Nollywood actor and director, Lancelot Imasuen, has called out household names like Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade, Emeka Ike, and Jim Iyke for abandoning the country’s movie industry.
He recently revealed that these Nollywood veterans are very wrong to turn their backs on an industry that gave them fame and success.
Speaking during an interview with Vanguard, Lancelot expressed concern over the absence of Nollywood heavyweights when the industry needs them the most, stressing that they have all failed to give back to a sector that gave them lucrative careers.
According to him, Nollywood as an industry deserves lots of praise for birthing lots of superstars across Nigeria over the years, so it is always sad when he sees such a vital sector getting rubbished and abandoned by those who should be cherishing it.
“I am calling out the Omotolas, the Genevieve’s, the Emeka Ikes and the Jim Iykes. I am also calling out all of them who benefitted from Nollywood to come and give back to the industry.
As of 30 years ago, there were nothing like big stars. Everybody evolved. Those who chose to be behind the camera like myself as well as those who wanted to be in front of the camera.
Nobody looked down on anybody. Everyone respected all that we were called to do with our talents. But over time, we have seen Nollywood that birthed great names being bastardised, abandoned and ignored even by those who were nobody then,” he said.
Lancelot is of the opinion that because Nollywood gave its stars fortune and fame, it is their duty to ensure the important platform continues to grow and develop like other movie industries across the globe.
He concluded by saying he doesn’t mind being the only person pointing out the wrong way fellow celebrities have treated the platform they grew from, as long as he passes his message across.
“We cannot continue to allow the house that gave us a name to sink. Nollywood gave us fortune and fame. How come some of my colleagues are so comfortable abandoning the platform that groomed them?
I want to be the lone voice crying for Nollywood in the wilderness. Where are the children who were birthed by the industry?” he added.
Folami David writes on trends and pop culture. He is a creative writer, and he is passionate about music and football.
