“EVOLVE OR BE LEFT BEHIND” – IYABO OJO JUSTIFIES MOVIE PROMOTION
Nollywood star Iyabo Ojo is setting the record straight on the growing chatter about movie producers dancing, acting in skits, and going all out to promote their films. Her take? The game has changed—and if you’re not evolving, you’re already behind.
In a recent video on her Instagram page, Iyabo passionately responded to criticism aimed at filmmakers like Funke Akindele, who’ve embraced new-age promotional tactics. And make no mistake, she came ready with receipts.
“This didn’t just start today,” she said. “Even when I joined the Yoruba film industry, we were marketing—just with different methods.” For Iyabo, it’s not about what you do, but how you do it. Marketing has simply gone digital.
Taking us back to old-school Nollywood, Iyabo recalled the grind: producers beating drums, dancing, and singing outside the National Theatre just to draw in a crowd. Picture a cultural parade in full swing—all in the name of movie promo. That was the hustle back then.
She even detailed how they would hit multiple cities—Ibadan, Osogbo, Akure, Ekiti, Ilorin—on promo tours. It was boots-on-the-ground marketing, and it worked.
Now? A few dances and skits on social media seem easy in comparison.
“You can’t just drop a movie in cinemas and expect people to show up,” she said, addressing those with a passive approach to film promotion. With attention spans shorter than a TikTok clip, Iyabo insists you must fight to stand out.
Her key point? “If Coca-Cola still advertises daily, what’s stopping me—or anyone else—from doing whatever it takes to promote?”
She added that no one has to dance if that’s not their thing. “Do drama. That’s why you’re an actor or artist.” Whether it’s a skit, a dance, or a street billboard, just get creative and be loud about your work.
Iyabo’s message to filmmakers? Don’t worry about looking unserious—worry about being unseen.
In her words: “You must constantly advertise.”
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