Are Yoruba celebrities shunned by the mainstream media?

Yesterday (Sunday, March 20, 2016) actress

Mercy Aigbe argued that the cover of the best dressed Nollywood celebs only featured movie stars from the English speaking side of the movie industry, and shunned Yoruba movie actors.

After slamming the magazine for not putting her on the cover she spoke about how the it hasn’t featured a Yoruba movie star on its cover. “Has @thisdaystyle ever featured a yoruba actor on their cover?.........are yoruba movies not part of nollywood? .....is Nollywood not supposed to mean home grown Nigerian movies? .....hmmmmm I am very sure they didn't coz, they won't want to STAIN their cover with a 'RAZZ' 'LOCAL' yoruba actor!....Yes I am razz, Yes I am local and Yes I am a Yoruba actor!.....No I refuse to speak ur almighty English with fake British or American accent!....Because I'll always remain true to myself!...I am ME ....Proud Benin Woman, Proud Ijesha's wife and above all proud Nigerian. ...And just in case e still dey be una like dream 'LOCAL TI TAKE OVER.”

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Well, Mercy Aigbe does have a point. It seems the mainstream entertainment industry in Nigeria has consistently shunned Yoruba celebrities.

When next you stumble on any celeb list- hottest female celebs or hottest male celebs, count how many are from the Yoruba entertainment scene. You will be surprised that stars from the South-West hardly feature in them.

To me Mercy Aigbe is one of the most beautiful and best dressed celebrities in this country. Unfortunately most of the lists from mainstream media houses and publications do not feature her. Why? Maybe because she is predominantly a Yoruba movie actress.

In the mainstream media, there has been a common ugly sentiment within the years that Yoruba celebrities are razz (local, of low taste). So when it comes to representation, the Island-tush oriented media does not reckon with Yoruba movie stars. It can be regarded as a low level blackout.

Not only does the mainstream media shun Yoruba stars it does not even reckon with Northern celebrities. The mainstream media industry is too concerned with the ‘butter’ stars than think of the movie stars and singers up north.

The sentiment of tribalism comes up when you do a quick survey and find out that most of our celebs especially in Nollywood are in the Eastern part of the country. Is Nollywood pro-Igbo? Maybe, maybe not.

I do know that this industry of ours is lazy and instead of spotting talents that are deeply rooted in their respective bases, they go for acts that are not really grounded. What we have now is a bunch of celebrities that have little impact in Nigeria. who are based on hype.

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On the other side of things many Yoruba movie stars are too lax with their image. A lot of them are not serious with their branding and PR like the mainstream stars. The Yoruba movie industry still feels a tad bit amateurish and it affects their general celeb outlook.

Yoruba movie stars have to do more to be seriously taken as celebs. On the other hand the mainstream media has to celebrate those who are polished and refined.

Watch a video of Mercy Aigbe below;