It's just not about the fact that Mercy Aigbe was omitted from the 'best dressed' list, it's more about the fact that there's indeed a kind of discrimination in Nollywood. On Sunday, March 20, 2016, Nollywood filmmaker Mercy Aigbe called out This Day Style for omitting her name as one of the 'best dressed."
She wrote
"are yoruba movies not part of nollywood? .....is Nollywood not supposed to mean home grown Nigerian movies?
.....hmmmmm I am very sure they didn't coz, they won't want to STAIN their cover with a 'RAZZ' 'LOCAL' yoruba actor!....
Yes I am razz, Yes I am local and Yes I am a Yoruba actor!.....
No I refuse to speak ur almighty English with fake British or American accent!....
Because I'll always remain true to myself!...I am ME."
Her 'rant' led to people asking questions like "what's the para for?" I get it, I mean, it's just a magazine cover! But then, there's actually a wider picture here.
It's just not about the fact that she was omitted from the 'best dressed,' it's more about the fact that there's indeed a kind of discrimination in Nollywood.
Yes, whoever put the 'best dressed' list is entitled to his or her opinion, but the actress saw it as a perfect opportunity to address a bigger problem.
Are Yoruba movies and actors not part of Nollywood? When we say Yoruba actors, we don't mean actors who are from the Yoruba tribe, we mean actors that feature in Yoruba speaking movies. My answer to that question is "Yoruba movies are part of Nollywood, because Nollywood covers home grown movies, but they are not considered part of Nollywood."
Unfortunately, whoever you ask, even the Yoruba actors, you will get the "everyone is one" response. But because we are in a country and industry where people only react when they feel directly affected, this issue is coming up now. If Aigbe had not felt slighted, she probably would not have remembered that some people actually don't consider Yoruba movies and actors as part of the industry, because she gets almost the same attention other 'Nollywood' actors receive.
This much talked about discrimination doesn't only exist in Nollywood, it's in the media, it's also amongst the Yoruba actors.
You get to hear some actors say things like "in the Yoruba film industry," "Kannywood," and all the other kind of woods. If our Yoruba actors truly want that 'one industry,' then why do they separate themselves? What exactly have they done to bridge this gap we all know does exist?
The discrimination isn't just amongst the Yoruba actors vs English movie actors. Have you even thought of the Kannywood industry it's almost like they are in a whole different world.
Let's even come home to the English movie industry, which is considered the main Nollywood, there's still a kind of discrimination in the thing called "New vs Old Nollywood."
A particular group of people have been selected to be hyped by the media, and very few Yoruba movie actors are fortunate enough to be amongst the selected.
After most events, you get to see only photos of the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, RMD, Adesua Etomi, OC Ukeje, Beverly Naya, Osas Ighodaro on the red carpet. You begin to wonder, was Queen Nwokoye, Sikirat Sindodo, Rachel Okonkwo, Junior Pope, Rahama Hassan among others not in attendance?
I have never seen a red carpet interview with Yoruba movie actors or 'Asaba Movie' actors. If they get to be interviewed on the red carpet, it's probably because their outfits has got heads turning (positively or negatively).
Mercy Aigbe, Faithia Balogun, Toyin Aimakhu, Doris Simeon and Iyabo Ojo are few of the Yoruba movie actors who have been fortunate enough to receive a certain media coverage. The rest get to make it when they say, do or partake in something controversial.
Most of the Nigerians screaming "take several seats" at Aigbe, are the same ones who will come cry about how white the Oscars nominees list is. How whites were cast in "Gods of Egypt" and the rest of things that aren't even their business.
If you ever thought Jaden Pinkett Smith's rant wasn't completely about Will Smith's supposed Oscars snub, then somehow, you also should understand that Aigbe's rant has more to do with the fact that the Yoruba movie stars are truly not considered as part of Nollywood.
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