NIGERIA – Nollywood filmmaker and cultural advocate, Nze Ukwu Ugezu J. Ugezu, has issued a passionate appeal to skit makers, urging them to refrain from misrepresenting Igbo spirituality and traditions in their content.
In a post shared on Instagram, Ugezu expressed concern that some skit makers were causing even greater damage to the proper representation of Igbo culture than the earlier generations of Nollywood filmmakers he said had already distorted and demonised Igbo traditions.
Ugezu noted that many of the Nollywood filmmakers responsible for earlier misrepresentations were not even Igbo. He said his generation had been working to correct decades of misinformation and misrepresentation, only to see a new wave of distortion emerging from skit makers.
A Call for Cultural Responsibility
The actor appealed to skit makers to limit their creative presentations to areas such as art, politics, economics, science and other subjects, and to leave Igbo metaphysics alone.
“You are filming and circulating contents that are deeply damaging, especially to a generation that know little or nothing about the spirituality and traditions you are misrepresenting,” Ugezu wrote.
He warned that creativity should never become an excuse for cultural distortion, explaining that whatever is put out on media platforms has a way of shaping the perceptions of young people, who may come to accept it as the standard.
Advice for Creatives and A Fight Against Distortion
Ugezu advised skit makers who wish to explore Igbo metaphysics to first study the subject, ask questions and consult people who understand it before creating content.
“If you do not understand Igbo metaphysics, PLEASE LEAVE IT ALONE. Study it. Ask questions. Consult people who understand it. Then create,” he wrote.
Ugezu said he and others were already fighting to correct decades of misinformation and misrepresentation about Igbo spirituality and traditions. He expressed concern that they would now have to start fighting another generation of distortion if skit makers continued on their current path.
The appeal has sparked conversations about cultural representation in Nigerian media, particularly the responsibility of content creators to accurately portray the traditions and beliefs of the communities they depict.
