Omoni Oboli: Nollywood Tells More Original Stories Than Hollywood

Veteran Nollywood actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli has reignited the global debate around storytelling originality by boldly asserting that Nollywood produces more original content than Hollywood.

In a recent interview, the 47-year-old star highlighted Nigeria’s film industry as a powerhouse of creativity, capable of delivering compelling narratives with unique cultural depth.

“Our movies have become so much better than they used to be,” Oboli stated. “We’ve always had good stories, so stories have never really been our problem.”

Addressing long-standing criticisms that Nollywood films tend to be formulaic, Oboli challenged those claims and redirected the critique toward Hollywood, where she believes repetition is far more prevalent.

“I feel like this part of the world, we have actually more original stories than outside of Nigeria. I dare say that Nollywood has more original stories than Hollywood,” she confidently declared.

She pointed to the predictability in Hollywood genres—particularly superhero films and romantic comedies—as proof that originality isn’t exclusive to big-budget productions.

“I hear people say, ‘Oh, the movies are predictable’. I’m like, name five or ten Hollywood movies that are not predictable,” Oboli said. “We all know the superhero is going to win the day. If it’s a romantic comedy, you know the girl is going to get the guy or the guy is going to get the girl.”

According to the actress, the true power of storytelling lies not only in how a film ends, but in the quality of its journey.

“So it’s not about the predictability of a film. What you’re watching is the journey. If the journey is not interesting, then you can say it’s so predictable. But if the journey is interesting, it keeps you glued,” she added.

Oboli, who is set to feature in the upcoming ‘Domitila’ sequel as a sex worker, continues to push boundaries in her career. She applauded Nollywood’s growing global audience, crediting platforms like YouTube for showcasing the reach and relevance of Nigerian cinema beyond the continent.

“We have a lot of very original stories, and the audience—not just the Nigerian audience but all over the world—are loving it,” she said. “YouTube is special in a way that it can show you where people are watching from, and people are literally watching these movies from all over.”

With more than two decades in the film industry, Omoni Oboli remains a passionate advocate for African storytelling. Her comments serve as both a celebration of Nollywood’s evolution and a challenge to global audiences to look beyond Hollywood for rich, diverse narratives that reflect the heart of real communities.

As the global entertainment landscape shifts, Oboli’s perspective is a reminder that authenticity, culture, and originality still matter—and Nollywood has them in abundance.

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