Yoruba Nollywood actress Regina Chukwu has alleged that the English-language segment of Nigeria’s film industry was characterised by “sex for roles”, claiming that the practice influenced her decision to focus on the Yoruba movie sector.
The actress made the allegation while recounting her experiences with the industry before eventually establishing herself in Yoruba-language Nollywood.
Speaking during an interview on Oyinmomo TV on Friday, Chukwu said she found the Yoruba movie industry more welcoming and supportive than the English-language sector.
She said her attempts to secure roles in the English-language industry involved several auditions, but she described the environment as less accommodating.
“There’s a place we normally go for auditions at Surulere, Winnings Hotel. That was where those actors used to be, including Genevieve and others. We were all sitting at Winnings Hotel and I tried auditioning several times, but they are not as accommodating as Yorubas,” she said.
Chukwu, who is originally Igbo but grew up in the South-West, claimed that aspiring actors in the English-language sector were often pressured into inappropriate relationships before gaining opportunities.
“Despite the fact that I’m Igbo by tribe, you would have to start sleeping with them before getting to the top. There were lots of fake scripts to lure you into sexual intimacy,” she alleged.
The actress said her background and upbringing made it easier for her to connect with the Yoruba film industry.
“It is easier for me to relate with the Yorubas, maybe because I was born and grew among the Yorubas all my life,” she said.
Chukwu also spoke about the impact of working mainly in the Yoruba sector, saying she had gained recognition in Lagos and other parts of the South-West but remained less known in her home state of Enugu.
“I’m well known in Lagos and other South-West states, but they don’t know me in my state as an actor. Enugu is a place that if I enter today, nobody will say, ‘Hi, I know you,’” she said.
Her comments add to ongoing discussions within Nigeria’s entertainment industry about exploitation, unequal access to opportunities and the challenges faced by young actors seeking to build careers.
