Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo has defended her unconventional approach to promoting her latest film, responding to critics who questioned her use of dance and colloquial expressions on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ojo, a veteran of Nollywood and one of the industry\u2019s most recognizable figures, sparked debate after posting a video in which she danced while urging fans to support the movie. In the clip, she quipped in Pidgin English: \u201cMake I no dance ke? Oya say, tufi kwa.\u201d<\/em> The phrase, loosely translated, means \u201cWhy shouldn\u2019t I dance? Say it\u2019s not possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her comments came after some observers suggested her promotional style was unprofessional or distracting. Ojo dismissed the criticism, saying her methods reflect both her personality and the evolving nature of film marketing in Nigeria. \u201cI am an entertainer, and I will always find creative ways to connect with my audience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The exchange highlights the growing role of social media in Nollywood\u2019s publicity campaigns. With platforms like Instagram and TikTok shaping audience engagement, actors and producers increasingly rely on viral content to generate buzz. Ojo\u2019s dance video quickly spread across Nigerian online communities, drawing both praise and skepticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporters argue her approach is refreshing and authentic, helping to humanize celebrities and bring attention to films in a crowded market. Critics counter that such tactics risk trivializing serious artistic work. The debate reflects broader tensions in Nollywood between traditional promotional strategies and the fast\u2011paced, personality\u2011driven culture of digital media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ojo\u2019s career has long been marked by bold choices. Known for her outspoken views and willingness to challenge norms, she has built a reputation as both an actress and a cultural influencer. Her defense of her promotional style underscores her determination to remain relevant in an industry where competition for audience attention is fierce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For international readers, the controversy illustrates how Nollywood \u2014 Africa\u2019s largest film industry \u2014 is adapting to global trends. As streaming platforms expand and Nigerian films reach wider audiences, marketing strategies are evolving to blend local culture with digital innovation. Ojo\u2019s dance video may be unconventional, but it reflects a larger shift toward personality\u2011driven promotion that resonates with younger viewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether her critics are convinced or not, Ojo\u2019s stance is clear: she will continue to embrace creativity and humor in her work. \u201cI dance because I can, and because it brings joy,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s what entertainment is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo has defended her unconventional approach to promoting her latest film, responding to critics who questioned her use of dance and colloquial expressions on social media. Ojo, a veteran of Nollywood and one of the industry\u2019s most recognizable figures, sparked debate after posting a video in which she danced while urging fans […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":26682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25,5,18,3],"tags":[5599,5595,5591,5589,5597,5593],"class_list":["post-26681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-international","category-lifestyle","category-naija-news","tag-impact-of-nollywood-stars-on-movie-campaigns","tag-iyabo-ojo-dance-video-response","tag-iyabo-ojo-film-marketing-controversy","tag-iyabo-ojo-movie-promotion-style","tag-nollywood-star-movie-publicity-debate","tag-nollywood-unconventional-movie-campaign"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.funminews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Iyabo-Ojo-ac.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26681"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26683,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26681\/revisions\/26683"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.funminews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}