Segun Arinze: Nollywood’s Originality Fading Due to Western Influence

Veteran Nollywood actor Segun Arinze has voiced concerns that the Nigerian film industry is losing its originality due to an increasing shift away from authentic African storytelling.

Arinze acknowledged Nollywood’s continued progress but noted that its legacy is becoming “slightly distorted.” He argued that the industry’s evolving narratives are straying from traditional values.

“We are losing originality,” Arinze stated, explaining that foreign influences are overshadowing indigenous storytelling. “The perception of Nollywood is changing, and the way stories are told now lacks the authenticity we once had. Just because we have traveled abroad doesn’t mean we should discard our cultural heritage.”

He used the example of traditional African marriage rites versus Western-style white weddings to illustrate how foreign customs are increasingly adopted, arguing that this cultural shift is reflected in Nollywood’s growing reliance on non-traditional narratives.

“The kind of stories being told now are making Nollywood lose its originality,” Arinze reiterated. “We don’t have to abandon our traditional ways just because we have been exposed to foreign cultures.”