LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji has opened up about her decision to stay focused on building the Nollywood film industry rather than pursue opportunities in Hollywood.
Nnaji, who was a panelist at the 2024 AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum/Afreximbank annual meetings, said her passion for elevating Nigerian cinema on the global stage motivated her to reject overtures from Hollywood.
READ ALSO: ‘I Felt Like A Stranger To Myself’- Simi Speaks On Imposter Syndrome Battle
“I could have gone to Hollywood a long time if I wanted to, but I had a dream to build an industry in Nigeria that could drive home,” Nnaji told the audience. “I always knew that we were capable of actually owning an industry like that that told our story for our people.”
The acclaimed actress, known for films like “LionHeart,” “Blood Sisters,” and “Ije,” said she realized she was viewed as a commodity by some Hollywood stakeholders more interested in exploiting her talent than fostering true collaboration.
“For the first time, I realized I was a commodity,” Nnaji said. “They wanted what I had but for their benefit. It was all about their story. It was all about how, even if it was our story, I could make it more authentic to their own understanding of whatever Africa is.”
Nnaji, who began acting at the age of eight in the popular TV soap opera “Ripples,” owns a production company called The Entertainment Network (TEN).
She expressed her belief in Nollywood’s ability to tell authentic African stories on its own terms.
