Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo joins other prominent figures in Nigeria’s movie industry to strongly oppose the government’s new restrictions on rituals and other portrayals in film, music video, and skit content. This has sparked a significant debate among industry professionals.
The controversy began after the Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, enacted new regulations under section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004. These regulations, known as the “Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamorisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024, aim to curb the portrayal of certain themes in Nigerian entertainment content.
In reaction to this policy, Kanayo criticized it as “arrant nonsense,” questioning the reasoning of Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa for endorsing such constraints on filmmakers. He expressed his frustration, saying, “Arrant nonsense. This minister has no work, just like lair Mohammed.” Kanayo's comments highlight the dissatisfaction among some industry veterans regarding what they perceive as an overreach by the government.
Adding to the criticism, veteran musician Mike Okri expressed his doubts about the government’s intentions. He suggested that the ban might be an attempt to undermine the film industry, casting further suspicion on the motivations behind these new regulations. The reactions from these influential figures underscore the broader concerns within the creative community about censorship and artistic freedom.