Tunde Kelani warns against unauthorized social media uploads of his classic films
If you have ever sat down to watch “Saworoide” or felt the deep emotions in “Maami,” you know that Tunde Kelani—popularly known as TK—is not just any filmmaker.
He is a “senior man” in the industry, a custodian of our culture, and a master storyteller who has spent decades building the Mainframe Productions brand. However, the legendary cinematographer is currently “not smiling” at all. In a move to protect his life’s work, TK has come out strongly to condemn the way some people are “harvesting” clips from his movies and posting them all over TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube without permission.
As a professional editor who understands the sweat that goes into production, I can tell you that this isn’t just about ego; it’s about the survival of intellectual property in a digital world that often forgets to say “please.”
The “wahala” of digital piracy in the era of TikTok and YouTube
We are living in a time where everyone wants to be a “content creator” by fire by force. The current trend is to take a popular scene from a classic movie, add humorous background music or subtitles, and upload it to garner thousands of likes and shares. While it might look like “vibes and insha Allah” to the person posting, for a creator like Tunde Kelani, it is pure copyright infringement.
These people are using his hard-earned sweat to drive traffic to their own pages and, in some cases, even monetizing the content. TK has observed that this “anyhowness” is becoming too much, especially with his cult classics that define the golden era of Nigerian cinema. It’s one thing to be a fan, but it is another thing entirely to act like you are the co-owner of a project you didn’t spend a kobo to produce.
Why protecting our cinematic heritage is a “must-do” for every Nigerian
Tunde Kelani’s films are more than just entertainment; they are a visual archive of our Yoruba heritage and Nigerian history. When these films are chopped into pieces and scattered across the internet without proper licensing, the quality and the message often get lost in the “shakara” of social media.
TK is emphasizing that his works are assets that belong to a legacy. If we allow people to just “anyhow” these movies today, what will be left for the next generation to value? As an editor, I see this as a wake-up call for all of us to respect the “ginger” and the “level” of work that goes into making a proper film. Promoting a movie is great, but there is a very clear line between “clout-chasing” and official distribution.
The legal “fire-for-fire” awaiting copyright offenders
For those who think this is just a gentle warning that will blow over, you might want to “calculate” again. The Mainframe boss has made it clear that he is ready to take the legal route to stop this “wuru-wuru.”
Copyright laws in Nigeria are becoming sharper, and the digital footprints left by these unauthorized uploads are very easy to track. TK has warned that his team is monitoring the space and will not hesitate to strike down channels or take people to court if they continue to disrespect his intellectual property. The message is simple: if you want to use TK’s work, do the right thing and get a license.
Let’s stop showing our legends “shege” by stealing their content under the guise of being fans. If we want more “correct” movies from the likes of TK, we must ensure they can actually reap the fruits of their labor.
