CAN blasts Ini Edo over ‘offensive’ Christmas movie title
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In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said while it respects creative freedom and artistic expression, such liberties must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity, particularly in a religiously diverse society like Nigeria.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned the title of a new Nollywood movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, describing it as offensive and disrespectful to the Christian faith.
CAN said Christmas is a sacred season that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolises purity, peace, love and redemption, noting that associating the celebration with the word “dirty” diminishes its spiritual significance and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational.
In a statement signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN said while it respects creative freedom and artistic expression, such liberties must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity, particularly in a religiously diverse society like Nigeria.
The Christian body stressed that creativity should promote unity and mutual understanding, not provoke or offend deeply held religious beliefs.
CAN also expressed concern that a film with such a title passed through regulatory and professional channels without adequate scrutiny.
It therefore called on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to explain how the title was approved for public exhibition, especially during the Christmas season.
The association further urged industry bodies, including the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and other Nollywood stakeholders, to take a clear position on the use of religious themes and symbols in ways that could offend faith communities.
CAN also appealed to 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.
Specifically, the association called on the movie’s producer, Ini Edo, to show sensitivity and address the concerns raised by the Christian body.
“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,” CAN added.
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