Veteran Nollywood actor Nkem Owoh, widely recognised by his screen alias Osuofia, has stepped forward to set the record straight regarding comments previously attributed to him concerning the genesis of Nigeria's vibrant film industry. His clarification aims to distinguish between the pioneering efforts in home video and the establishment of the modern Nollywood brand.
The esteemed actor provided his explanation during an appearance on the popular YouTube interview series "Curiosity Made Me Ask," hosted by content creator Adebayo Abidemi, known as Isbae U. The episode, which premiered on Saturday, 7th November, swiftly garnered significant attention across online platforms.
Owoh addressed reports suggesting he had claimed that the Yoruba people were the founders of Nollywood, rather than the Igbo. He firmly refuted this interpretation, elaborating that the term "Nollywood" itself did not even exist when he and his contemporaries commenced their filmmaking endeavours.
"First of all, you have given me this wrong accusation that I said, Yoruba started Nollywood. No. Yoruba started this film on…when did Nollywood come out? When we started the thing, there was no Nollywood as a name. We sat together and we're banding, you know, ideas and all that, how the thing is going to come to fruition. And eventually, we chose Nollywood," he articulated, providing historical context to the industry's naming.
Osuofia Credits Yoruba Pioneers Of Home Video
While distancing himself from the assertion that Yoruba filmmakers founded Nollywood, Owoh unequivocally acknowledged their significant contribution to pioneering the home video tradition in Nigeria. He specifically praised legendary filmmaker Hubert Ogunde and Adebayo Papa for their instrumental role in popularising home video productions.
"So, Yoruba started the thing. They made the thing very popular home video and all that. Yes, they did. And I've said it several. Okay. Ogunde and Adebayo Papa. These are the people I love to watch their thing," he stated, recognising their profound influence.
When the host playfully questioned whether Ogunde might have been Igbo, Owoh firmly rejected the suggestion, insisting on the director's Yoruba heritage. "Ogunde is not Igbo. I'm telling you that Yoruba started it. When Ogunde was out, I don't think there was any Igbo man who was that popular in that," he clarified. His conclusive summary succinctly drew a clear distinction: "The Yoruba did not start Nollywood. They started Home video."
Connecting To Broader Industry Debates
Owoh's recent comments resonate with a broader discussion that re-emerged in August 2026, when the late actor Francis Duru controversially argued that Igbo entrepreneurs were the true architects of the contemporary Nollywood home video boom during the 1990s and early 2000s. Duru, who passed away in October 2026, had also acknowledged that the Yoruba community subsequently achieved greater prominence through enhanced organisation and self-promotion.
At that juncture, Owoh was reported to have countered Duru's claims, asserting that Yoruba filmmakers had been deeply involved in theatre and performance long before the Igbo-led video wave of the 1990s. His latest interview appears to be a deliberate effort to refine those earlier statements, meticulously separating the coined industry label "Nollywood" from the more deeply entrenched and older roots of Yoruba cinematic and theatrical traditions.
Nkem Owoh's Accidental Path To Acting
In a previous interview, as reported by Legit.ng, Nkem Owoh had disclosed that his entry into acting was entirely serendipitous, describing it as an "accident." The veteran entertainer revealed that his initial ambition was to work behind the scenes as a scriptwriter. However, his innate comedic talent quickly captured the attention of his colleagues, who subsequently encouraged him to transition to performing in front of the camera, a decision that ultimately launched his illustrious career.