Popular critic and author Reno Omokri blames Nollywood for making people from other countries see us as diabolical people.
The accusation came after Reno recounted strolling on the streets of America with Nollywood veteran, Kanayo O. Kanayo. While strolling, a woman recognised the Lionheart actor and as Reno took out his phone to take a picture of them, the woman accused them of wanting to use her picture to do juju.
The kind of movies we have put out for years, according to Omokri, is why Nigerians are always seen as people who do black magic. In truth, over 50% of Nollywood movies explore the dark arts and portrays them in horrific manners.
Reno also noted that the first-ever movie which created the Nollywood industry, Living in Bondage, was about juju, and nearly three decades after, the industry is saturated with such movies, which makes Reno believe that the Nigerian movie industry should be called “Jujuwood” instead.
Check out Reno Omokri’s tweets below:
In 2011, @KanayoOKanayo and I were walking in San Francisco. An American lady recognised him. I brought out my camera, thinking she wanted a photo. She screamed and said ‘you want to use my photo for juju’! That is what Nollywood has done to us!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020
Art imitates life. Movies are meant to reflect your culture. When you watch an American movie, like Fast and Furious, for example, it makes you want to go to America. When you watch a Nollywood movie, it makes you want to run far away from Nigeria!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020
I sometimes wonder if Nollywood is an appropriate name for the Nigerian movie industry. Perhaps Jujuwood would be a more fitting name. No other institution has been as responsible for the stereotyping of Nigerians as diabolical people as Nollywood!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020
Dear @morkaray,
Nollywood took off in 1992 with Living in Bondage. 28 years later and she’s still in infancy? It started with juju (Living in Bondage), and still focuses on Juju. If it used 30 years to learn madness, how will the real madness be? #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets pic.twitter.com/Aa2SWUtNSq
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020
In my opinion, there is actually some truth to this. Even here in Nigeria, we regularly make fun of the likes of Kanayo O. Kanayo, Bob Manuel, Pete Edochie and other veterans for acting as ritualists the most in movies made during the “Old Nollywood” era.
However, save for Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, most blockbuster Nigerian films now explore the romantic comedy or drama genre. The movies who still dive into the dark arts are mostly Yoruba and home video movies, and even they have reduced the number of juju movies they put out.
But has the damage already been done to our image in the eyes of people from other parts of the world, if yes, can it be redeemed with the blockbuster movies being put out? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below
Reading your article has greatly helped me, and I agree with you. But I still have some questions. Can you help me? I will pay attention to your answer. thank you.