Nollywood actress Faithia Williams has reflected on her movie journey, days after raising concerns about alleged sabotage affecting her film’s cinema run.
Taking to her Instagram page, the actress expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported her latest movie, Efunroye: The Unicorn, since its release in cinemas. She thanked her fans for their unwavering support and offered prayers for them.
According to Faithia, the movie performed admirably despite being released during a non-festive period, a time often considered challenging for cinema attendance.
“Happy New Month, Efunroye journey so far.
A huge thank you to everyone who has been supportive of the Efunroye journey since it hit cinemas.
To all my fans, this is for you! Thank you, God bless you.
Efunroye actually tried its best for a non-festive period release.
Thank you to everyone supporting, let’s keep it up.
Efunroye is still showing in all cinemas nationwide. Go to the nearest cinema to watch this masterpiece.”
A few days earlier, Williams accused some cinemas of sidelining Efunroye: The Unicorn. She alleged that certain cinema operators reduced the number of screenings allocated to the movie despite apparent audience demand. According to her, several viewers had complained about difficulties finding convenient screening times.
Efunroye: The Unicorn is a historical drama that premiered in cinemas on May 1. The film tells the story of Madam Efunroye Tinubu, the influential 19th-century Yoruba merchant, political strategist, and businesswoman whose legacy continues to generate discussion among historians and cultural enthusiasts.
Faithia’s concerns come amid growing conversations about the challenges filmmakers face within Nigeria’s cinema industry.
Similarly, actor Rotimi Salami recently appealed for support after his movie struggled at the box office. He revealed that he had been unusually quiet on social media due to concerns that the film could be removed from cinemas if ticket sales failed to improve.
Actor IK Ogbonna has also spoken out against what he described as politics and manipulative practices within Nigeria’s cinema industry. Calling for fairness, he urged stakeholders to stop actions that undermine filmmakers, noting that producers invest significant resources into their projects and deserve an equal opportunity to showcase their work and recoup their investments.
The actor also expressed disappointment when the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reportedly objected to the title of Ini Edo’s movie. According to him, the title had been publicly promoted for months without objections, making the backlash appear untimely. He questioned the fairness of remaining silent throughout the promotional campaign only to raise concerns after the project had been released.
In a separate post, Ogbonna maintained that artists should be allowed to exercise their creative rights without undue interference from external bodies. He added that demanding a title change after a project’s release does not align with the values of understanding, fairness, and compassion often associated with Christianity.
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