By Olaitan Ibrahim
Prominent Nigerian filmmaker Prince Daniel Aboki has denied claims that he faced rejection in Kannywood due to his religion and in Nollywood because of his northern roots.
In a public statement, the Mai Martaba director clarified that he never made such allegations in any interview, attributing the misunderstanding to comments he made during a Nollywood in Hollywood event in Los Angeles.
Aboki explained that his remarks were intended to highlight the segmentation within Nigeria’s film industry and the challenges of navigating between Kannywood and Nollywood. He emphasized that any perception of his film being labeled differently by the two sectors was not a result of religious or ethnic discrimination.
“For clarity, Kannywood has never rejected me on the basis of ethnicity or religion. In fact, it has been my greatest pillar of support as a filmmaker,” Aboki stated.
He praised Kannywood’s industry practitioners and audience for their unwavering support during Mai Martaba’s successful cinema run.
Aboki reaffirmed his dedication to elevating Kannywood by collaborating with industry veterans and sharing northern stories on a global stage. He also reiterated his commitment to creating employment opportunities for youth and challenging negative stereotypes about Northern Nigeria.
“I remain committed to working with my colleagues and the founding fathers of Kannywood to elevate the standard of our industry—telling our stories to the world and creating employment opportunities for our youth,” he stated.