Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke has called out Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido and Rema, accusing them of failing to use their global influence to promote the Nigerian film industry.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a post shared on Instagram, the 43-year-old actor said there appears to be a one-sided relationship between the music and film industries, with Nollywood stars frequently celebrating the success of Nigerian musicians, while the gesture is rarely returned.
Okeke argued that leading Afrobeats artistes have the power to help Nigerian filmmakers gain international recognition if they actively speak about and promote Nollywood.
“You know how we carry our Afrobeats music on our heads? We say big three, big five, big this; we have almost idolised ourselves,” he said.
Questioning their level of engagement with Nigerian films, Okeke added:
“I ask myself a question that imagine your big three, big five, big one — Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema, all of them — don’t you watch Nigerian films? Since Netflix came to this country, haven’t you watched any Nigerian films?
Have you not seen any actor you can actively promote? Can you not use your mouth to speak well of exceptional talents?”
He criticised what he described as a growing trend of musicians stepping into Nollywood as executive producers, saying their endorsement power could be more valuable if used to spotlight filmmakers and actors.
“You are beginning to act as executive producers. You are sneaking into the cracks. What will happen if you use your mouth and endorse a producer, actor, actress, or cameraman?” he asked.
Okeke urged the artistes to publicly celebrate Nollywood talents in the same way international figures promote creatives.
“Publish your own 2025 baddest Nollywood films, baddest Nollywood actors and actresses, baddest Nollywood producers — publish your own the way Obama publishes you every year. The way you make the cuts to Obama also drives traffic for other people; you don’t want to take all the glory.”
He also encouraged them to speak positively about Nigerian actors when abroad.
“But when you travel overseas, and you encounter a foreigner, why not say, ‘My Gee, our actors over there are bad. They can compete with Hollywood.’”
He concluded by stressing unity across the entertainment industry.
“We are all cousins. We are all together. Our actresses know you.”
