🔅 Nollywood’s Plot Twist
Africa’s “Accidentally-On-Purpose” Forest Revival
Good morning from… can you guess where? (Answer at the bottom!)
Nollywood’s Latest Plot Twist
Earlier this month a mix of Nollywood glam-clad actors and grey-suited financiers crammed into MBO Capital’s offices to answer one question: How do you squeeze blockbuster returns out of shoestring budgets?
Nollywood, Nigeria’s famously free-wheeling movie machine, already churns out more films per year than anyone except India. Roughly a million Nigerians earn a living (directly or indirectly) on sets, in cinemas or hawking DVDs in traffic. And despite inflation north of 30 percent, domestic ticket sales still soared 60 percent last year.
PwC reckons Nigeria’s entire entertainment sector will swell to $13.6 billion by 2028, half of that growth from box-office receipts alone. Diaspora Nigerians binge-watch on Amazon in Houston and Netflix in Hackney to keep the kids fluent in Yoruba slang; local viewers flock to see drama and wedding comedies they actually recognise.
However, although streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime once showered producers with upfront cash, they’ve switched to a “pay-you-after-delivery” model. Which translates into a massive financing gap to bankroll movie production – and the likes of MBO Capital and other asset managers coming forward to brandish term sheets.
MBO dropped 10 titles on Prime last year (including smash hit Gangs of Lagos) and plans another nine this cycle. Across town, Chapel Hill Denham has a $1.2 million kitty and wants up to 40 percent of it in future films. CEO Bolaji Balogun argues that domestic capital must tell domestic stories, or risk Hollywood rewriting them.
And while Nollywood’s financing model is changing, film-makers are beginning to rewrite the script on their own terms… by turning to YouTube.
Omoni Oboli’s Love in Every Word hit 1 million views in 24 hours, 5 million in three days, and flooded TikTok with memes. It was shot quickly, uploaded freely, and monetised instantly. For many creators, YouTube’s ease (no red tape, no gatekeepers) offers freedom, fast feedback, and real revenue.
This new model is booming (even when quality varies, writers sell the same scripts twice, crew members appear in shots, and piracy remains rampant), and hundreds of films go live each year. Some producers shoot three films in a week in the same rented Airbnb. And while the ecosystem is raw, it’s direct – and growing.
Africa’s “Accidentally-On-Purpose” Forest Revival
Deforestation in Africa might be a bit more complicated than the usual doom-and-gloom headlines let on. While forests have been steadily logged, chopped, and charred across the continent, a surprising cast of everyday heroes – smallholder farmers – have been very quietly resurrecting trees on their land. They’re basically telling that old colonial advice of “clear the fields or else” to take a hike.
And guess what? It’s working. Big time. Through natural regrowth, these farmers are boosting soil quality, feeding their livestock, and making a little extra pocket change on the side. Satellite data shows that millions upon millions of new trees have been popping up “outside forests.” And in super-dry regions like Niger, that’s now the norm. One researcher doing a double-take on a corresponding 500-mile road trip declared, “Wait…there are trees everywhere!”
While Africa’s primary forests still face major threats, these everyday acts of regreening bring plenty of benefits, from buffering against climate change to improving local economies. More trees, happier farmers, a healthier planet – and you can read more on this phenomenon right here.
A Pan-African Tour in 54 Books by Women
Looking for something to read this weekend?
The Republic just curated a list of 54 books by women – one from each African country – and it’s an absolute feast of storytelling. Spanning genres from memoir to poetry, these picks showcase postcolonial histories, gender dynamics, exile, and more. Each selection honors African women’s literary traditions – from the trailblazers who pioneered these stories to the contemporary authors blazing fresh paths. Enjoy the journey across the continent, and you can access the list right here!
Food for Thought
“Judgement must wait to hear all the witnesses.”
— Liberia Proverb
And the Answer is…
The photo is taken from Somalia! You can also send in your own photos, alongside the location, and we’ll do our best to feature them.