A young Gambian Film actor who has been featured in some Nigerian Nollywood films is currently being threatened by lack of financial support and opportunities to expand his acting career.
In his early twenties, Musa Darboe is on the verge of becoming one of the Gambia’s top actors, premiering in several Nollywood films with top names in the Nigerian film industry but the young actor’s dreams have hit a low point due to the lack of deserving support to extend his budding and promising career.
“My plan is to quit now,” the young actor who previously worked with big Nollywood names including Destiny Etiko,Jerry Williams and King Paul told Alkamba Times from Banjul, where he is struggling to return to Nigeria to complete some of his pending projects.
Unlike Gambia where professionals acting is fraught with challenges and absence of breakthroughs, Nigeria has a strong film and industry contributing immensely to the Nigerian economy and cultural capital.
Nigerians Films are watched in all parts of the world and Nollywood has since made a powerful break into American Cinema with a robust footing in popular cinematic platforms such as Netflix.
“On the 14th May 2021, a Nollywood film producer took me to Nigeria Delta State Asaba to act some films in Nollywood which is one of the biggest film industries in the world. After I commenced shooting, I saw how things are done in Nollywood and decided to stay there to focus on my career, but after my contract expired, I had to come back to the Gambia,” Darboe said.
“When I returned to Gambia, I premiered a new film I produced but the turnout was very poor abd this dashed my hopes of producing more films in Gambia and all I can think of now is going back to Nigeria to continue my acting career. I was hoping to raise funds from my film premiering but unfortunately things turned out bad.” the young Actor said.
‘I have 7 film projects to shoot in Nollywood and the producer said he can take care of my flight and feeding but I have to take care of other expenses including accommodation.
“The producer is a very good, honest and straight forward person. Now I need to go back to Nigeria at the end of October but couldn’t because I still can’t raise money to pay for my accommodation… I am calling on Gambians to come to my aid to make my dream come true,” Darboe emotionally told Alkamba Times.
Musa Darboe was featured in a Ngozi Ezeono movie, Save a Soul, Blood and Promise with Denilson Igwe and while in the Gambia, he produced films such as, Ungrateful Girl, The Brave Restless Student and The return of the legend among others.
