Nollywood producers can't freely use Afrobeats in films due to foreign publishing deals
Music video director-turned-filmmaker Dami Twitch has revealed that Nollywood producers can no longer freely use Afrobeats songs in movies without permission. This shift is because most Afrobeats artists now have publishing deals with foreign companies, making legal usage prohibitively expensive for Nigerian filmmakers.
The challenge affects collaboration between Nigeria's film and music industries, with producers unable to afford fees to secure song rights unless backed by investors or major studios. Even personal relationships with artists don't bypass contract limitations, as artists are bound by their publishing agreements.
Twitch explained that the situation puts independent Nigerian producers at a disadvantage since most lack the financial resources to license popular Afrobeats tracks. This development represents a significant barrier to the cultural fusion that previously defined Nollywood soundtracks.
With Afrobeats being a major cultural export, how should the industry balance protecting artists' rights with maintaining accessible creative collaboration for Nigerian filmmakers?