins of the Nigerian film industry, insisting that he never claimed Yoruba people founded Nollywood.
Nkem Owoh made the clarification following reactions to his earlier comments about the contributions of Yoruba filmmakers to the development of Nigeria's home-video industry.
Nkem Owoh explained that his remarks had been misunderstood, stressing that he was referring to the history of home-video production rather than the establishment of Nollywood as an industry.
According to him, the name Nollywood was not in existence when he and other practitioners began making films in Nigeria. He noted that the term was introduced much later, following discussions among people involved in the entertainment industry.
The veteran actor maintained that it was therefore inaccurate to interpret his comments as suggesting that Yoruba people established Nollywood.
He, however, acknowledged the significant role played by Yoruba filmmakers in the early development of Nigerian home-video productions.
Nkem Owoh specifically mentioned veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde, describing him as one of the pioneers whose contributions helped lay the foundation for the home-video tradition in the country.
He pointed out that Hubert Ogunde was Yoruba, using his example to emphasise the influence of Yoruba practitioners on the growth of Nigerian filmmaking.
Nkem Owoh insisted that his position was centred on recognising the historical contributions of filmmakers who helped introduce and popularise home-video productions before the Nollywood name became widely recognised.
In his explanation, he maintained that Yoruba filmmakers played an important role in starting the home-video movement, but that this should not be confused with claiming they founded Nollywood.
His clarification comes amid discussions about the history of Nollywood and the contributions of different ethnic groups to the growth of the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Over the years, filmmakers from different parts of the country have contributed to the industry's development through acting, directing, producing and distributing movies.
While Yoruba filmmakers were prominent in the early theatrical and home-video traditions, Igbo filmmakers also played significant roles in the expansion of the industry, particularly during the rise of English-language home-video productions in the 1990s.
Nkem Owoh remains one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian cinema. He became widely known for his comic performances and distinctive acting style.