For lovers of classic Nollywood films, an afternoon of nostalgia binge-watching can quickly become frustrating. A simple YouTube search for iconic titles like Glamour Girls or Intruder often yields disappointing results. Instead of finding the original movie titles, viewers are confronted with supposedly strategically crafted SEO descriptions like, “This Omotola Jalade Ekeinde movie will make you cry” or “I beg every lady, home or abroad, must watch this movie.” Other vague descriptions like, “I never knew that the man I fell for was a rich man” and “This Oge Okoye movie won several awards” add to the confusion. These generic, clickbait-style tags diminish the legacy of these films and make it difficult for viewers to find what they’re looking for, especially those who grew up with these classics and seek to relive them.
A title is more than just a label; it is an identifier and a bridge to the story audiences seek. Finding these movies without the original titles can be discouraging for Nollywood fans. The missing titles sometimes lead to endless scrolling, hoping to stumble upon the right film based on a familiar face or, worse, a vague description. This issue is particularly common with older English-language Nollywood films, unlike Yoruba Nollywood titles, which are usually well-labelled on YouTube.
Proper titles honour the work and legacy of the actors, directors, and creators behind these films. Each title encapsulates the creative vision of the movie, serving as an enduring marker of a specific time in the industry’s evolution. By removing these names in favour of clickbait descriptions, Nollywood classics lose their powerful identity, becoming disposable content rather than pieces of cinematic history.
Understandably, the priority and ultimate strategy is to grab the attention of a broader audience, but using SEO-driven descriptions over authentic titles only favours algorithms over the viewer’s experience. It leaves viewers scrolling through numerous videos to find specific films and overlooks the needs of loyal fans who would rather engage with films they know and love.
Imagine a Nollywood fan searching for a movie featuring Uche Jombo. They enter “Uche Jombo old movies” into YouTube's search bar, hoping to find a list of her popular titles. Instead, they are greeted with multiple videos in which she merely makes an appearance rather than features as the lead, further complicating their search. These wild-goose chases can make the joy of rewatching Nollywood classics far more frustrating than it should be.
Notably, Yoruba Nollywood films generally retain their original titles. This approach may have given Yoruba films a clear advantage; they are easier to find and are often the first to appear in YouTube searches.
The global African diaspora represents a valuable viewership with a strong appetite for the classic stories that defined Nollywood’s early years. For these viewers, the titles act as gateways to reliving cultural experiences and reconnecting with a pivotal era in Nigerian cinema. Mislabeling titles with vague SEO terms can alienate these fans, making Nollywood appear less organised and professional to new international audiences.
In the same vein, removing authentic titles can diminish Nollywood's perceived quality and respectability, hindering the recognition it deserves. These classic films showcase the origins and growth of the Nigerian film industry and are invaluable to Nigeria’s cultural heritage. The decision to correctly title these movies is about preserving this legacy for generations.
Rather than using ‘SEO-driven descriptions over authentic titles, ’ perhaps one can use both to capture loyal and new viewers without compromising authenticity. For instance, “VIOLATED—A classic movie where Joke Silva gave RMD a wicked slap” or "BLOOD SISTERS—watch this movie and find out how Genevieve and Omotola became enemies.” SEO-driven descriptions help algorithms widen search, while original titles help preserve Nollywood's cultural history and identity.
In preserving these titles, we’re honouring Nollywood’s rich history and ensuring that these movies continue to hold a meaningful place in the hearts of their audiences.
- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy