Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has shed light on the financial struggles faced by many actors in the Nigerian film industry, attributing the difficulties to the absence of royalties.
Speaking on the podcast Curiosity Made Me Ask, hosted by Isbae U, Ozokwor explained that most performers receive only a one-time payment for films, regardless of how often the productions continue to generate revenue.
“The problem why you see us beg is because they don’t give us royalties. We just work and toil so hard, and then that peanut, that money you gave us on board to come and shoot for you, is the only thing we get,” she said.
Ozokwor contrasted Nollywood with more developed film industries, noting that even lesser-known actors abroad earn residual income from their work, which continues after production and even after their passing. “Go and look at the smallest actors in developed countries. Every work they do fetches them money every day of their lives… Even when they are gone, their families still live on that. We, we are still working hard,” she added.
The actress also highlighted why many Nigerian actors are turning to digital platforms such as YouTube, where they can earn directly from content they produce. “That’s why everyone is running to YouTube,” she said, emphasizing the need for alternative income streams in the absence of traditional royalties.
Ozokwor’s comments bring attention to the ongoing financial challenges in Nollywood, where many artists continue to work tirelessly without long-term security or residual income from their contributions to the industry.
