Nollywood Is Booming, but Veterans Are Being Left Behind, Says Bukky Wright

By Segun Adebayo

Nollywood actress Bukky Wright has expressed concern over the growing neglect of veteran actors who laboured to build the Nigerian film industry but are no longer being recognised or given opportunities to work.

Wright said the situation has left many old actors and actresses struggling financially, with some unable to afford proper medical care when they fall ill.

Speaking with BBC Yoruba on Friday, monitored by Persecondnews, veteran actress Bukky Wright described the ongoing struggles of Nollywood’s older actors as deeply troubling, pointing out that she is observing these issues firsthand following her return to screen after a nearly two-decade hiatus.

According to her, many of the actors who were active during Nollywood’s formative years sacrificed their time, resources and talent to lay the foundation for the industry’s current success.

She, however, lamented that many of those same actors are now being left out despite the significant growth and financial rewards that have come with the industry’s expansion.

“The industry is booming and paying well now, but those producers are not reckoning with the old actors, and I wonder how they expect them to survive,” she said.

Wright said veterans should continue to have opportunities to work, particularly because many of them still possess the experience and skills required to contribute meaningfully to contemporary Nollywood productions.

She also linked the financial difficulties faced by some veterans to their inability to cope with serious health challenges, saying some are left without the resources required to cater for their medical needs.

The actress recalled her working relationship with late veteran actors, including Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, and Kola Oyewo.

Wright said the deaths of the two actors left her in shock particularly because of the memories they shared during their years of working together.

Speaking about Ogogo, she said she was unaware that the veteran actor was battling an illness and never imagined that he would eventually die from it.

“I never knew Ogogo was sick. I never imagined he could die as a result of the illness,” she said.

Wright said the experiences had made her reflect on the condition of actors who contributed significantly to Nollywood but are now struggling to remain active and financially secure.

She said those who helped build the industry should not be forgotten as Nollywood continues to grow and attract greater financial rewards.