'Competition Is Back!' – Zainab Balogun Explains What's Happening in Nollywood After Netflix Drama

The news of Netflix leaving Nigeria rocked the nation even though now we know more about it and we know that the company is not leaving, just revising how they operate as far as Netflix Originals and commissioning is concerned. But still, that fear happened and a lot of people have been very worried about what a giant like Netflix or Prime Video leaving Nigeria would mean.

However, while that fear exists in some, it doesn't exist in everybody. Nollywood actress Zainab Balogun in fact feels differently about the whole thing and says she's actually excited about the hot competition, especially in cinemas, that will brew now that the big names are not operating as they did before. Here's what Zainab Balogun had to say.

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Speaking about why she is kinda excited about what is happening in Nollywood now that the big names like Netflix are not operating as they used to before, Zainab Balogun said:

ZAINAB BALOGUN: A lot has happened, and the good thing about being Nigerian—and being a Nigerian creative—is that we adapt, so nothing really shocks us. I think we're always sort of prepared for whatever the worst is going to look like, and that's showing right now.

While there may have been great times when we had a lot of these studios and international investments—which I think will always continue to come—the West is looking for a bit more, and I believe that we have exactly what they're looking for. So, I'm excited for the world of cinema again. You know, that was what I grew up in a lot.

Before the—I won’t mention any names—big names, a lot of our efforts had gone into catering to the wider audience of cinema and what that involves. It requires a lot of, I would say, personal connection, where the audience gets to meet you as they’re about to watch a film. They get to interact with you, and you’re telling them, “These are the 101 reasons why you should come to the cinema and support Nigerian cinema.”

So, I love the idea of going back to that. I know that for some people, it might be a bit nerve-wracking and make them nervous because, again, the pay structure improved while the big names were here. But I’m excited for Nigerian cinema. I think the hot competition is back.

Now, it’s not just about your name or who you know. Now, you really have to put in the work—not saying you weren’t putting in the work before—but the stakes are a lot different. I’m excited for it. I’m an actor, so I’m also sitting at a different position at the table in the food chain. But yeah, I’m excited for it.

What do you think about what Zainab Balogun had to say? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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