Funding Gap Slowed Nollywood’s Global Rise, Says Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
Veteran Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has said differences in funding requirements helped Afrobeats gain global recognition faster than Nigeria’s film industry, popularly known as Nollywood.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan Podcast, the actress explained that producing music is generally less expensive than making films, allowing musicians to create and distribute content more easily and quickly.
Jalade-Ekeinde, who is also a singer and former record label owner, said the financial demands of filmmaking remain a major challenge for Nollywood. According to her, the scale of resources needed for movie production makes it harder for the industry to compete globally at the same pace as music.
She noted that musicians can often record songs with minimal equipment and smaller teams, while filmmakers require significantly larger budgets and personnel. Even low-budget movies, she explained, typically involve dozens of cast and crew members.
The actress also pointed out that the rise of social media and digital platforms has made it easier for musicians to produce content that resonates with audiences without relying on expensive production setups. In many cases, she said, artists can create viral music by recording simple performances with friends or in informal settings.
By contrast, filmmaking demands more complex planning, equipment and logistics, which increases production costs and slows the pace at which projects can be created.
Nigeria’s Afrobeats scene has experienced a rapid surge in international popularity over the past decade, with artists regularly topping global charts and performing on major stages worldwide. Nollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world by volume, has also expanded its global reach but continues to face challenges related to funding, distribution and production infrastructure.
Jalade-Ekeinde’s comments add to ongoing conversations within the Nigerian creative sector about the need for stronger financial investment and structural support to help the country’s film industry achieve the same level of global influence that its music industry currently enjoys.
