Why actors beg in difficulty – Patience Ozokwor on Nollywood financial struggles

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has shed light on the financial hardships faced by many actors in the Nigerian film industry, attributing the problem to the absence of royalties for their work.

Speaking on the podcast “Curiosity Made Me Ask,” hosted by Isbae U, Ozokwor explained that actors typically receive only a one-time payment for their roles, regardless of how often the films continue to generate income.

“The problem why you see us beg is because they don’t give us royalties. We just work and toil so hard, and then that peanut, that money you gave us on board to come and shoot for you, is the only thing we get,” she said.

Ozokwor contrasted the situation with more developed film industries, where even minor actors earn from their past work continuously, and royalties can benefit their families after their death. “Go and look at the smallest actors in developed countries. Every work they do fetches them money every day of their lives… Even when they are gone, their families still live on that. We, we are still working hard,” she added.

The actress also noted that the lack of residual income has driven many Nigerian performers to alternative platforms like YouTube, where they can monetize their content directly. “That’s why everyone is running to YouTube,” she said.