Over the past month, the demand for Nollywood movies on streaming platforms has skyrocketed thanks to the lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and while there’s a list of Nollywood moves you can watch on Netflix, I have yet to do one for popular streaming giants, YouTube.
The major reason is, most of the Nollywood movies found on YouTube are either the really old movies made in the 90s or the tagged “low-budget home video” Nigerian films that weren’t released in cinemas nationwide, so many people avoid the platform because they don’t know where to look.
Without further ado, below you’ll find a list of seven YouTube channels you can watch and stream Nigerian movies on.
Iroko TV
Iroko TV is the number 1 local streaming service in Nigeria with a catalogue of over 2000 Nollywood films. While all their movies are accessible via the Iroko App and website for a subscription fee of N3000/year, they upload some of their movies on YouTube for fans to watch, which doubles as ads to make you subscribe to their streaming platform for more.
Ibaka TV
Ibaka TV, like Iroko, also uploads some of their movies for free on Youtube to help double as advertisements for their streaming platform. The movies are of the same production quality as (or sometimes a little lower than) IrokoTV and you can gain access to them for a subscription fee.
RealNollyTV
RealNollyTV is arguably the most popular YouTube channel where you can find home video Nollywood movies on. Movies made from Southern and Eastern Nigeria are usually released here and many actors such as Mercy Johnson, Yul Edochie, Osita Iheme all have movies available to stream here.
YorubaPlay
YorubaPlay is the world’s largest online catalogue of Nigerian movies in the Yoruba language. Popular Yorubawood actors like Mercy Aigbe, Odunlade Kolawole, and more have movies released through this YouTube channel.
Nollywood Igbo Movies
As the name suggests, this channel focuses on movies produced predominantly in the Igbo dialect. Popular actors such as Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Nkem Owoh, Mr Ibu, and Pete Edochie, are some of the names and faces you will find in movies uploaded on this channel. The production quality is usually low budget, but the movies will make you laugh easily.
24 Hours African Movie Hub
This YouTube channel uploads movies made in Northern Nigeria, where they speak Hausa. The industry called Kannywood, has been on the rise thanks to the popularity of actors like Rahma Sadau, Ali Nuhu, and Dija. Check out some of Ali Nuhu’s works in the movie playlist above.
SceneOne TV
Scene One is a popular YouTube channel owned by Funke Akindele, the brains behind Jenifa and Ayetoro Town. Scene One is home to all her productions as well as Nollywood movies which you can find in the playlist above.
**BONUS – Honest Nollywood Trailers
Honest Nollywood Trailers is a series of parody trailers that tells you all about your favourite Nigerian movie blockbusters in a funny yet truthful way. It is a Cinema Shed production and is available to watch for free on YouTube.
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