Saturday, 11 March 2017

NOLLYWOOD AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTION OF INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN CULTURES

Film is a very unique and special medium for the
projection of a country’s image. It is easily accessible and
often watched by people, who do not have contact with
any other form of art. That is why it is able to reach a
wider audience, young people and even audiences with
fewer language capabilities. Film educates, informs, and
entertains.
However, Nollywood is the name that is generally
ascribed to all Nigerian films. It has become a major
industry in the Nigerian economy; employing millions of
youths. Nollywood is fast growing and has been identified
as the third largest film market in the world after
Hollywood and Bollywood. In the past, Nollywood films
were mostly consumed in the form of CDs and DVDs, but
currently Nollywood films are watched all over the world
as they can be assessed through various international
platforms. Few standard Nollywood films have been made
available on Neflix, world’s most popular online film
content provider. This shows that people all over the
world now see Nigeria films.In particular, over the past
few decades, Nigeria cinema has begun to experience
greater international recognition.
In this regards, one can rightly say that Nollywood is a
good tool, if not the best, in exporting and promotion of
Nigerian culture. It is worthy to note that most films
produced in Nigeria in one way or the other, showcases
Nigerian way of lives, otherwise termed culture.
Culture encompass the way a set of people behaves, their
belief system, their language, their art forms, their food,
the way they dress and so on.
Despite being a gigantic country influenced by dramatic
social changes, undergoing political unrest and turbulent
economic transitions, Nigeria also possesses one of the
richest cultural heritages in the world.
Nollywood crew on set_
There are various aspect of Nigeria culture that
Nollywood should promote:
LANGUAGE: There are approximately 250 ethnic groups
and tribes in Nigeria and each group has its own
language. The three main groups are Hausa-Fulani,
Yoruba and Igbo. Many films were/are being done in
these three major languages. We call them indigenous
Nollywood movies. The Yoruba film industry is booming
with thousands of Yoruba movies turned out yearly. The
Hausa are doing great in producing good quality movies
in their language. The industrious Igbos are not left
behind as they also produce standard movies and TV
series in their language. Thanks to Africa Magic for
creating separate Channels for these indigenous
language movies in DSTV. This singular act has improved
the viewership of such indigenous films, as well as
encouraged the producer to do better films. People can
now watch these movies from different part of the world.
There are also local awards for these categories of
Nollywood movies. For instance, in the Africa Magic
Viewers Choice Awards, there is a category for Best
Indigenous Movies in the three major languages of
Nigeria.
Having said all this, one can richly say that Nollywood
promotes the Nigerian Languages.
FOOD:
Nigeria Foods consists of dishes or food items from the
hundreds of ethnic groups that comprise Nigeria. Food is
an aspect of culture, as it is peculiar to a set of people.
Nollywood also promotes the rich food of the Nigerian
people. By using these local foods as props in
productions, people from other part of the world get to
see and appreciate them.
FESTIVALS:
Africans are known with festivity. In Nigeria, there are
different kinds of festivals. Each festival patterns to the
belief and traditions of the host community. These
festivals are rich in culture. Incorporating these festivals
in the stories of our films is a good way to promote them.
A lot of Nollywood films like Igodo have done this.
TRADITIONS AND HISTORY:
You can’t remove history and tradition from the culture
any people. This is one area that a lot of new and
innovative film makers in Nollywood have ventured into.
Every set of people or tribe in Nigeria has a peculiar story
about them. For instance, Izu Ojukwu’s 76, Kunle
Afolanya’s October 1, Lancelotte’s Invassion 1876,
Oloibiri, 93 Days, Half of A Yellow Sun, e t c, all tell stories
of our past. There are still many untold stories of our past
which define our present and Nollywood need to tell such
stories.
CLOTHING:
In film making, it is referred to as Costumes. Nollywood
promotes the Nigeria dresses like Buba, Gele, Agbada,
local fabrics and so on, including our caps. There are
thousands of epic Nollywood movies which are rich in
Nigerian clothing and dressing styles. For instance, in
Oloibiri, the clothing of the Niger Delta people is
portrayed, in Invasion 1876, the clothing of Benin people
is portrayed, same way the style of dress of the Igbos
was portrayed in Igodo.
ARTS: Dance, paintings, sculpture, music
Nigerians have unique art forms which are embedded in
their cultures. The way the Hausas dance is not the way
the Igbos dance. The way the Yorubas dance and sing is
quite different from the day the Igalas dance and sing
too. It continues like that. Nollywood has helped to
transport some of these Nigerian Arts to the rest of the
world. Nigerian music and dance are obvious in all
Nollywood epics.
MARRIAGE:
Marriage is another aspect of culture which Nollywood
seeks to project by portraying it. Most foreigners who
have never been to Nigeria now know how the people of
Nigeria marry.
In conclusion, I have to call on Nollywood producers and
directors to be mindful of what they portray in their films.
This is because the world will see us the way we present
ourselves to them. Nollywood should continue to tell our
stories and by doing so promote and project the Nigeria
Cultures.

Alabatvnews.

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