“Make I No Dance To Promote My Movie Nko?”–Iyabo Ojo Throws Subtle Shade At Colleagues Over Movie Promotion

 

Image: Instagram 

In the vibrant world of Nollywood marketing, one of the latest debates revolves around how actors and filmmakers sell their movies in a social‑media‑driven era. Leading the charge recently is Iyabo Ojo, who is unapologetically defending her decision to dance online to promote her upcoming cinema release, Arinzo.

 As the film gears up for its premiere later this month, the seasoned actress took to her Instagram page to address critics who feel energetic dance videos are unbecoming of serious movie promotions.

In her post, Iyabo playfully questioned why she shouldn’t engage in dance as part of her publicity efforts, writing: “Make I no dance to promote my movie nke.” Her message was clear if dancing helps her create buzz and connect with audiences, she’ll do it without hesitation.

However, Iyabo’s light‑hearted stance comes amid a wider industry conversation about professionalism and marketing norms. Veteran actress Omotola Jalade‑Ekeinde recently weighed in on the topic, saying she has no issue with dancing for fun, but she draws the line when it feels like an obligatory tactic for movie promotion. 

She explained that while she enjoys dancing personally, she would not dance just because it is expected as part of a publicity strategy. According to her, such obligation feels “unprofessional,” and she believes the strength of a film should lie in its storytelling and structured marketing rather than viral dance clips.

Supporting similar sentiments, renowned filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has commented that trending dance‑based marketing doesn’t appeal to him. At a film business event, he questioned the value of chasing high box-office figures if the filmmakers themselves see limited financial returns in the end.

 He also admitted he has no interest in joining the dance craze, suggesting that Nollywood should explore more sustainable marketing methods beyond viral skits and routines.

This ongoing debate highlights a divide in Nigeria’s film industry: on one hand, actors like Iyabo Ojo embrace modern promotional tactics to boost visibility and audience engagement, while on the other, industry veterans like Omotola and Kunle call for more traditional approaches that focus on the craft and business fundamentals of filmmaking. 

Whether dancing becomes an accepted norm or remains a personal choice, the conversation shows Nollywood continues to evolve with changing audience habits and digital culture.

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