The Trending Nollywood

The prestige of every society or country is its ability to develop its cultural heritage, and boldly share it with people of other culture through diverse means; it could be by boldly exhibiting it in the public as a lifestyle, practicing it in art and technology, packaging and airing it on radio or transmitting it via television for the heterogeneous and large audience viewership.

Before 1992, Nigerians were less interested to watch local Television programmes, but more interested to watch Indian, American, European etc. movies, and visual contents. This addiction made us to crave more for anything foreign; be it electronics, fashion, technology etc. We desired to eat like them, walk like them and dress like them. But as the years passed by, gradually, we started to value who we are. I credit the greater part of this development to Nollywood industry.

Nollywood was given birth to after the release of Living in Bondage Igbo movie in 1992, the movie that brought to Nigerians the consciousness of their environment and made them to love and crave for their media contents. In a short while, this child grew to the admiration of many. The Ghanaians, who helped to build it learnt and copied a lot from it to start their Ghallywood.   Today, Nollywood is rated the second largest film industry in the world after Bollywood and it generates millions of dollars yearly to Nigerian economy.  

Like every other industry, Nollywood is not free from challenges; of piracy, funding or sponsorship, trial and error, criticisms, etc.  Despite its numerous challenges, Nollywood has continued to thrive. However, it is limited by corruption that has eaten deep into Nigeria’s economy. The inability to account for and judiciously utilize the money budgeted for every sector has made it impossible for this thriving industry to go beyond where it is presently. There are also men and women; leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs or business moguls who can make something better out of this industry by way of sponsorship or partnership, but they prefer to acquire landed properties at home and abroad, and store their millions in foreign bank accounts. On the other hand, piracy has made it impossible for these talented Nigerians to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Our leaders need to see to it that policies against piracy and violation of copywright are implemented. It is not all about making laws. We need to appreciate the effort they are making in transmitting our rich cultures to the world.

They make mistakes, just like other entertainment industries like Bollywood and Hollywood. Such fake scenes as television coming on and going off after a target news in movies, leaving doors that are supposed to be shut open, even at night just to give room for something to happen, etc. are common to all the ‘woods’ and not just Nollywood. In addition, from my own observation, I will not deny the fact that Nollywood are prone to some common mistakes which are:

Ø The disgusting manner in which they give title to their movies that has many parts i.e., they can give a title: Real Love to a movie and tag it part one and two, then go ahead to continue the same movie and title it Enduring Love. Haba!

Ø They miss out the beauty of suspense in their movies. The title of the movies, the characters and sound track tell their audience what to expect.

Ø Some Nollywood movies are created to portray foreign cultures instead of Nigerian culture. If they want to create movies with themes on culture contact, cultural differences or clash of cultures, then let their foreign counterpart take the foreign roles while Nigerians take the local roles. It will make it look real. Nigerians should stop faking Americana!

Ø They bore their audience most times by overstretching some scenes. Etc.

Some of the above mistakes common to Nollywood industry are however noticed from time to time in other foreign movies and therefore should not be the reason to crucify Nollywood. Criticisms should be made in a constructive manner to enable them correct their mistakes and serve us better.

Nobody is above mistake. There are book reviewers who work for authors by way of proof reading their works and making corrections and contributions, useful to the themes in focus, before books are published for public consumption. I urge Nollywood industry to set up a committee of intelligent critics, selected from among entertainment professionals from different works of life, who can always sit together and view their master copies, analyze, criticize constructively and make useful contributions and corrections before the mass production and circulation of movies.

Nollywood has contributed immensely to Nigerian economy by offering employment opportunities to many Nigerians; graduates and non-graduates, young and old etc., and it has taken so many youths off the streets. Moreover, it has been at the forefront in marketing Nigeria to the world, alongside football, and therefore, should be nurtured and empowered.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi