Prince Daniel Aboki Denies Claims of Religious or Ethnic Bias in Kannywood
Renowned Nigerian filmmaker, Prince Daniel Aboki, has refuted claims that he faced discrimination in Kannywood due to his religion or in Nollywood because of his northern background.
Addressing the controversy, the Mai Martaba director clarified that he never made such statements in any interview. He attributed the misunderstanding to remarks he made during a Nollywood in Hollywood event in Los Angeles, where he discussed the segmentation of Nigeria’s film industry and the challenges of navigating between Kannywood and Nollywood.
Aboki explained that while his film was sometimes classified as Nollywood by Kannywood and vice versa, this was never a result of religious or ethnic bias. “For clarity, Kannywood has never rejected me on the basis of ethnicity or religion. In fact, it has been my greatest pillar of support as a filmmaker,” he stated.
He expressed gratitude to Kannywood practitioners and audiences for their unwavering support during the cinema run of Mai Martaba.
Reaffirming his dedication to the industry, Aboki emphasized his commitment to collaborating with Kannywood veterans, telling northern stories on a global stage, and creating opportunities for young talents. “I remain committed to working with my colleagues and the founding fathers of Kannywood to elevate the standard of our industry – telling our stories to the world and creating employment opportunities for our youth,” he said.
