For the sake of history, I would dabble into this debate of: "yorubas own Nollywood "... and I hope Nigerians would agree with me as I explain the TRUTH.

The Yorubas had a headstart with stage acting and drama series- this isn't in contest. However, that stage acting and drama was not Nollywood. It was not. Yoruba drama pre-dated Nollywood, but it was not Nollywood, neither did it metamorphose into Nollywood. Also, yourba drama was restricted to yorubaland. No one outside yorubaland watched Herbert Ogunde and Co.

Let's get this fact straight. The drama series that Herbert Ogunde and Co were doing was not Nollywood. It remains stage drama.

Nollywood as an industry started with the movie- Living in Bondage, as well documented. That movie launched motion picture in Nigeria, and started what is today known as Nollywood. And honestly, it was a purely Igbo affair. The Upper Iweka Road, and Pound Road Aba, were signatures of Nigerian movies at the time, and there is no yoruba equivalent of Iweka road or Pound Road, Aba.

Whilst yorubas can claim their stage drama, they must distinguish between early stage acting and Nollywood, which was launched, developed, commercialised and made global by the effort of igbos. The yorubas did not contribute to the global scale of Nollywood. Go all over Africa and Europe, they know mama gee, Sam loco, Pete edochie, Aki, Genevieve, jim iyke, Liz Benson, Eucharia Anuobi, Ken Okonkwo, Clem Ohameze, Ini Edo, Ukwa, etc. No yoruba actor comes close. This is the Truth. In terms of movies, the yorubas have very few that went global as Igodo, Ijele, Rattlesnake, etc. The only notable yoruba movie was Sango.

We see time and time again, how yorubas claim things they don't own. They had earlier claim that University of Ibadan was the first University in Nigeria, which is factually untrue, because what they had in Ibadan was a college of the University of London. It was far from an independent university. But yorubas claimed history that University of Ibadan was the first university in Nigeria, even though the University of Nigeria, built in Nsukka was already in existence. It is the same logic yorubas have applied to Nollywood. They counted the college in Ibadan as the start of the University of Ibadan, which is wrong. The UI started with an act of Parliament.

The same way yourbas claim to be the most educated tribe in Nigeria, again untrue. Yes, yorubas had a head start with education, but the igbos have long overtaken them. That is how yorubas claim everything.

Let history know that yoruba stage drama was not Nollywood, neither did it metamorphose into Nollywood. Even till date, yoruba movies are still a subset of nollywood, hardly ever watched outside yorubaland. I, for one, cant count any yoruba movie i have watched.

Nollywood, as a motion picture industry and as rightly documented, started with Living in Bondage. And it was started by the Igbos. Enlightened yorubas know this.

However, today's Nollywood has grown beyond the igbos and is now a national industry. And every Nigerian has a stake, regardless of ethnicity. But, the igbos should be given their due credit. They started, developed, commercialised and took Nollywood global. This is the Truth for history.

This has been comprehensively dealt with earlier...

Nollywood, at it's inception, was a brainchild of the Igbos.

Any contrary view is just a case of arguing for the sake of argument...

maestroferddi:
This has been comprehensively dealt with earlier...

Nollywood, at it's inception, was a brainchild of the Igbos.

Any contrary view is just a case of arguing for the sake of argument...

Where were the ibos around this time?

After several moderate performing films,
Papa Ajasco (1984) by Wale Adenuga became the first
blockbuster, grossing approximately ₦61,000 (approx. 2015
₦21,552,673) in three days. A year later, Mosebolatan
(1985) by Moses Olaiya also went ahead to gross ₦107,000
(approx. 2015 ₦44,180,499) in five days. [19]

I can go back further but let's start from the 80s. If you don't know these movies laid the foundation for today's Nigerian movie industry, then I leave you to wallow in ignorance.

TemplarLandry:
You reek of ignorance.

They're willingly ignorant.

This guy again.

Your previous thread was moved to the entertainment section.

Mynd44. Your customer is back again

https://www.nairaland.com/7824617/nigerians-yorubas-not-own-nollywood#125499869

Here we go again.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/nollywood-over-the-years/

Tribune Online
Nollywood over the years
by Our Reporter October 15, 2019 Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Veteran

THE Nigerian entertainment Industry has experienced a massive development over the years; the Nollywood of yesterday is no longer the same Nollywood that we have now. The industry, popularly called Nollywood, is currently ranked as the second largest in the world in terms of output after India’s Bollywood. This change or evolution cannot be properly justified without a brief history of Nollywood. The first films we had in Nigeria were made by filmmakers such as Ola Bolagun, Moses Olaiya and Hubert Ogunde in the 1960s. In 1972, the indigenisation decree was issued by Yakubu Gowon, which demanded the transfer of ownership of about 300 film theatres from their foreign owners to Nigerians. This resulted in more Nigerians playing active roles in films and cinemas.

After other moderate performing films, “Papa Ajasco (1984)” by Wale Adenuga became the first grossing film with approximately N61,000 ( in 2015, it grew higher to #21,552,673) in three days. Back in the days, Papa Ajasco and company was at the tip of everyone’s tongue, its popularity spread through both Young and Old, especially with its theme song “Papa Ajasco and Company, this is a film by Wale Adenuga Production…”

A year later, “Mosebolatan (1985)” by Moses Olaiya also went ahead to gross #107,000 in five days, approximately N44,180,499 in 2015.

The Nigerian film Industry experienced another huge success with the release of the film Living in Bondage(1992), a film about a businessman,whose dealings with a money cult result in the death of his wife..........

Just as I posted in your previous thread.

Jacobiceprince8:


You are deceiving yourself with this scam article. Yorubas have no actor/actress of global reputation.
Enlightened yorubas don't argue this. They know the truth.

LMAO. Weak clap back.

I am shocked you did not claim I bribed the Tribune editor. 🤣

Jacobiceprince8:


You don't have to bribe him. Yoruba journalist are everywhere, lying that UI was the first university in Nigeria. Its yoruba stock in trade.

I don't know what you are smoking but UI is a Federal University. It is not a Yoruba University. 😂

Jacobiceprince8:


You are new to nairaland. Go find your mate.

You may want to change your crystal meth supplier 🤣

You registered in June 2023.

I registered in September 2021.

😂

Anytime I see threads like this, I just laugh.

All I will say is, it was a Jewish man that created the modern sewing machine as we know it. No one bothers about who created it, everyone that uses a sewing machine is just happy to have something for their hustle.

Whoever created nollywood...Yourba or Ibo or even Hausa.....at the end of the day, Nigerians enjoy it. As do many people around the world.


P.S

The first film made in Nigeria was made in 1926. By Europeans.

OP is not only wrong but seem to be wallowing in unadulterated ignorance of the topics he is writing on and my preliminary conclusion is that he is young and lazy enough not to personally research on issues he is attempting to spin.

Nollywood was started by the Yoruba and the Yoruba still own Nollywood. From stage to TV in 1959 to screenplay to vhs to celluloid to cd and now to streaming, the Yoruba own and dominate the Nigerian film and entertainment industry .

On the first University in Nigeria, if it's by the Act of Parliament that you alluded to, the first Federal university in Nigeria is the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

UNILAG is the oldest Federal university in Nigeria, has the oldest presence and symbols of Federal Govt. Of Nigeria (FGN), It's only in UNILAG you will see monuments declared open by the Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa Balewa.

Obaaderemi2:
Where were the ibos around this time?


I can go back further but let's start from the 80s. If you don't know these movies laid the foundation for today's Nigerian movie industry, then I leave you to wallow in ignorance.

Oga, we NOT are talking about theatre productions and TV plays here...


The same way The New Masquerade was never Nollywood is the same way none of the productions you listed cannot be Nollywood...

By the way, which of the plays you listed can rival The New Masquerade as led by Zebbrudaya in popularity...

Everything should not be pretty tribal rivalry na ..

Imagine listing Papa Ajasco as Nollywood...

Ogbeni, we are talking serious business here and not some grotesque comedy series which no serious film afficionado not to talk of experts took seriously.

Awon Grossenovic...no dey misyarn oga...

You go explain tire….
Una go play catch till eternity. Eti rin kan kan
Igbos own nollywood yet Awolowo brought tv to Africa… Dey play 😂
Even the king of pop M.J recognize the reals.
See baba M.J rocking OLODUM in full OLODUMARE T-shirt. Ahahaha e go pain Una tire… if you doubt it just google M.J’s official video of “they don’t care about us” and see for your self.

Yoruba no be Una great grand papa mate

maestroferddi:
Oga, we NOT are talking about theatre productions and TV plays here...


The same way The New Masquerade was never Nollywood is the same way none of the productions you listed cannot be Nollywood...

By the way, which of the plays you listed can rival The New Masquerade as led Zebbrudaya in popularity...

Everything should not be pretty tribal rivalry na ..

Imagine listing Papa Ajasco as Nollywood...

Ogbeni, we are talking serious business here and not some grotesque comedy series which no serious film afficionado not to talk of experts took seriously.

Awon Grossenovic...no dey misyarn oga...

This must be a lesson to the Easterners.. whatever you do with yorubas, be sure to keep detailed documents and proof. These people are very callous.

FreeStuffsNG:
OP is not only wrong but seem to be wallowing in unadulterated ignorance of the topics he is writing on and my preliminary conclusion is that he is young and lazy enough not to personally research on issues he is attempting to spin.

Nollywood was started by the Yoruba and the Yoruba still own Nollywood. From stage to TV in 1959 to screenplay to vhs to celluloid to cd and now to streaming, the Yoruba own and dominate the Nigerian film and entertainment industry .

On the first University in Nigeria, if it's by the Act of Parliament that you alluded to, the first Federal university in Nigeria is the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

UNILAG is the oldest Federal university in Nigeria, has the oldest presence and symbols of Federal Govt. Of Nigeria (FGN), It's only in UNILAG you will see monuments declared open by the Prime Minister, Sir Tafawa Balewa.

Unfortunately, you cannot change history. My northern friend is here laughing at you. They know who started Nollywood.

maestroferddi:
This has been comprehensively dealt with earlier...

Nollywood, at it's inception, was a brainchild of the Igbos.

Any contrary view is just a case of arguing for the sake of argument...

Ok. Got it.

maestroferddi:
Oga, we NOT are talking about theatre productions and TV plays here...


The same way The New Masquerade was never Nollywood is the same way none of the productions you listed cannot be Nollywood...

By the way, which of the plays you listed can rival The New Masquerade as led by Zebbrudaya in popularity...

Everything should not be pretty tribal rivalry na ..

Imagine listing Papa Ajasco as Nollywood...

Ogbeni, we are talking serious business here and not some grotesque comedy series which no serious film afficionado not to talk of experts took seriously.

Awon Grossenovic...no dey misyarn oga...

Papa Ajasco was not a tv production. It was a cinematic movie! But I guess you were not born when it came out in the 80s.

Jacobiceprince8:
For the sake of history, I would dabble into this debate of: "yorubas own Nollywood "... and I hope Nigerians would agree with me as I explain the TRUTH.

The Yorubas had a headstart with stage acting and drama series- this isn't in contest. However, that stage acting and drama was not Nollywood. It was not. Yoruba drama pre-dated Nollywood, but it was not Nollywood, neither did it metamorphose into Nollywood. Also, yourba drama was restricted to yorubaland. No one outside yorubaland watched Herbert Ogunde and Co.

Let's get this fact straight. The drama series that Herbert Ogunde and Co were doing was not Nollywood. It remains stage drama.

Nollywood as an industry started with the movie- Living in Bondage, as well documented. That movie launched motion picture in Nigeria, and started what is today known as Nollywood. And honestly, it was a purely Igbo affair. The Upper Iweka Road, and Pound Road Aba, were signatures of Nigerian movies at the time, and there is no yoruba equivalent of Iweka road or Pound Road, Aba.

Whilst yorubas can claim their stage drama, they must distinguish between early stage acting and Nollywood, which was launched, developed, commercialised and made global by the effort of igbos. The yorubas did not contribute to the global scale of Nollywood. Go all over Africa and Europe, they know mama gee, Sam loco, Pete edochie, Aki, Genevieve, jim iyke, Liz Benson, Eucharia Anuobi, Ken Okonkwo, Clem Ohameze, Ini Edo, Ukwa, etc. No yoruba actor comes close. This is the Truth. In terms of movies, the yorubas have very few that went global as Igodo, Ijele, Rattlesnake, etc. The only notable yoruba movie was Sango.

We see time and time again, how yorubas claim things they don't own. They had earlier claim that University of Ibadan was the first University in Nigeria, which is factually untrue, because what they had in Ibadan was a college of the University of London. It was far from an independent university. But yorubas claimed history that University of Ibadan was the first university in Nigeria, even though the University of Nigeria, built in Nsukka was already in existence. It is the same logic yorubas have applied to Nollywood. They counted the college in Ibadan as the start of the University of Ibadan, which is wrong. The UI started with an act of Parliament.

The same way yourbas claim to be the most educated tribe in Nigeria, again untrue. Yes, yorubas had a head start with education, but the igbos have long overtaken them. That is how yorubas claim everything.

Let history know that yoruba stage drama was not Nollywood, neither did it metamorphose into Nollywood. Even till date, yoruba movies are still a subset of nollywood, hardly ever watched outside yorubaland. I, for one, cant count any yoruba movie i have watched.

Nollywood, as a motion picture industry and as rightly documented, started with Living in Bondage. And it was started by the Igbos. Enlightened yorubas know this.

However, today's Nollywood has grown beyond the igbos and is now a national industry. And every Nigerian has a stake, regardless of ethnicity. But, the igbos should be given their due credit. They started, developed, commercialised and took Nollywood global. This is the Truth for history.

Don't mind them my brother, they like to claim everything due to their self-esteem issues.

When foreign media coined the term Nollywood, they weren't referring to ogunde cinema of the 60s or the silent films of the 20s and 30s in colonial Nigeria. They were referring to commercialized film making of the early 90s that set Africa home videos aflame.

By the way University of Ibadan was established in 1962 with Prof. Kenneth Dike as it's first VC. University College Ibadan established in 1948 had no VC, or power to award degrees, or a senate. UCI was a degree awarding institution, not a university. Even the University staff themselves know this.