“Old Nollywood vs New Nollywood” Phrase Coined by Gen Z Actors to Assert Superiority, Says Chinedu Ikedieze

Nigerian veteran actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, widely known as Aki, recently addressed the phenomenon of “Old Nollywood vs New Nollywood” during an appearance on the TeaTalk podcast hosted by actress Toke Makinwa. According to Aki, the term has been popularized by overzealous Gen Z actors who aim to assert their dominance and Hollywood-level standards in the Nigerian film industry.

Aki expressed his disapproval of this mindset, explaining, “There’s this thing now, Old Nollywood and New Nollywood. It’s absurd. I think the Gen Zs in Nollywood are trying to make it look like, ‘Oh! We’re the latest. We’re the Hollywood standards. We’re the best. We know it all.”

However, comedian Bovi, who was also a guest on the podcast, offered a counterpoint. He shared that this issue is not exclusive to Gen Z actors but rather a more general problem in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Established actors tend to look down on newcomers, often emphasizing their own seniority and experience while questioning the credibility of the newer generation.

Bovi argued, “It’s not just a Gen Z thing, the Old Nollywood, there are many of them who have seniority complexes.” He suggested that such behavior creates divisions within the industry and that the older actors who were more supportive of newcomers, like Chinedu Ikedieze, are the ones who deserve appreciation.