Veteran Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji recently shared her experience seeking partnerships in Hollywood following the success of her 2018 film LionHeart, which Netflix acquired for a reported $3.8 million.
Speaking at the 2024 AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum/Afreximbank Annual Meeting, Nnaji revealed that she didn’t find the support she had hoped for in Hollywood. She realized that she was seen more as a commodity than a collaborator.
“For the first time, I realized I was a commodity,” Nnaji said. “After LionHeart, I thought I’d have the opportunity to do more, especially with the kind of support platforms like CANEX offer. But Hollywood was different. They wanted what I had, but only for their own benefit. It was all about their narrative, even if it was an African story. They wanted it to fit their own understanding of Africa, relying heavily on their archives and literature.”
Nnaji mentioned that she could have moved to Hollywood earlier in her career but chose to stay in Nigeria to help develop Nollywood. Her commitment to Nollywood has been evident throughout her career, and her reflections highlight the challenges African filmmakers face in global markets.
