- Genevieve Nnaji sought partnerships in Hollywood after LionHeart's success
- She was viewed as a commodity, with Hollywood seeking to exploit her talent and African stories
- Nnaji chose to stay in Nigeria and contribute to Nollywood's growth instead
Renowned Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji has opened up about her journey seeking partnerships in Hollywood after the success of her 2018 film, LionHeart. Speaking at the 2024 AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum/Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Nnaji revealed that she was viewed as a commodity, with Hollywood interested in exploiting her talent and African stories for their benefit.
“For the first time, I realized I was a commodity,” she said. “They wanted what I had but for their benefit. It was all about their story…I could make it more authentic to their own understanding of whatever Africa is.”
Nnaji chose to stay in Nigeria and contribute to the growth of the industry, rather than pursue opportunities in Hollywood. “I am Nollywood,” she affirmed. “I could have gone to Hollywood a long time ago if I wanted to. But I had a dream to build an industry in Nigeria that could rival it…I wanted to tell our story for our people.”
Nnaji expressed respect for Hollywood and Bollywood, but believes Nollywood has equal potential. “When I found it wasn’t quite what they had in mind, I decided to wait it out…then Covid happened, and the world shifted, and Africa became the focus.”
