Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has joined other prominent figures in the Nigerian movie industry in opposing the government’s new restrictions on rituals and other portrayals in film, music video, and skit content.
The Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, had approved the prohibition of money rituals, ritual killing, tobacco, and nicotine product promotion in movies, musical videos, and skits, under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004.
Kanayo O. Kanayo criticized the policy as “arrant nonsense” and questioned the reasoning behind the minister’s endorsement of such constraints on filmmakers. He likened the minister’s actions to those of Lai Mohammed, suggesting a lack of productivity.
Veteran musician Mike Okri also expressed doubts about the government’s intentions, suggesting that the ban might be an attempt to undermine the film industry.
The move has sparked controversy in the Nigerian entertainment industry, with many opposing the restrictions as an infringement on creative freedom.
