Veteran Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK, has condemned the unauthorised posting of film clips on social media, describing the practice as piracy and a violation of intellectual property rights.
Kelani made his stance clear on Facebook on Wednesday, addressing bloggers and social media users who extract scenes from his films and share them online without permission. “This is WRONG! Cutting our films (Saworoide, Agogo Eewo, Ti Oluwa Nile, Thunderbolt: Magun) into unauthorised reels and posting them online is not promotion. It is piracy and the destruction of our cultural work,” he wrote.
He stressed that films are meant to be experienced as complete stories and should not be fragmented for online engagement or personal profit. “A film is a complete story, not fragments for quick views to make quick money illegally. This is stealing openly,” Kelani stated.
The director urged digital content creators to respect copyright laws and support filmmakers through legitimate channels. “Please stop this practice and wickedness! Support creators by watching and sharing films through the proper channels. Let us protect, not diminish, our heritage. Stop this criminality,” he added.
Kelani’s remarks come amid growing concern in Nigeria’s creative industry over the widespread reposting of movie scenes on platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok, often without approval from rights holders.
