Wale Adenuga, the iconic Nigerian cartoonist and Chairman of Wale Adenuga Productions, has boldly challenged Netflix and other streaming giants to rethink their approach to Nigerian films. In a candid critique titled “A Critique of Netflix’s Approach in Nigeria,” Adenuga took a deep dive into what he believes is the real reason behind Netflix’s recent decision to stop commissioning Nigerian movies. According to him, it’s not Nigeria’s economy or the questionable practices of local movie producers causing the platform’s exit. Instead, Adenuga points to a much deeper issue: a flawed foundation rooted in a corrupt movie selection process.
Adenuga, famous for creating the beloved series Papa Ajasco, argues that streaming services like Netflix failed in Nigeria because they prioritized connections over creativity. “The problem lies in the corrupted and poor selection process of movies,” he wrote. He criticized Netflix and similar platforms for focusing on well-known producers, leaving out truly talented filmmakers who didn’t have the right connections. As a result, the content on these platforms did not showcase the best that Nigeria had to offer, he said.
To fix this, Adenuga proposed a democratic and transparent selection process where all Nigerian producers—regardless of fame or wealth—could submit their work. He emphasized that the storytelling should be at the heart of any film acquisition. “A good movie that scores 90 percent on storyline and 50 percent on technicalities will be far more embraced by the Nigerian audience than a movie with a 90 percent technical score but only 50 percent on storyline,” he added.
In short, Adenuga’s message to Netflix and its competitors is clear: to truly tap into Nigeria’s vibrant film industry, they must open their doors to undiscovered talent and prioritize compelling stories over star power.
