Actress Jaiye Kuti has expressed concern over what she described as a growing lack of unity within Nollywood, saying many actors and filmmakers no longer stand by one another during difficult moments, despite facing similar professional challenges.
Speaking on the Oyinmomo Podcast, the actress said the declining spirit of solidarity is damaging relationships across the industry and making meaningful collaboration increasingly difficult.
Kuti said the absence of support became more evident after some cinemas reportedly removed her film from their schedules.
According to her, although several colleagues had experienced similar setbacks, none publicly backed her or spoke up about the issue. She argued that the silence reflects a wider problem in the Nigerian film industry, where practitioners often choose to endure challenges individually, rather than collectively advocate for change.
The actress also highlighted the financial realities of filmmaking, noting that many people fail to appreciate the enormous investment required to produce and distribute films. She explained that producers face intense pressure to recover their costs through cinema screenings and distribution deals, making any disruption to exhibition schedules a significant setback for filmmakers.
According to Kuti, the glamorous image many celebrities project on social media often hides the struggles they face behind the scenes. She said members of the public frequently admire the lifestyles of actors without understanding the professional and financial pressures they navigate to remain relevant in the entertainment industry.
She said, “Our relationship is gradually breaking down… Everybody is just acting like it’s okay. How is it okay? The people you’re emulating and looking at as an example: Do you really want to know them? The people you call celebrities and follow on social media.”
The actress further lamented that while colleagues were willing to exchange public birthday greetings on social media, many were absent when genuine professional support was needed. She suggested that such gestures have become superficial when they are not matched by meaningful actions during critical moments.
“Not one actor stood by me or went to those cinemas or even supported me, despite the fact that we’re all going through the same thing,” she said.
Kuti revealed that her disappointment has influenced how she relates to colleagues publicly. She disclosed that she has stopped celebrating birthdays openly because she no longer wants to receive messages from people she believes fail to offer support when it truly matters.
“But if I celebrate my birthday, the next day they’d wish me a happy birthday. So I stopped wishing people a happy birthday because I don’t want anyone to wish me on my birthday. Please don’t,” she added.
