Reno Omokri: 'Jujuwood' Fits Nigerian Movie Industry More Than Nollywood

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has rubbished Nollywood, on the claims that their productions make people want to run away from the country.

Omokri said this in a series of tweets on Monday, where he said the movies have always had the same storyline since the birth of Nollywood in 1992.

He said the industry should rather be named ‘Jujuwood’ since the industry is known to always portray Nigerians as evildoers.

"I sometimes wonder if Nollywood is an appropriate name for the Nigerian movie industry. Perhaps Jujuwood would be a more fitting name. No other institution has been as responsible for the stereotyping of Nigerians as diabolical people as Nollywood!

I sometimes wonder if Nollywood is an appropriate name for the Nigerian movie industry. Perhaps Jujuwood would be a more fitting name. No other institution has been as responsible for the stereotyping of Nigerians as diabolical people as Nollywood!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020

Sharing an experience he had in 2011, the former presidential aide recalled walking in San Francisco alongside veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo when he reached out for his camera, to snap a white lady and the actor, surprisingly she screamed and accused him of wanting to use her phone for ‘juju’.

“In 2011, @KanayoOKanayo and I were walking in San Francisco. An American lady recognised him. I brought out my camera, thinking she wanted a photo. She screamed and said ‘you want to use my photo for juju’! That is what Nollywood has done to us!

In 2011, @KanayoOKanayo and I were walking in San Francisco. An American lady recognised him. I brought out my camera, thinking she wanted a photo. She screamed and said ‘you want to use my photo for juju’! That is what Nollywood has done to us!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020

“ Art imitates life. Movies are meant to reflect your culture. When you watch an American movie, like Fast and Furious, for example, it makes you want to go to America. When you watch a Nollywood movie, it makes you want to run far away from Nigeria!#

Art imitates life. Movies are meant to reflect your culture. When you watch an American movie, like Fast and Furious, for example, it makes you want to go to America. When you watch a Nollywood movie, it makes you want to run far away from Nigeria!#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020

“Nollywood took off in 1992 with Living in Bondage. 28 years later and she’s still in infancy? It started with juju (Living in Bondage), and still focuses on Juju. If it used 30 years to learn madness, how will the real madness be?"

Dear @morkaray,

Nollywood took off in 1992 with Living in Bondage. 28 years later and she’s still in infancy? It started with juju (Living in Bondage), and still focuses on Juju. If it used 30 years to learn madness, how will the real madness be? #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets pic.twitter.com/Aa2SWUtNSq

— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 8, 2020