Renowned Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has addressed the growing controversy surrounding his recent remarks about Netflix’s funding of Nigerian original films, clarifying that his comments were misunderstood.
In a statement that initially caused a stir on social media, Afolayan was quoted as suggesting that Netflix might stop financing Nigerian movies, leading many to believe that the streaming giant was pulling out of Nigeria. However, in a follow-up interview on Channels TV, Afolayan explained that his words were misinterpreted and that he never claimed Netflix was leaving the country.
Afolayan revealed that he was merely echoing the concerns raised by fellow filmmaker Victor Okhai, who had discussed the potential consequences of Netflix reducing its presence in Nigeria. The 50-year-old producer emphasized that his intention was to sound a “wake-up call” for Nigerian filmmakers to consider alternative distribution platforms, rather than relying solely on Netflix.
“I never said Netflix is leaving Nigeria,” Afolayan clarified. “What I was trying to highlight is that we need to diversify our distribution channels. Just like people upload their films on YouTube, we too should explore other options.”
The filmmaker went on to explain that Netflix had reassured him of its continued commitment to investing in Nigerian content, though there might be a reduction in the volume of content they would sponsor going forward. He shared that during a recent meeting with Netflix, the streaming giant had indicated it may not be able to support as many films as it did previously, but they remained dedicated to Nigerian stories.
Afolayan also shared his concerns about the impact that a potential Netflix pullback could have on local filmmakers. “If Netflix were to leave, it would affect all of us, no doubt,” he said. “But we can’t sit back and wait for one platform to carry the entire industry. We need to be proactive in finding other avenues for our films.”
In response to the controversy, Netflix issued a statement reassuring its Nigerian audience: “We are not exiting Nigeria. We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our audience.”
