Veteran Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, recently voiced her disappointment with Turkish Airlines regarding their in-flight entertainment offerings.
In a Wednesday Instagram post, she expressed concern that during her extensive 40-hour flight, the airline did not feature any Nigerian movies, highlighting a diverse array of films from regions like Turkey, Asia, Bollywood, Hollywood, and the Middle East.
Omotola pointed out the absence of African, specifically Nigerian, films and accused the airline of discriminating against African travelers.
Her critique, as a notable figure in the Nigerian film industry, emphasizes the importance of more inclusive entertainment options in international travel that reflect the diversity of the airline’s passengers. This critique gains significance given the global recognition of Nollywood and its role in representing African culture and storytelling.
Expressing her disappointment, Omotola stated, “Dear @turkishairlines, like many other foreign companies, you might be discriminating against African destinations and travelers, and that needs to stop. “
The obvious lack of details or respect shown towards African paying customers spilled to on-ground staff relationships.”
She further recounted an unexplained detour in Uganda that wasn’t in her booking, adding, “All movies from Turkey, Asia, Bollywood, the Middle East, and of course, Hollywood onboard. Not one Nollywood movie! African travelers sometimes pay higher fees to other parts of the globe, so I wonder: Why blatant disrespect and discrimination?”
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