For filmmaker and power biker, Toyin Adebola, to end the frustration arising from movie distribution in Nigeria, most especially on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube, it’s better to float his own streaming space.
Walking his talk, Adebola, who has been in the motion picture industry for about 17 years, unveiled Wanzami TV, a digital streaming platform that puts the interest of creators first, in Lagos recently.
According to the CEO of Wanzami Entertainment, with a pay-per-view model and no monthly subscriptions, Wanzami TV is established to allow filmmakers earn directly from their audiences while retaining up to 70% of their revenue.
Having produced over 10 local and international motorcycle adventure documentaries and seven films, including two full length feature films, Adebola lamented the frustration he encountered while looking for a distribution channel for his 2022 movie, Traffick: The Bloodline.
He recalled: “We struggled with finding a home for the film. YouTube was an option, but it made it hard to make any real returns. I had a similar experience with the cinema release, and it didn’t deliver the results I expected.
“Towards the end of 2023 into 2024, we made a cinema run. I wasn’t quite satisfied with it. And that was when the idea of building a streaming platform came to my mind. I started researching the best way to go about it and the best benefits it would offer the market.”
In 2024, Adebola’s research yielded a tangible result: Wanzami TV, which he described as more than a streaming platform. “It’s a movement. We are handling the power back to the creatives. Watch what you want. Pay only for what you like. No noise, just great films.”
At the launch, Wanzami premiered Quicksand and Those Focking Nigerians; two of its five original films, while the others including Ruin, Traffick and Against Creation are equally available for purchase on the platform.
“Anybody can buy our films from anywhere in the world. We are not limited to Nigeria. We are offering you a platform that sells your film on the global stage. As we speak, people have bought our films in Nigeria and parts of Africa. People have bought our films in America, and in the UK, so we have a very wide, global brand,” the movie producer declared.
An array of Nollywood stakeholders graced the launch. They included Victor Okhai, Co-founder/President, Directors’ Guild of Nigeria, and Queen Blessing Ebigieson, President, Association of Movie Producers (AMP).
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