Nigerian actor and former Big Brother Naija star, Pere Egbi, has sparked discussion in the film industry by suggesting that South Africa is ahead of Nollywood in several key areas, including filmmaking, storytelling, and work ethic.
Egbi shared his thoughts on social media, saying: “No offense to my Nollywood colleagues, but you see South Africa—they are ahead of us when it comes to film production, storytelling, filmmaking, work ethics. We need to collaborate.”
His comments touch on a long-standing debate about Nollywood’s global competitiveness. While Nigeria produces a high volume of films—making it the second-largest film industry in the world—critics argue that South Africa has an edge in quality production, effective distribution, and international recognition.
Pere Egbi, who rose to fame during the “Shine Ya Eye” season of Big Brother Naija, has expanded his career into acting, singing, and songwriting. On screen, he has appeared in both local and international productions, including Gem of the Rain Forest, Pound of Flesh, and Blood Vessel.
The actor’s remarks have ignited conversations about potential collaborations between Nigerian and South African filmmakers, as many in the industry weigh the benefits of learning from each other to raise production standards across the continent.