Why Nollywood Filmmakers Can No Longer Freely Use Afrobeats Songs In Movies

Nigerian filmmaker and video director Dami Twitch has shed light on a growing tension between Nollywood and the Afrobeats industry, revealing that filmmakers can no longer freely use popular Nigerian songs in their movies because artists have signed publishing deals with foreign companies.
Speaking on the Afropolitan podcast, the filmmaker — whose real name is Oluwadamilola Owolabi — explained that once an artist signs over their music rights to an international publisher, even personal relationships can no longer bypass the legal and financial requirements for using a song in a film.
“Even if the artist is my friend, they can’t give me permission to use their song freely because they have already entered a contract,” he said.
Twitch noted that licensing fees for Afrobeats songs have become increasingly expensive, putting them out of reach for most independent Nollywood producers who lack the backing of major studios or investors.
He described the current relationship between the two industries as being in “a very weird place,” warning that the financial barrier is slowly eroding the creative synergy that has long existed between Nigerian music and film.
The comments highlight a broader conversation about the consequences of African artists signing with foreign publishing houses. This trade-off may boost individual earnings but comes at a cost to homegrown creative collaboration.