After four years, Netflix has finally dropped a teaser for the long awaited second season of Blood Sisters.
But not long after the teaser dropped, people began voicing their displeasure with what they deemed as inaccuracies. Particularly with the prison uniforms.
The scene showed some of the characters in prison wearing khaki outfits that looked very similar to the orange prison uniforms prisoners in countries like the US wear. And instantly, people started complaining that it did not look Nigerian enough.
But some of these inaccuracies are not simply the result of mediocrity. In some cases, it’s a fear of something bigger.
For example, did you know the producers of Gangs of Lagos were sued for 10 billion naira over their portrayal of the Eyo Masquerade institution in the film?
The lawsuit, filed by Isale Eko Descendants Union, alleged that the film wrongly associated the revered Eyo Masquerade with murder and gang violence. The case was eventually settled amicably through a formal apology from Amazon and the filmmakers to the Isale Eko people.
Similarly, the 2025 movie, Badagry, faced backlash from the Ogu General Assembly who argued that the film misrepresented their community as violent.
After the public uproar and intervention of the National Film and Videos Censor Board, the producers had to retitle the film to “I Bad”.
But public outrage is only one part of the equation. There’s also censorship. In 2024, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) banned the depiction of smoking in movies with the goal of achieving a smoke free Nollywood.
Outside of budget constraints or logistical issues, these restrictions play a huge role in stifling the creative freedom of filmmakers.
When the choice is between changing a few things or not getting the story out at all, it’s not surprising that many filmmakers choose the former.
So the next time you want to criticise a Nollywood film for getting certain details wrong, remember that not every inaccurate detail is proof of incompetence.
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