Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has shared her perspective on the rising trend of using dance to promote movies, saying she supports it as long as it feels natural and enjoyable.
Speaking on TVC Entertainment, Omotola noted that much of the backlash against dance-driven promotions stems from actors feeling pressured to perform, rather than engaging in spontaneous or authentic expressions.
“I’m sorry, I would not be doing the dancing. I’m very, very sorry. It’s just not me. I dance. I love to dance, I’m sure a lot of us love to dance,” she said.
She explained that the issue arises when dancing becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. “The problem and the reason why a lot of people are kicking back at it is because you want to dance because you feel like it, not because you have to,” Omotola added.
She emphasized that her primary responsibility as an actor is to deliver quality performances, while marketing and promotion should be handled by professionals.
“But when it becomes a chore, when it becomes, oh, this is what you have to do to even sell a movie, it’s not professional. I already did the project. You know, I should go around, talk about the project, promote the project, and then let the people whose job it is to distribute and advertise handle that,” she said.
Omotola’s remarks echo those of filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, who recently stated he would not dance to promote a movie, adding that he wouldn’t invest in a N1 billion film if his returns were just N10 million.
The conversation highlights ongoing debates in Nollywood about marketing trends, authenticity, and the balance between creative work and promotional responsibilities.
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