Patience Ozokwor has attributed the financial hardship forcing many performers to beg publicly to the absence of royalty payments in the local film industry.
Known as Mama G, Ozokwor made the remarks during an appearance on the podcast “Curiosity Made Me Ask” hosted by Isbae U.
She explained that actors receive only a one-time fee for their work, with no ongoing earnings from repeated screenings or sales of the films.
“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 practices in developed film industries, where even minor actors earn continuously from their projects.
“Go and look at the smallest actors in developed countries. Every work they do fetches them money every day of their lives,” she added.
She further noted that royalties in those markets continue to benefit families even after an actor’s death.
“Even when they are gone, their families still live on that. We, we are still working hard,” Ozokwor said.
The actress observed that the lack of residual income has driven many Nigerian performers to YouTube, where they can earn directly from their content.
“That’s why everyone is running to YouTube,” she stated.
Her comments have renewed debate about remuneration and sustainability within Nollywood, Africa’s largest film industry.
