The Christian Association of Nigeria has issued a strong rebuke against the title of Nollywood film ‘A Very Dirty Christmas’, calling it deeply offensive to Christian values and demanding that actress and producer Ini Edo issue a public apology for what the religious body describes as a trivialization of the sacred Christmas season.
Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN, released a statement on Wednesday expressing the umbrella Christian organisation’s dismay at the film’s title, which he said diminishes the spiritual significance of Christmas and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational. The Association represents millions of Christians across Nigeria and serves as the primary voice for Christian interests in the country’s multi-religious landscape.
“Christmas is a sacred season that marks the birth of Jesus Christ and represents purity, peace, love and redemption, and linking such a holy celebration with the word ‘dirty’ diminishes its spiritual meaning and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational,” Archbishop Okoh stated in the official release.
The controversy centres on the perceived juxtaposition of the word “dirty” with Christmas, a season that Christians worldwide associate with the birth of Jesus Christ and values such as holiness, renewal and divine grace. CAN argues that the title not only offends Christian sensibilities but also demonstrates a lack of sensitivity towards religious symbols during one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar.
Beyond the religious objections, the Christian body has raised serious questions about regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s film industry. CAN expressed surprise that the National Film and Video Censors Board, the government agency responsible for classifying and regulating films in Nigeria, approved the title for public exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season when religious sentiment runs especially high.
“The Association is concerned that a film bearing such a title passed through regulatory and professional channels without adequate scrutiny. CAN therefore calls on the National Film and Video Censors Board to explain how the title was approved for public exhibition, particularly during the Christmas season,” Archbishop Okoh stated, directing pointed criticism at the regulatory body’s approval process.
The NFVCB, established under Decree No. 85 of 1993 and operating under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, is mandated to regulate the film and video industry in Nigeria, including the classification of films and videos and the censorship of materials deemed unsuitable for public viewing. The board’s apparent approval of the controversial title has now placed it under scrutiny from one of Nigeria’s most influential religious organisations.
CAN has also called upon Nollywood’s professional bodies, including the Actors Guild of Nigeria and other industry stakeholders, to adopt a firmer stance on the use of religious themes and symbols in ways that may offend faith communities. The Association argues that self-regulation within the industry should complement government oversight to prevent similar controversies in future.
While affirming its respect for creative freedom and artistic expression, CAN emphasised that such freedoms must be exercised with responsibility and cultural sensitivity, particularly in a religiously diverse society like Nigeria, where Christianity and Islam are the two dominant faiths, alongside traditional religious practices.
“CAN respects creative freedom and artistic expression, but such freedom must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity, especially in a religiously diverse society like Nigeria. Creativity should build understanding and unity, not provoke or offend deeply held beliefs,” the CAN President said in the statement.
The Association has specifically called on Ini Edo, a prominent figure in Nollywood who has starred in numerous films and established herself as both an actress and producer, to address the concerns raised by the Christian community. CAN’s statement explicitly named the actress and urged her to demonstrate sensitivity by reconsidering the film’s title and issuing a public apology.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria therefore calls on the producers and promoters of the film to reconsider the title, issue a public apology, and take deliberate steps to ensure that religious symbols and sacred seasons are treated with the dignity they deserve. In this regard, CAN calls on the producer, Ini Edo, to show sensitivity and address the concerns raised by the Christian community,” the statement demanded.
The timing of this controversy is particularly significant, as Nigeria continues to grapple with various moral and social challenges, including religious tensions in certain regions, economic hardship and security concerns. CAN warned that actions perceived as trivialising sacred values risk deepening existing divisions and eroding the mutual respect necessary for peaceful coexistence among citizens of different faiths.
“At a time when the nation is already facing serious moral and social challenges, actions that trivialise sacred values only deepen division and erode mutual respect,” Archbishop Okoh added, highlighting the broader social implications of the controversy.
This incident reflects ongoing tensions between creative expression and religious sensitivity in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Nollywood, which has grown to become one of the world’s largest film industries by volume of production, frequently draws on religious themes and imagery in its storytelling. However, the industry has occasionally faced criticism from religious organisations over content deemed offensive or inappropriate.
Despite the forceful language in its statement, CAN stressed its commitment to peaceful engagement and dialogue. The Association stated that whilst it will continue to speak out when it perceives the dignity of the Christian faith to be undermined in public discourse, it remains open to constructive conversation with stakeholders in the entertainment industry.
“CAN remains committed to peaceful engagement but will continue to speak out whenever the dignity of the Christian faith is undermined in the public space,” the statement concluded.
