Veteran Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has revealed that she receives residual payments from her Hollywood projects after just five years in the industry, despite spending three decades in Nollywood without receiving similar payments.
The actress made the revelation during a podcast conversation while reflecting on her career in Nigeria’s film industry and her experience working in Hollywood.
Omotola said she recently returned from Los Angeles to find a pile of residual payments waiting for her from her Hollywood projects.
“The fact that I’ve only worked how many jobs in LA, I just got back from LA and my envelope is packed, pile of residuals waiting for me. But I’ve only put in five years in Hollywood. I’ve put in 30 years here and I’ve never received an envelope,” she said.
Residuals are additional payments made to performers when their work continues to generate revenue through subsequent uses such as television reruns, streaming, syndication or other forms of distribution, depending on applicable contracts and industry agreements.
Omotola’s comments have renewed attention on the differences between the compensation structures in Hollywood and Nollywood, particularly the issue of whether Nigerian actors benefit financially when films continue to generate revenue after their initial release.
The actress, who began her career as a teenager, has become one of Nollywood’s most prominent figures, featuring in hundreds of films and earning recognition in Nigeria and internationally.
Her remarks also highlight longstanding concerns within Nigeria’s creative industry over contracts, intellectual property rights and mechanisms for ensuring performers receive continuing financial benefits from commercially successful productions.
Hollywood’s residual system operates within established industry frameworks, including performers’ unions and collective bargaining agreements that determine when and how eligible actors receive additional payments when their work is reused or redistributed.
Omotola’s experience has therefore sparked fresh discussion about the need for stronger contractual protections and more sustainable compensation models for Nigerian actors and other creatives.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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