“I’ve Worked Five Years in Hollywood and Get Royalties, 30 Years in Nollywood and Nothing” — Omotola

Veteran Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has raised concerns about the treatment of actors and the payment of royalties within Nigeria’s film industry, comparing her experience in Nollywood to her time working in Hollywood.

The actress reportedly noted that despite spending about three decades building a career in Nollywood, she has never received royalties from her work in the industry.

“I’ve only worked for five years in Hollywood, yet I constantly receive envelopes containing my residuals and royalties. I’ve put in 30 years in Nollywood and I’ve never received a single envelope,” she said.

Omotola’s comments highlight a long-standing conversation surrounding residuals, royalties and intellectual property rights within the Nigerian entertainment industry.

In Hollywood, performers can receive residual payments when productions they have worked on are reused or distributed through qualifying channels, depending on their contracts and applicable union agreements. These payments can provide actors with continued income from past work. Her experience, however, suggests a stark difference in how compensation from previously released productions can be handled in Nollywood.

The actress’s remarks have renewed questions about whether Nigerian actors adequately benefit financially from the continued exploitation and distribution of films they helped create.

For an industry that has grown significantly over the years, the issue of royalties remains an important part of the wider conversation about protecting creatives, strengthening contracts and ensuring that artists can earn from the long-term value of their work.

Omotola, who has been one of Nollywood’s most recognisable faces for decades, has therefore added her voice to calls for a more structured system that ensures actors and other creatives receive fair compensation beyond their initial fees.