Nigerian filmmaker and actor Kunle Afolayan has stirred controversy with his blunt take on why an increasing number of Nigerian filmmakers are abandoning traditional movie distribution channels for YouTube.
Speaking in a recent podcast with Ni-dacity, Kunle Afolayan suggested that the dollar-to-naira exchange rate, rather than passion for digital distribution, is a major reason many filmmakers are now rushing to upload their movies on the platform.
According to him, the financial returns from YouTube views can be attractive when converted from dollars to naira.
Afolayan cited an exchange rate of about ₦1,400 to $1, arguing that a movie or video capable of generating one million views could potentially earn around $10,000, depending on factors such as audience location, advertising and monetisation.
He said the calculation becomes particularly attractive when the dollar earnings are converted into naira.
However, the filmmaker made a prediction that has already sparked reactions online.
He suggested that if the naira strengthens significantly, reaching around ₦200 to $1, many Nigerian filmmakers currently flooding YouTube could lose interest in the platform.
He said “Nigerian filmmakers are rushing to YouTube because of the dollar exchange rate. At ₦1,400 to $1, they celebrate 1 million views because it can bring in about $10,000. But if the dollar falls to ₦200, everyone will run away from YouTube.”
The comment has raised questions about whether YouTube has genuinely become the future of Nigerian cinema or whether some filmmakers are simply chasing dollar revenue.
Some industry observers may also interpret Afolayan’s remarks as a criticism of filmmakers who prioritise monetisation over the long-term development of the Nigerian film industry.
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The filmmaker is no stranger to controversial opinions about the business of filmmaking.
Earlier this year, he criticised the way some of his colleagues, including Toyin Abraham and Funke Akindele, promote their movies, particularly the growing trend of celebrities using social media skits, dancing and other viral content to attract audiences.
Afolayan had also previously argued that he would not be impressed by a movie generating ₦1 billion or ₦2 billion at the cinema if he could not personally make at least ₦10 million from the project.
His latest comments have therefore reignited the debate over money, streaming, cinema revenue and the real business of Nollywood.
