Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has raised concerns over what he described as the declining visibility of Igbo-language films and stories centred on Igbo cultural heritage.
Duru made the remarks during an interview on Gbam, aired by Yan Content Factory.
The actor compared the current visibility of Yoruba productions on cinema platforms and international streaming services such as Netflix with the relatively limited presence of Igbo-centric productions.
He argued that the situation was partly connected to the way filmmakers and investors approach the preservation and promotion of their cultural stories.
Duru called on Igbo filmmakers to learn from the strategies used by other regional film industries to develop, package and promote their cultural narratives.
He stressed that cultural preservation requires deliberate investment and consistent efforts to tell indigenous stories.
His comments come amid broader conversations about representation in Nollywood and the growing influence of streaming platforms on the Nigerian film industry.
Duru’s argument was not simply about the number of films produced in a particular language, but about the ability of a community to preserve its identity and cultural narratives through contemporary entertainment.
The actor’s remarks have renewed discussion about the place of indigenous languages and cultural storytelling in Nigeria’s rapidly changing film and streaming industry.