The most trending topic in Lagos this week is 'tribalism'. It all started with the statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akinolu where he was quoted as threatening Igbos living in Lagos to vote for a particular candidate. Sadly, the tribal divide has always been a part of Nollywood as well. This week however, the tribal divide seems to have widened. It all started by one of Nollywood’s finest, Kunle Afolayan. He made what is described as an inflammatory statement which angered many Easterners especially the Igbos. He has since been getting knocks from many angles. Kunle Afolayan's words, "It is a fact that most pirates I see selling pirated CDs and DVDs are Igbo. One even threatened me after I seized my film from him. The pirates already have October 1 and have been threatening the distributor that they will release this week. They have released Phone Swap, and Tango With Me and many more. Most of you patronize these criminal so don’t come here to judge me. We have written to the Police NCC and other agencies. What is the outcome? Nothing! Sure you are waiting for me to beg to feed my family. My distributor is Igbo and I like and trust him, but he mentions his frustrations all the time. His kinsmen are on his tail. We are all frustrated." As expected, this statement got hoard of response from his colleagues in Nollywood. All negative responses! Actress Uche Jumbo was the first to attack him back. In a sharp response, the actress and producer stated that piracy is not a tribal thing, as every filmmaker is affected and sad about it. "Every filmmaker is sad about piracy. It's a war we should all fight and hope to win one day. Piracy is not a tribal thing. Just for the record, I am an active filmmaker in Nollywood of today and like every producer I face piracy every day. We will overcome one day I pray. Interesting to see someone in Nollywood insult Igbo about piracy since without them (Igbo) we might not even have Nollywood of today," she stated. In the same vein, Movie maker and social critic, Charles Novia stated on the issue: "Et tu, Kunle Afolayan? Quite unfair! Let's tread softly on this ethnic bashing. I’m Edo but any tribe bashed hurts as a Nigerian" Perhaps the most inflammatory of all the responses to Kunle’s allegation was that of Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi also known as Mr. Hollywood. He said, "I almost ignored Kunle Afolayan's useless tweets about Igbo being the only Pirates in Nigeria because to me, Kunle is just an overrated Nollywood filmmaker. "He’s not better than Izu Ojukwu, Teco Benson, Obi Emelonye, Chineze Anyaene to mention but a few. "The secret of Kunle is his Director of Photography (DOP), Yinka Davies who does everything for him and at the end of the day Kunle will just come and announce 'action'. Give him another local DOP and see if Kunle is worth all the praise his kinsmen showers on him. Kunle should thank Peace Anyiam Osigwe for giving him the platform of AMAA as a pedestal to limelight. "Trust me, if Kunle walks the street of Onitsha, Aba, Enugu or anywhere outside Yoruba land, not even one person will recognise him as a celebrity. I will rather worry myself with the Oba’s threat to Ndigbo than spend one second of my time thinking about Kunle’s senseless tweets about the Igbo." However, Kunle Afolayan offered an apology on twitter saying he allowed his emotion get a better of him. "I am really sorry if my Igbo fans and friends feel offended. I am just so bitter and pained. I am truly sorry. I am a patriotic Nigerian and that I potray in all my movies. Phone Swap is even more of an Igbo film than any other tribe. Again, finally, I stand to say my grievances have got nothing to do with the trending Oba’s statement. It all came out of frustration. Sorry guys."
