Jide Kosoko is carrying a debt he never expected. The veteran actor and filmmaker revealed that his epic film, Eleko: Oba Esugbayi, has left him owing investors after failing to recoup its ₦300 million-plus ($224,694) budget.
He disclosed this on the African A-List podcast. The film was released in March 2026 and pulled just ₦18.3 million in its opening weekend.
The 71-year-old explained that third-party investors funded the project as a business venture and expected returns. Cast and crew were fully paid, but after cinema operators and distributors took their cuts, nothing remained to clear the capital.
“Despite the crushing reality, Kosoko kept his humour,” joking that if anyone hears of a debtor dancing, “it’s me.” He credited his children, especially his daughter Sola, for understanding the strain and stepping in with family support.
He also aimed at the theatrical pipeline, saying steep revenue cuts and structural faults make it nearly impossible for independent producers to profit.
He’s not alone. Ramsey Nouah has warned that only a tiny fraction of Nigerian cinema releases break even, while Pere Egbi previously disclosed losing over ₦150 million of his own money on a theatrical release, blaming screen-time allocation and favouritism by major cinema chains.
A veteran of five decades, now dancing with a debt he can’t shake off.
