The outgoing President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr. Ejezie Emeka Rollas (MON), has stepped forward to address the recent friction between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the creative community. The tension stems from the release of Ini Edo’s latest film, “A Very Dirty Christmas,” which the religious body has criticized as being offensive to the faith.
In a move to de-escalate the situation, Rollas called for mutual respect and a more constructive dialogue between faith-based institutions and filmmakers. The AGN leader argued that the movie’s title is not a swipe at the body of Christ or the sanctity of the season. Instead, he described it as a metaphorical and creative tool used to highlight the messy, complicated realities that many people face during the holidays. He insisted that the film does not mock Christianity or its core doctrines in any way.
Rollas was firm in his defense of the project, stating that anyone who watches the film in its entirety would see that it contains no scenes intended to ridicule or demean the faith. He noted that while Christmas is a sacred time of redemption and hope, it is also a period where real-life human challenges come to the forefront. These “layered realities” are what the film explores, and Rollas believes that artistic diversity should not be confused with a lack of reverence for the holiday.
The AGN President also spoke highly of Ini Edo’s personal convictions, describing her as a committed Christian who would never intentionally disparage the faith she holds dear. He explained that as a professional, her work often tackles raw, lived experiences that might not always fit into conventional social boxes, but that this is simply the nature of storytelling rather than an act of hostility toward religion.
Furthermore, the statement addressed CAN’s grievances regarding the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board’s decision to approve the title. Rollas pointed out that the Censors Board works within a strict legal framework that balances moral sensitivity with the freedom of creative expression. He also reminded critics that even within Christianity, different denominations view the celebration of Christmas in various ways, suggesting that there is no single “correct” way to portray the season in art.
As the debate continues to unfold on the message from the Actors Guild remains clear: the industry is open to feedback, but it also asks for the space to tell human stories without being unfairly labeled as anti-faith.
