Nigeria Content Online

Filmmaker Tunde
Kelani’s worst fears have come true. “We are going to be pirated,” he
had predicted before his film, ‘Arugba’, was released on June 13. “It’s
a risk because we are already boxed in. We don’t have an income. We
have a project we invested 15, 20 million naira in; everybody’s been
waiting”, he had continued on why the film would be released in spite
of knowing that pirates were waiting in the wings.

With alarming
speed, the movie has become prey to pirates like the producer
envisaged. “It is with the greatest and darkest feeling of despair that
I have to announce the massive piracy attack of our new film, ‘Arugba’,
released on home video barely a week ago,” Kelani said in a statement.
Two pirated versions of the much anticipated film have flooded the
market.

He noted that
despite complying with all the guidelines stipulated by government
agencies and paying all necessary dues before releasing the movie, he
“got no protection from the criminal activities of the pirates who are
bent on pulling down our industry.”

The producer added
that the continued piracy of his works, especially ‘Arugba’, is making
it difficult for him to continue as a filmmaker in Nigeria because, “it
is no longer possible to recoup our investment or get the opportunity
to exploit economically our copyright and repay our creditors.”

He warned that
unless the Federal government rescues filmmakers from the stranglehold
of piracy, Nollywood, which has become renowned globally, stands the
risk of dying. “The popular Nollywood industry is under great threat
and may already be experiencing its death throes,” Kelani warned.

Kelani disclosed that though he intends to write protest letters to
the President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney General, Minister of
Information and Communication, the Inspector General of Police and
other relevant government agencies to arrest the high incidence of
piracy, he is also counting on the understanding of the film buying
public. “We can only appeal to the general public to ignore the pirated
ones and buy our genuine movies.”