Niyi Akinmolayan Sparks Big Conversation on Nollywood’s “Cancel-Culture Contracts”

Filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan lit up social media after sharing a post calling out a growing trend in Nollywood: contracts that stop actors from promoting other films they appear in. In his words, actors shouldn’t sign agreements that limit their growth or silence them. He urged them to value themselves and recognise their role in building the industry.

To drive his point home, he captioned the post, “You all should have the convo with yourselves!!!”

And the conversation definitely started.

Not long after, actors, filmmakers, fans, and even cinemas jumped into the comments. Many said they’ve seen these contracts first-hand. Some were shocked such clauses even exist. A few felt it was unfair to expect actors to push one film while punishing them for supporting another. Others pointed out that today’s creative economy needs collaboration, not restrictions.

Kunle Remi led the charge with a blunt reaction: “Is this a joke?” He added that some producers still beg other actors to promote their films, yet restrict their own cast.

Another user, @sdominic_s, said they had been waiting for someone to speak up: supporting one film shouldn’t mean abandoning the rest. They compared actors to human beings with careers, not brands tied to exclusive endorsement deals.

Valentine Ohu questioned why any producer would demand exclusivity in such a dynamic, creative space. Others shared stories of seeing actors feature in major projects but only promote one because of contract restrictions. “Is that not wickedness?” one commenter asked.

A few actors expressed how these contracts affect upcoming talents. One user said desperation can push actors to sign almost anything, especially when jobs are scarce. Another raised a bigger point: if a star’s influence can boost a film, why not pay them properly for promotion instead of forcing loyalty?

The reactions came with shock, laughter, frustration, and plenty of agreement. Some even wondered if these contracts were real or just industry rumors.

From the comments, one thing is clear: many people feel the industry needs fairer practices. Actors want freedom to promote their work. Filmmakers want honest partnerships. Fans want transparency. And everyone agrees that Nollywood can’t grow if the people in it feel restricted.

Niyi’s post didn’t just call out a problem. It opened a door for actors and creators to speak openly about what they face behind the scenes. The conversation he asked for has started, loudly.

If this energy continues, Nollywood may finally have the honest conversation it has avoided for years.