Veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo has sparked a debate in the African film industry with his assertion that Nollywood did not make Ghanaian actors popular.
According to Adjorlolo, Ghana’s movie industry was already thriving and producing stars who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other African counterparts before Nigerian producers took notice and collaborated with them.
Speaking in an interview, he emphasised that Ghanaian actors gained their breakthroughs in their home country before being introduced to Nollywood.
He cited the success of Ghanaian films and the talent of its actors as evidence that Ghana’s industry was already on a strong footing.
Adjorlolo’s comments come amid a broader discussion about the relationship between Ghana’s film industry, known as Ghallywood, and Nollywood, with some industry stakeholders debating the impact of cross-border collaborations on local talent and content.
Some notable Ghanaian actors who have made a name for themselves in Nollywood include Majid Michel, Van Vicker, Jackie Appiah, John Dumelo, Juliet Ibrahim, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, among a host of others.
“Though the Ghana Movie Industry may be having its own problems, it does not mean that Nigerians made us, Ghana Films made Ghanaian actors.
“Ghana movie industry and the movies produced made us popular before the Nigerian producers noticed, and called us”, he said.
The seasoned broadcaster, who has recently showcased his musical talents dating back to the age of 8, acknowledged the business acumen and determination of Nigerians.
However, he emphasised that Ghana deserves recognition for producing talented movie stars who can stand alongside other African counterparts.
He specifically highlighted top Ghanaian stars who achieved success in Ghana before gaining opportunities in Nigeria,
“Ghana movie is not down, actors are acting daily, producers are producing daily, work is ongoing daily; rather it is the promotion and marketing that is lacking – and we’ve got to fix that area,” he added.
While acknowledging the challenges of Ghana’s film industry, he emphasised the importance of finding solutions rather than merely criticising the industry.
Adjorlolo encouraged those who recognise the problems to collaborate and develop strategies that could elevate the industry, promoting a more constructive approach to addressing its issues.
