Film is much more than simply entertainment. Film has
the capacity to change a country that is swimming in
corruption like Nigeria.
Fela Kuti used his afro-beat music as a tool for fighting
bad government in Nigeria and Africa. Lucky Dube and
Bob Marley used their reggae music to fight apartheid and
racial discrimination in Africa. Many other Nigeria
musicians used their music to criticise the bad policies
and actions of the government, thereby fighting bad
governance. Music is an art just as film. If music can be
used successfully to call our bad rulers to order, why
can’t film be used also to engineer social and political
change in Nigeria.
For instance, Fela’s song “Government of Crooks”
focused on the corrupt use of oil by our Nigeria leaders.
He used the song “Music Against Second Slavery” to
discourage an attempt by Northern rulers of this country
to Islamize Nigeria. “Don Don Overtake” was another
song Fela used to attacked the constant succession of
military government in Africa and the austerity
programmes they imposed on the people. Fela continues
his attack on the general oppression with songs such as
“Chop And Clean Mouth Like Nothing Happened, Na New
Name For Stealing”, which focused on the draining of
African resources through the combined effort of Nigeria
corrupt leaders and international organisations like IMF.
No doubt, Fela used music to fight for positive change in
the Nigeria political system. Nollywood filmmakers can
as well use their films to fight for positive change in
Nigeria. Films can help change a society for better.
However, there has been films done in the past that seek
positive change of attitude in the Nigeria political system.
For instance, Black November , a film by Jet Amata shows
the oil struggle in the Niger Delta and criticised lack of
government support and care for the people of that
region. Films has capacity to change Nigeria. How can
this be possible…
Movies have always been an effective way to
communicate messages and ideas to a captive audience
— now digital media allows us to keep those messages
alive long after people leave the cinema. More and more
filmmakers are using their projects as centerpieces of
action campaigns, prolonging the impact the film has and
turning awareness about an issue into action that brings
about real change. For instance, Stephenie Okereke’s film
“ Dry“, deals on child abuse and issues relating to girl child
in Africa. It gives a form of orientation to Africans on the
menace of child abuse and thereby help to achieve a
positive social change in the society. Filmmakers can
also do films that will show the evils of our corrupt
leaders; condemning them and calling for a positive
change.
This is achievable through a good storyline. Storyline is
the spine of a film. Satire is the best story for this
approach. Filmmakers should use the happenings of our
society as inspiration while drafting stories. They should
tell the stories of our corrupt leaders; how they steal our
money, how they care less about the poor masses, and so
on. Everyday we keep hearing in the news how our
leaders loot our national treasury, but film makers are not
telling the stories in their films. When such stories of bad
governance by our corrupt leaders are continually told in
our films, with the aim of correcting such ill, it will help to
curtail the menace. This is because, the leaders will be
afraid of such satirical criticism and therefore be mindful
of their actions and inaction while in power.
Another way filmmakers can fight for good governance
through their films is by creating characters of
verisimilitude; characters of close resemblance to real
people. Fela said in his song, “who kill Giwa, na Baba, if
you put am gida na you sabi…” In that line, he has made
his point clear without directly calling somebody’s name.
It is common to hear that billions of naira are found in the
private homes of politicians and past leaders of Nigeria.
But I am yet to see a film that mocks this corrupt
individuals, and therefore scare others from engaging in
such evil act.
Music is an element of Fillm which can be used in
emphasising positive political change in our films.
Filmmakers can use dramatic scores or theme songs that
mocks and criticise bad leaders in their films.
However, one should also consider several factor that
restrict Nigeria filmmakers from criticising the corrupt
leaders through their films as Fela did through music. I
recall that the film “ Half of a Yellow Sun”, was banned by
the Nigeria government because it exposes some of their
weaknesses. This is just a case out of many similar
cases. It’s obvious that Nigerian government are not
willing to entertain public criticism. So they use either DSS
or NBC to restrict the filmmakers from expressing their
views on bad governance. Nevertheless, Fela was also
fought by the ruthless military government but he never
gave up. So filmmakers should be courageous, bearing in
mind they have freedom of expression, and should go
ahead to conscientiously produce films that fight bad
governance and adore credible leadership.
Alabatvnews.
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