Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable, has stirred up fresh drama on social media — this time pointing fingers at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for what he calls a blatant disregard for veteran actor Ibrahim Chatta.
In a now-viral video, Portable expressed his frustration over Chatta’s consistent exclusion from major award recognitions, despite the actor’s decades of acclaimed performances in Nollywood, especially in Yoruba-language films. According to Portable, the snub is not just unfair — it reeks of bias and clique culture within the industry.
“Ibrahim Chatta dey act pass most of una wey dey win award,” the Zazoo Zeh crooner ranted. “But because him no dey run things with una, una go ignore am?”
Portable, known for his unfiltered takes, accused the award organizers of favoring popularity over raw talent and of sidelining actors who don’t conform to mainstream Nollywood circles. He called out what he described as the “packaging syndrome” — where fame and visibility take precedence over skill and consistency.
Support for Chatta Grows
The incident sparked renewed conversation on X (formerly Twitter), where many fans echoed Portable’s sentiments. Several users pointed out that Ibrahim Chatta, known for his powerful emotional delivery and versatility, has long been overlooked by major award bodies despite being one of Yoruba cinema’s finest.
Some critics, however, argued that Portable’s delivery overshadowed the message, citing his approach as unnecessarily combative.
A Bigger Problem in Nollywood?
Portable’s outburst may be characteristically loud, but it taps into a deeper issue that has plagued Nollywood for years: the marginalization of indigenous-language actors in national recognition platforms. While the AMVCA has introduced categories for indigenous language films, critics argue that the core awards still disproportionately favor English-language productions and actors with higher media presence.
Though Ibrahim Chatta has not publicly reacted to the buzz, fans continue to celebrate his work online with hashtags like #JusticeForChatta and #RecognizeRealTalent trending in Nigeria.
Whether Portable’s fiery comments will shift the conversation within Nollywood remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the industry is being forced to confront its own reflection.
