Nigerian music video director and filmmaker Apampa Owolabi Oluwadamilola, popularly known as Dammy Twitch, has shared the challenges plaguing many Nigerian filmmakers.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, he revealed that due to the publishing deals many Afrobeats artistes have signed with foreign companies, it is hard for filmmakers to use their songs.

According to him, no matter the relationship between the filmmaker and the artiste— it is impossible to receive the license to use the music.

Dammy Twitch further explained that there is no huge funding system for producers to be able to acquire the license to use Afrobeats songs in movies.

He said:
“Nollywood producers can’t freely use Afrobeats songs in movies anymore. Some artists have already sold their music rights, so adding their songs to films becomes difficult

Even if the artist is my friend, they can’t give me permission to use their song freely because they have already entered a contract. That is a major challenge in the movie industry.

“The collaboration between Nollywood and Afrobeats is at a very weird place right now. A lot of producers can’t afford putting Afrobeats songs in their movies unless a big studio or investor supports them. Nigerian producers are mostly independent filmmakers so a lot of us won’t be able to afford it."