Nigerian reality TV star and actor Pere Egbi has stirred controversy on social media after claiming that South African films are ahead of Nollywood in several key areas of filmmaking.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on August 18, the Big Brother Naija alum shared his candid opinion, urging Nollywood filmmakers to consider collaborations with their South African counterparts.

“No offense to my Nollywood colleagues, but you see South Africa—they are ahead of us when it comes to film production, storytelling, filmmaking, work ethics, name it. They are ahead. We need to collaborate!” he wrote.

Pere’s statement quickly went viral, igniting heated debate online. While some users agreed with his assessment, others took offense, accusing him of undermining the progress and uniqueness of the Nigerian film industry.

Mixed Reactions Trail Pere’s Comments

Some users on X sided with Pere:

“Only Nigerians with blocked brains will dispute this.”

“Do that kind movie for Nigeria, and the social stigma lives with you forever... It’s not just about sex scenes, but the plot twist and suspense. We’re far behind.”

Others, however, strongly disagreed:

“Coming from someone that just entered Nollywood yesterday. Nollywood has every category—sophisticated films, low-budget films, religious stories, ghetto tales—it reflects our reality.”

“South African movies, though nice, don’t tell the black man’s story. It’s too western and fake in my opinion.”

A South African user even weighed in:

“Many South Africans like myself prefer Nollywood and Bollywood for their wholesome, family-oriented storylines.”

In response to the backlash, Pere doubled down:

“So the problem isn’t Nollywood filmmakers—na Nigerians dey hinder the progress of Nollywood be that. Lol. And you’re right!!!”

The conversation has since evolved into a broader discourse on the future of African cinema, with many calling for unity and strategic partnerships between African film industries to foster growth and global recognition.