Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nollywood actor Zuby Michael has stirred a fresh debate about ethnic bias in Nigeria's entertainment industry after claiming that Igbo talents are systematically denied support because industry gatekeepers and executives fear they could easily outshine them.
Speaking in an interview with Broadway TV, Michael argued that Igbo people are naturally fast learners and can achieve in a short time what others take years to master. "You might decide to mentor an Igbo person and what took you 10 years to learn, he will learn it in one year and six months," he said. He added that mentors worry their protégés will eventually become competitors. "If you don't treat him well, he will leave you and start doing the same business you taught him and become your competition. So, people are scared of that," Michael explained.
But the actor's most striking claim was that even Igbo executives are part of the problem. "Industry executives, including some Igbos, don't like supporting Igbos because they feel like they will get betrayed by their mentee outshining them," he said.
Michael's comments have ignited fresh conversations about the role of ethnic bias in Nollywood, with some social media users agreeing that Igbo talent is often overlooked while others have dismissed his claims as an oversimplification of a more complex industry problem. As of the time of this report, the actors' guild and other industry bodies had not issued an official response.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments