# Nkem Owoh Clarifies Historical Distinction Between Home Video and Nollywood

- Link: https://viralbrief.top/nkem-owoh-clarifies-historical-distinction-between-home-video-and-nollywood/
- Published: 2026-11-08T07:22:21+00:00
- Author: Olamide

Veteran Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh, popularly known by his iconic character name Osuofia,
has moved to clarify recent public discourse surrounding the origins of the Nigerian
film industry. In a recent statement reported by _Daily Post Nigeria_, Owoh addressed
claims that he had credited the Yoruba ethnic group with the founding of Nollywood,
asserting that his previous comments were specifically focused on the history of
home video production in the country.

## Distinguishing Home Video from Nollywood

Owoh emphasized that there is a critical distinction between the practice of making
home videos and the formal adoption of the term “Nollywood.” According to the veteran
actor, the industry did not operate under the “Nollywood” moniker during its formative
years. He stated, “I never said Yoruba started Nollywood. When did Nollywood come
out? When we started film, there was no Nollywood as a name.”

He explained that the term was a later addition, adopted only after collaborative
discussions among the early participants in the industry. By separating the timeline
of the industry’s branding from its practical origins, Owoh seeks to correct what
he describes as a misunderstanding of his earlier remarks.

## The Role of Yoruba Filmmakers in Early Production

While clarifying that Yoruba filmmakers did not “start” Nollywood as a branded entity,
Owoh acknowledged their foundational role in establishing the home video format.
He specifically highlighted the contributions of veteran filmmaker Hubert Ogunde,
whose work helped popularize the medium.

> “Ogunde is not Igbo. I am telling you that Yoruba started it,” Owoh stated, referring
> to the home-video tradition.

Owoh’s comments suggest that while the cultural and technical framework for Nigerian
home video was pioneered by Yoruba practitioners—with figures like Ogunde at the
forefront—the subsequent evolution into the global phenomenon known as Nollywood
was a separate, later development involving a broader coalition of filmmakers.

## Contextualizing Industry History

The history of the Nigerian film industry is often a subject of debate, particularly
regarding the transition from celluloid cinema to the direct-to-video era that defined
the 1990s and early 2000s. Owoh’s intervention highlights the importance of precise
terminology when discussing the industry’s rapid growth. By distinguishing between
the “home video” movement and the “Nollywood” brand, he aims to provide a more nuanced
view of how the industry transitioned from local video productions into the organized,
internationally recognized sector it is today.

The source report does not provide specific dates for when these discussions regarding
the “Nollywood” name took place, nor does it detail the specific internal meetings
that led to the adoption of the term. Owoh maintains that his position has been 
consistently misunderstood and reiterated that his intent was to honor the pioneers
of the home video format without conflating it with the later naming of the industry.

## Conclusion

Nkem Owoh’s clarification serves as a reminder of the complex and multi-layered 
history of Nigerian cinema. By distinguishing between the early home video tradition
and the later branding of Nollywood, Owoh highlights the collaborative and evolving
nature of the industry. As the Nigerian film sector continues to gain international
prominence, such historical distinctions remain relevant to understanding the contributions
of various pioneers who helped build the foundation of the industry.

<

p class=”vbna-source-note”>**Source:** [Daily Post Nigeria](https://dailypost.ng/2026/11/08/yoruba-did-not-start-nollywood-osuofia-sets-record-straight-on-film-history/)

  TL;DR (AI Generated)

Veteran Nigerian actor Nkem Owoh has clarified that he never credited the Yoruba
ethnic group with founding Nollywood, but rather with pioneering the early home 
video format.

He emphasized a distinction between the foundational home video productions of figures
like Hubert Ogunde and the later adoption of the Nollywood brand name.

Through this clarification, Owoh aims to correct misunderstandings and honor early
home video pioneers without conflating their work with the later evolution of the
industry.

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