Francis Duru Urges Revival of Igbo Cinema Amid Yoruba Industry Success

Nollywood actor Francis Duru has voiced deep concern over the diminishing representation of Igbo-centric movies and cultural heritage narratives in today’s Nigerian film landscape. Speaking in an interview on Gbam, aired on the Yan Content Factory YouTube channel, Duru emphasized the urgent need for Igbo filmmakers and investors to draw inspiration from the success story of their Yoruba counterparts.

Addressing the question of why Yoruba producers currently dominate major cinematic release periods and enjoy extensive visibility on global streaming platforms like Netflix, the seasoned actor attributed this trend to strategic adaptation, investment, and protection of cultural stories—areas where Igbo cinema has lagged.

“When they say charity begins at home, that’s what has happened to the Yorubas. We need to learn from them. If you don’t protect your own, if you don’t project your own, you know, who will do it?” Duru remarked, highlighting the critical importance of cultural preservation and proactive industry management.

He expressed disappointment that despite the vibrant Igbo cultural heritage, it remains underrepresented on platforms such as Netflix. “We created an industry. It’s so shameful. Go to Netflix today; you hardly see one Igbo film that speaks of the Igbo heritage. It’s annoying.”

Duru further explained that Yoruba stakeholders have effectively organized themselves to mobilize capital and safeguard their cultural ecosystem. This intentional approach has allowed them to carve out significant opportunities within the industry. He encouraged Igbo creatives and investors not to resent Yoruba successes but to critically assess their own strategic shortcomings.

“The Yorubas created an opportunity for themselves and utilised it very well for themselves. So why were you not learning? Why didn’t you see it? Because of that same concept: you think you are the big man, but you forget that there will come a time when you need to be expansive, proactive and ask yourself, ‘There is a new market space. Why am I not there?’” he added.

Francis Duru’s reflections underscore a broader call to action within the Nigerian film industry: to embrace collaboration, strategic investment, and cultural advocacy that can elevate regional storytelling to global audiences. His insights challenge the Igbo film community to adopt a forward-thinking mindset that balances pride in heritage with smart industry practices, ensuring that Igbo narratives regain prominence and thrive alongside other dominant cultural cinemas in Nollywood.