Nollywood actress Bukunmi Oluwasina has described the popular phrase “women supporting women” as a scam, especially within the Nigerian film industry.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, the actress revealed that in Nollywood, the idea of women supporting each other rarely lasts long. While some women show support publicly, many do not genuinely stand by one another when it matters most.
Olusina explained that women often find it easier to assist men than their fellow women. For instance, some women would lend money to men to start businesses but hesitate to do the same for another woman.
She clarified that she does not blame anyone for this attitude but believes it reflects a deeper issue among women. This problem is not limited to Nollywood, as the same pattern is visible in other spaces.
Olusina added that while some people claim that women uplift each other, in reality, the support is often fake or short-lived. She also pointed out that there are hardworking women in the entertainment industry who succeed without sponsors.
However, she lamented that the efforts of such women are often downplayed because others hide under their achievements and make it seem as though every successful woman has a sponsor.
She said: “You know say women supporting women for Nollywood na scam. E no dey always long. Even if they support each other, we know how e dey, but we dey see the men and dem dey do am. Everybody know say woman enemy na fellow woman.”
“If you follow one woman talk, you go hear them talk say dem fit borrow man money make e start business, but to borrow fellow woman money make she start business e dey always hard. I no know how the thing dey like that. I no fault anybody, but e just dey.”
“No be only for Nollywood. Women supporting women at some point, you go just see am. Even if dem talk say e dey happen, you go feel am say na scam.”
“E no dey happen, and even if e happen, sometimes e no dey genuine.”
“Women dey industry wey no get sponsor, dem dey do the work, the work dey show, we know dem, we see dem and their work. But na other people wey dey under their shadow dey use am run their thing, dey water down those women effort, making it look like everybody get sponsor.”
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