Kannywood And Nollywood Should Collaborate More – Uzee Usman

Popular Nigerian actor Uzee Usman has opened up about the need for stronger collaboration between Kannywood and Nollywood. This comes as he continues to build a career across both industries, and fans have been reacting.

Stating that he understands the different demands of Kannywood and Nollywood and adapts accordingly, Uzee revealed that both industries clearly have a lot to learn from each other.

The moviestar added that combining the strength of the two industries will create something powerful for Nigeria’s creative sector.

His words, “Honestly, it started from pure passion. Growing up, I was fascinated by storytelling, how a simple story could move people, make them laugh, cry, or even change their perspective. Kannywood was my first home; it felt close to my roots, my language, my culture.

Nollywood came later, and it opened my eyes to a broader audience and stronger possibilities. Over time, my love has matured. It’s no longer just about acting; it’s about impact, legacy, and telling stories that matter.

It’s like being bilingual; you learn to switch naturally. Kannywood requires a certain cultural sensitivity and storytelling style, while Nollywood is more diverse and experimental. I respect both spaces deeply. When I’m on set, I fully immerse myself in that world.

As a producer, I also try to create content that can travel, stories that feel local but connect globally.”

The growth has been impressive. Kanny has moved from very traditional storytelling to more dynamic, layered narratives. Production quality has improved with better cameras, better editing, and better sound. There’s still room for growth, but the industry is evolving, and people are starting to pay attention beyond the North.

More intentional collaboration is key. Not just actors crossing over, but joint productions, shared investments, and creative partnerships. There’s so much we can learn from each other. When we combine our strengths, we can create something truly powerful that represents Nigeria as a whole.”

WOW.

Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there is no clear or agreed-upon definition for the term, which has made it a subject to several controversies.

The origin of the term “Nollywood” remains unclear; Jonathan Haynes traced the earliest usage of the word to a 2002 article by Matt Steinglass in the New York Times, where it was used to describe Nigerian cinema.

Charles Igwe noted that Norimitsu Onishi also used the name in a September 2002 article he wrote for the New York Times. The term continues to be used in the media to refer to the Nigerian film industry, with its definition later assumed to be a portmanteau of the words “Nigeria” and “Hollywood”, the American major film hub.

Film-making in Nigeria is divided largely along regional, and marginally ethnic and religious lines. Thus, there are distinct film industries – each seeking to portray the concern of the particular section and ethnicity it represents. However, there is the English-language film industry which is a melting pot for filmmaking and filmmakers from most of the regional industries.