The Persistent Voice in Taiwo Egunjobi’s Films

Fittingly, the Coen brothers‘ Hail, Caesar! set the tone of our conversation. Reflecting on hindsight, what I noticed watching the Coen brothers’ masterpiece—the story of Eddie Mannix (played with remarkable gusto by Josh Brolin) layered with Hollywood’s backstage history (the numerous buried scandalous stories, the signing of shoddy deals, and the domineering posture of studio executives), I casually referenced how Hollywood’s history is similar to Nollywood’s. With a fierce and lucid tone that, throughout our hour-long conversation, constantly carries his precise opinions, Egunjobi was quick to make a few remarks about how distinct both industries are. The filmmaker told me that it’s a miracle that the Nigerian film industry exists. One familiar with the industry’s history will see this statement not as an affront but as a well-documented truth. As the director told me, the Nigerian film industry exists due to the relentless efforts of individual film marketers who promoted the birth of the film industry. It wasn’t the pressing demands and desire of film-school-trained filmmakers wanting to make artistic and creative statements with their stories that birthed Nollywood. Thus, in conclusion, the filmmaker mentioned that Hollywood, with its trained filmmakers, structured industry, and the existence of various unions, isn’t a fitting comparison for the Nigerian film industry.