Nollywood veteran Zeb Ejiro criticizes young filmmakers for being lazy with their storytelling
Zeb Ejiro, a well-known Nigerian filmmaker in the Nollywood industry, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of storytelling in the Nigerian film industry. In a recent interview, Ejiro, who is known for producing classic Nollywood films like Domitilla and Sakobi the Snake Girl, stated that films from his era were more authentic and relatable than what is being produced today.
He praised the production quality of modern films but criticized the quality of the stories. He called on young filmmakers to do better research and focus on telling stories that reflect the African experience instead of adapting foreign stories that do not resonate with Nigerian audiences.
Ejiro recently released a reboot of his classic film Domitilla, which earned almost ₦11 million in its opening weekend, the biggest opening of any Nollywood film in 2023 so far.
The film, which follows the story of sex workers caught in the web of a devious pimp, stars a cast of talented actors, including Elvina Ibru, Onyinye Odokoro, Teniola Aladese, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Ejiro Onojaife, Stan Nze, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Chioma Okafor.