Multi-award-winning film director, producer, and broadcaster, Prince Daniel, has opened up about the rejection he faced in both Kannywood and Nollywood due to his background.
According to the online newspaper Pulse, Daniel spoke at a Q&A session following the screening of his film at the American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre during the 2025 Nollywood in Hollywood event, in which he reflected on the struggles that shaped his journey.
Nigeria’s 2025 Oscars entry, Mai Martaba, directed by Prince Daniel, opened this year’s Nollywood in Hollywood, held at the prestigious Egyptian Theatre and the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, from February 28 to March 1, 2025.
“I found myself in a difficult position because I’m from the North, but I am a Christian,” he was quoted as saying.
“Kannywood, being a predominantly Muslim industry, didn’t fully accept me. On the other hand, Nollywood, which is largely Christian, didn’t accept me because I was from the North. I felt stuck between two worlds,” he stated.
His fortunes changed when Mai Martaba was chosen to represent Nigeria at the Oscars.
“The dynamics changed after that,” Daniel said.
Beyond industry rejection, he also battled financial constraints.
“Nobody wanted to invest because I wasn’t a well-known director,” he revealed.
Prince Daniel, Director Mai Martaba, at the Nollywood in Hollywood event
Finding safe filming locations was another challenge, given security concerns.
“With the threat of Boko Haram and kidnapping, we had to carefully select safe areas,” he said. “We ultimately filmed in Daura, the hometown of former President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The most devastating setback came when the production team lost nearly half of their footage due to carelessness.
“We lost almost 46% of the entire production,” Daniel admitted, prompting audible gasps from the audience. The only solution was to rework the narrative.
“What you see now is a reconstructed version of the film,” he explained. “We are not proud of what happened, but that’s the reality,” he said.
In a desperate bid to salvage the film, Daniel sought guidance from his post-production supervisor.
“I called him and asked if anything could be done. He responded with a verse from the Bible: ‘Dry bones shall rise again,’” he added.
