By Cynthia Abah
Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has called on filmmakers to stop creating movies that portray Nigerians as clowns or uncivilized when they travel abroad. He criticized such storylines for tarnishing the country’s image and urged producers to instead highlight stories where Nigerians travel abroad, offer traditional solutions to problems, and become leaders.
Edochie shared his thoughts on Instagram, saying, “I wish our producers will stop making films where Nigerians travel abroad and act foolishly. We sell ourselves short with such storylines. Oyibo people will never make a movie where a white man is foolish on African soil. Instead, they’ll make the white man smarter than all the Africans in the movie.”
He emphasized the intentionality behind such portrayals in foreign films, noting, “They use movies to sell themselves as superheroes, while we use ours to run ourselves down.” Edochie advocated for a shift in narrative, suggesting, “Let’s make movies where a Nigerian goes abroad and becomes the focal point for Oyibo people. He or she always walks with shoulders high, with so much pride and dignity. Always in Nigerian attire. And teaches Oyibo people beautiful things they never knew about us. Offers traditional solutions to problems and becomes a leader over there. Let’s sell ourselves as superheroes as well.”
