There’s no collaboration in Nollywood – Comedian AY

Record-breaking producer, actor and comedian, Ayo Makun (AY) has claimed that even though one of the key ingredients to success for African cinema is collaboration, it is severely lacking in the Nigerian filmmaking industry.

Speaking as one of the panelists at one of the sessions facilitated by the African Film Consortium at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), AY whose latest work, A Trip to Jamaica has been confirmed as the highest grossing Nigerian film said that in Nollywood, people take competition too seriously.

“In Nollywood it’s been difficult for us to see ourselves as one. It’s like a competition. You see filmmakers ask one another how your film is doing in the cinemas and it’s because they want to know if there are just 5 people there,” AY said.

He continued, “If we come together, it will be easy for us to penetrate any market. That is what is called collaboration. But that is something we do not really have in this part of the world.”