Tayo Faniran Accuses Nollywood Of ‘Magomago’ And Career Sabotage

Actor Tayo Faniran has accused parts of the Nollywood industry of operating through favouritism, personal connections and what he described as “magomago”, claiming the system can prevent talented people from getting opportunities.

Speaking with TVC, the former Big Brother Africa winner said his criticism was based on his own experiences in the film industry rather than observations from the sidelines.

Faniran argued that recognition in Nollywood does not always reflect the quality of an actor, director or producer’s work, claiming that personal impressions and established relationships can influence who receives opportunities.

“Some people made their own impression of me when I was younger and in Big Brother Africa,” he said, suggesting that such perceptions had affected his career.

He also challenged the reputation of some of the industry’s most prominent figures, saying: “The film producers that you guys see and you know as the biggest are not the most talented film producers. Same with directors. Same with actors.”

Faniran singled out The Fire and the Moth as a project he believed deserved greater recognition, particularly for its director, cinematographer and sound team.

Beyond awards, he alleged that some industry players deliberately obstruct other people’s progress.

“There are also, you know, people who are in the industry that, not that they know much or they have a lot to contribute, but theirs is just to sabotage people,” he said, without identifying anyone.

Rather than wait for the system to change, Faniran said he has chosen to finance his own projects. He cited his 2020 film Man Like Jimmy and his four-part series Bodija, which he said cost him more than N100 million to produce.

He maintained that his criticism was directed at what he sees as a wider industry problem, not at any particular individual, and called for recognition based more firmly on merit.