For theatre veteran, Dejumo Lewis popularly known for his role in the classic drama, ‘Village Headmaster,’ one major thing that irks him about the movie industry is the term Nollywood, and he made his disdain known to Saturday Beats during a recent interview.

While sharing his opinion, the legendary actor said that Nigerians were copying the wrong things from Hollywood instead of carving a niche for themselves if they wanted to be taken seriously.

“Hollywood in America is the cradle of film making and it is a physical location. Where is Nollywood in Nigeria? I absolutely condemn the name Nollywood and I have the highest aversion for that term. We are just copy cats even though they have very good things we can copy, but we copy the wrong things. People keep on complaining about the general content coming out of the so-called Nollywood.

“The word Nolly implies negativity. I studied Latin and the word nolly means nothing. It is a negative thing. They say that the term has been established all over the world but I reply them saying that there is corruption all over the world, just like Nigeria but are we not doing something about it? Are we not trying to fight and correct corruption? So we can also correct that colonial mentality and make our industry known globally as Naija movie industry,” he said.

YorubaLord:
Of course... Nigerians are product of mediocrity!

Giftexx:
U spoke my mind sir.

Hollywood is a place in USA.
...where’s Nollywood in Nigeria?
Instead of building a world class film village, and call it a good name, we are blindly copying...

What a mockery among committee of nations

Aidejay:
Daddy yo if no be for this one wey you talk I don forget say person like you exist. So, enjoy the few hours of Fame and relevance you'll receive for practically saying nothing worth reading, about a $50 billion industry.

Sanchez01:
Lol! I share his sentiment as well but let's face it, Nigeria isn't the only country that has copied the 'wood' thing.

There is Bollywood, Ghollywood and Nollywood and other unknown 'llywoods' out there.

The term is now used to refer to a country's movie industry than the cradle of American movies itself.

You forgot Kannywood,Yorubawood and igbowood

soleilmoon100:
Ademola Olonilua



https://punchng.com/i-have-a-strong-dislike-for-the-term-nollywood-dejumo-lewis/

Aidejay:
Daddy yo if no be for this one wey you talk I don forget say person like you exist. So, enjoy the few hours of Fame and relevance you'll receive for practically saying nothing worth reading, about a $50 billion industry.