My Ego Kept Me Away From Nollywood – Frank Uzuegbunam

In the world of storytelling, some voices choose to remain behind the scenes, silently shaping narratives, while others take center stage, commanding the spotlight. Frank Uzuegbunam, a co-founder of Inter-Creatives, Media Director at Legend & Legacy, and an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, speechwriter, and media strategist, is one such voice. In a recent reflection shared on his LinkedIn handle, Uzuegbunam opened up about his relationship with Nollywood, Nigeria’s globally recognized film industry.

It all began with a phone call. Uzuegbunam had reached out to veteran actor and producer Tony Akposeri, fondly remembered as Zacky from the iconic “New Masquerade” series, for assistance in sourcing interview subjects for a series of short documentaries. The conversation quickly turned nostalgic, with Akposeri asking a piercing question: “Do you still write? Do you still produce?”

That question prompted Uzuegbunam to recount his early brush with Nollywood, a path he chose not to tread, and a decision that would later leave him pondering its implications.

During his university days in Enugu, Uzuegbunam surrounded himself with an extraordinary group of creatives. Among them were names that would later dominate the Nollywood landscape: NkemOwoh, famously known as Osuofia; UzoAmadi and UzormaOnungwa, both prominent directors; the late, great Amaka Isaac-Ene, who later became AmakaIgwe, the legendary creator of the soap opera, “Checkmate” ; and the comedic genius, Francis Odega.

Together, they were united by an unwavering passion for storytelling. The camaraderie and shared aspirations seemed destined to lead them into Nollywood’s burgeoning scene. For many, it did. For Uzuegbunam, however, the journey took a different route.

Despite numerous invitations to join Nollywood’s early wave, Uzuegbunam resisted. His hesitation stemmed from what he describes as the industry’s lack of structure at the time. The chaotic sets, unwritten scripts, and dominance of marketers in hubs like Idumota, Lagos, and Upper Iweka, Onitsha, were at odds with his creative ideals.

“I craved creative freedom,” Uzuegbunam shared, “but I lacked the funds to call the shots.” Even when friends pooled resources to help him produce a film, he couldn’t reconcile his vision with the industry’s reality. For him, Nollywood felt like an unruly experiment rather than a fully-fledged industry.

As Nollywood matured over the years, Uzuegbunam began to see the structures and production values he once longed for. But by then, he felt the train had left the station. His decision to stay away left him questioning whether his ego and pursuit of perfection had cost him a chance to grow alongside the industry.

“Did my desire for perfection rob me of the chance to grow alongside an industry that has since gained global acclaim?” he wondered. Standing on the sidelines, Uzuegbunam likens himself to someone watching a ship he refused to board sail into the distance.

Uzuegbunam’s story is a poignant reminder of the tension between artistic ideals and the practical realities of building an industry. While his peers embraced Nollywood’s imperfections and grew with it, he chose to wait for a version of the industry that met his expectations. That choice, driven by his ego and artistic standards, has left him with a lingering sense of “what if.”

Today, Nollywood stands as a testament to resilience and creativity, gaining global recognition and producing box-office hits and Netflix originals. For Uzuegbunam, the industry’s success is bittersweet, a journey he could have been part of, yet chose to forgo.

Frank Uzuegbunam’s reflections serve as a masterclass in hindsight and a lesson in embracing imperfection. His story reminds us that sometimes, it is not just about waiting for the perfect opportunity but stepping into the chaos and allowing ourselves to grow alongside it.

As he continues to shape narratives in his own way, Uzuegbunam’s voice remains an integral part of Nigeria’s storytelling landscape, a voice that, while absent from Nollywood, continues to resonate with depth and authenticity.