Nollywood Actress Lilian Afegbai Calls Out Industry Divide Over Platform Labels

Actress and filmmaker Lilian Afegbai has raised concerns about the growing division in the entertainment industry, where creatives are often categorized based on the platforms they use. In a recent Instagram post, she criticized the culture of labeling actors, particularly those associated with platforms like YouTube, which she believes creates a hierarchy that undermines their talent and contributions.
Afegbai argued that this mindset restricts the growth of emerging actors and filmmakers, noting her personal experiences of being dismissed as “not a YouTube face” and receiving undervalued offers from producers. She emphasized that such labels prevent newer talent from being recognized and given opportunities to showcase their abilities.
The actress further pointed out that the audience’s tendency to judge films based on the presence of specific actors, instead of focusing on the quality of the work, is detrimental to the industry. She called for greater room for new actors and viewers to stop limiting their expectations to established stars.
In her video, Afegbai urged others to continue growing and staying true to themselves, despite being overlooked by some. She highlighted that an individual’s worth is not diminished by others’ failure to recognize their growth, and encouraged creatives to keep shining, regardless of external judgments.