Why I Won't Do Nollywood Productions - Yvonne Orji

Actress Yvonne Orji came into the global limelight when she starred in what went on to become a smash hit, HBO's Insecure. The actress played the complex character of Molly, Issa's best friend and because of her role on that show, Yvonne Orji has become a lot more popular not only as an actress but also a comedienne.

Many may not know this but Yvonne Orji is also a Nigerian woman. Her full name is Yvonne Anwuli Adaeze Orji, she is an Igbo woman and according to her, she is "PROUDLY NIGERIAN".

During an interview with Channels Television while Yvonne was in Dubai, an interviewer asked Yvonne when or if we can ever expect to see her in Nollywood. Here's what Yvonne said.

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Speaking to Channels Television about African content and content from the diaspora, Yvonne Orji said:

A lot of what I do especially using my platform is I want to big up the next generation of African creatives. You know, for me, it was a hard uphill battle of my parents saying "I don't know what you're doing with your life". So now that they know what I'm doing with my life and other Africans know, it's like those young very talented people who are coming from all over the diaspora, I want to give them the opportunity to shine the same way Issa gave me an opportunity to shine. It's not our fault that they're just trying to find out about us, we've been here. When people saw what Black Panther did, it was just like "people really want content from the diaspora?" It's like yes! It's not a shock. Nollywood and Bollywood, those are two huge industries that rival Hollywood. The more talent that comes out: the more authors, performers, singers. I mean look at Afrobeats to the world, we've been had great musicians now everybody is just catching up. I love it and as long as we are benefactors of the business that comes into Africa because what I'm not going to have is people coming in and taking what we've had and milking us for it for whatever reason, either we didn't appreciate it or we tricked it off, that's not gonna happen on my watch.

When asked if we can ever expect to see her in Nollywood, Yvonne said:

There's a plethora of opportunity right? I think there are some amazing talent in Nigeria who were born, raised, they never left, they're there and I'm like they deserve to be the ones to make Nollywood what it is. I am of the mindset that where I shine is because I straddle the fence between being both Nigerian and being American and so I'm like I want to tell those stories from that point of view as well. So I say it's out of my lane. You know, I do what I do and I do it best so Im'ma let the people who do that well do that best.

What do you think? Would you have loved to see Yvonne Orji in Nollywood or do you agree it's best she focuses on Hollywood? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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