Nollywood icon Bimbo Akintola has sounded a sobering warning: the industry that once thrived on grit, storytelling, and artistic hunger is now losing its soul to vanity.
In a recent chat with fellow actress Ayo Adesanya, Akintola lamented how today’s Nollywood seems more obsessed with makeup chairs and cosmetic surgeries than with scripts and performance. “Now people say, ‘My makeup is not right… I can’t wear this.’ We are more concerned about how we look. That’s why there’s a spike in BBL. Everybody is ‘BBLing’.”
(Pulse Nigeria, Ripples Nigeria)
When Acting Was About the Work
Akintola contrasted the current trend with the early days of Nollywood, when veterans like Joke Silva and Sola Sobowale powered through overnight shoots—not for glamour, but for the love of the craft.
Back then, she recalled, the thrill of creation mattered more than paychecks or appearances.
Why It Matters
Nostalgia for True Grit: Akintola’s reflections echo a time when resilience and storytelling defined Nollywood.
A Cultural Red Flag: As aesthetics overshadow authenticity, there’s a risk that Nigeria’s film identity may dilute into mere spectacle.
A Call Back to Roots: Her message is a reminder that Nollywood’s global rise must be anchored on substance, not surgery.
The Bigger Picture
Akintola’s critique is not isolated. Recent reports from Pulse Nigeria, The Will News, and Ripples Nigeria highlight a growing worry about Nollywood’s pivot to image culture.
She has also previously questioned the industry’s financial realities, noting that many actresses’ displays of luxury don’t reflect actual acting earnings but are fueled by side businesses, wealthy families, or relationships.
(Citi Newsroom, Tribune Online, Phenomenal.com.ng)
Final Word
Bimbo Akintola’s remarks are more than nostalgia—they’re a wake-up call. She envisions a Nollywood where craft outweighs cosmetic enhancements, storytelling outshines surgeries, and actors rediscover the passion that once made the industry unstoppable.
