Chinedu Ikedieze, the veteran Nollywood actor famous for his role as “Aki” in the popular movie “Aki and Pawpaw,” has shared his perspective on the ongoing “Old vs. New” Nollywood debate.

According to Aki, this phrase, which has gained traction on social media, was coined by overzealous Gen Z actors who may be trying to establish their dominance in the industry.

Aki made these comments during the latest episode of the TeaTalk podcast, which was hosted by actress Toke Makinwa.

In his remarks, Aki stated, “There’s this thing now, Old Nollywood and New Nollywood. It’s absurd. I think the Gen Zs in Nollywood are trying to make it look like, ‘Oh! We’re the latest. We’re the Hollywood standards. We’re the best. We know it all.”

However, comedian Bovi, who was also a guest on the podcast, held a different viewpoint.

He argued that the tendency to look down on newcomers is not exclusive to Gen Z actors.

Bovi highlighted that this behavior is a common issue in Nigeria, especially within the entertainment industry, where established actors may question the newcomers.

Bovi stated, “It’s not even just them (Gen Z). Let me tell you one thing that is common. I think it’s general in Nigeria, but let me speak on the entertainment industry. Those who came before tend to look down on newcomers. They would be like, ‘Who’s this? Me, I’ve been in this business. I’m an aunty. She just came and said hi. Who’s this guy? He can’t behave himself. Does he know how long you’ve been doing it?”