The landscape of Nigerian cinema is undergoing a significant shift as filmmakers face new hurdles in using popular music. Dami Twitch, a director who transitioned from music videos to movies, recently shared that the era of freely incorporating Afrobeats tracks into Nollywood films is over. He explained that most Afrobeats stars have entered into publishing agreements with international companies, making it legally complex and costly to secure song rights.
During an appearance on the Afropolitan podcast, Twitch elaborated on the challenges. He noted that even if a producer is friends with an artist, they can’t simply get permission to use a song because the artist’s contract with a foreign publisher restricts such freedoms. This has placed many independent filmmakers in a difficult position, as they often lack the financial backing needed to afford licensing fees.
Twitch described the current relationship between Nollywood and Afrobeats as being in a ‘weird place.’ He emphasized that unless a major studio or investor steps in, most producers cannot afford to include hit songs in their projects. This development is reshaping how music is integrated into films, potentially altering the collaborative spirit that once existed between the two industries.