Chinedu Ikedieze, widely known as Aki in Nollywood, recently shared his thoughts during an interview on the TeaTalk podcast hosted by Toke Makinwa, shedding light on the popular phrase often used by the “Gen Z” Nollywood actors, “Old Nollywood and New Nollywood.” In his discussion, Ikedieze revealed the absurdity of the phrase and voiced his concerns about how some Gen Z actors may come across as “know-it-alls.”
Ikedieze expressed his observations, saying that the Gen Z actors often strive to project themselves as “the best” and ascribe “Hollywood standard” to their work. He highlighted the prevailing attitude among some younger actors who tend to claim they know it all, particularly in contrast to their predecessors.
During the podcast, comedian Bovi took a different stance, presenting an alternative perspective. Bovi pointed out that this issue is not solely confined to Gen Z actors but is a more generalized phenomenon in Nigeria, albeit with a specific relevance to the entertainment industry. Bovi explained that many established actors, predating the Gen Z era, have a tendency to look down on newcomers, dismissing them as inexperienced and lacking in knowledge.
Bovi stated, “Those before tend to look down on newcomers. They would be like, ‘Who’s this? Me, I’ve been in this business. I’m an aunty. She just came and said hi. Who’s this guy? He can’t behave himself. Does he know how long you’ve been doing it?'”
Furthermore, Bovi noted that the reason many newcomers appreciate veterans like Ikedieze is because they were welcomed and not snubbed when they entered the industry. However, he pointed out that there are individuals among the older actors who exhibit an unwarranted superiority complex.
