Veteran Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has renewed discussions about Nollywood’s payment system after revealing that she continues to receive residuals and royalties from her Hollywood projects despite spending far longer working in Nigeria’s film industry.
Omotola said she has worked in Hollywood for about five years and regularly receives payments from projects she appeared in there. In contrast, she said her three decades in Nollywood and more than 300 projects have not earned her similar residual payments.
“I’ve only worked in Hollywood for five years, yet I constantly receive envelopes containing my residuals and royalties. I’ve worked in Nollywood for 30 years and have never received a single envelope. Maybe they don’t know where I live,” she said.
The actress had previously spoken about the issue in 2025, comparing her more than 30 years in Nollywood and over 310 projects with just two test projects in Hollywood.
She said the Hollywood productions continued to generate monthly residual payments, while she had received none from her extensive Nollywood filmography.
Residuals are payments made to performers when qualifying films or television productions are reused or distributed through certain platforms and markets. Royalties can also provide continuing income under contracts that allow actors or creators to benefit from the commercial use of their work.
Omotola’s comments have raised questions about the way contracts are negotiated in Nollywood and whether actors have sufficient arrangements to benefit from films that continue to generate revenue after their original release.
The issue also draws attention to ownership of film rights and the financial relationship between performers and productions long after filming has ended.
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For actors who spend decades building careers, their contribution does not necessarily stop when production wraps. Their performances can continue to attract audiences and add value to films years after their release.
Omotola’s experience has therefore sparked a wider conversation about whether Nollywood actors should receive only their initial fees or have opportunities to earn from the continued commercial success of their work.
With Nollywood’s audience expanding globally, the debate over residuals, royalties, contracts and performers’ long-term financial rights is becoming increasingly important.