Nigerian movies. Nollywood movies. There’s a clear-cut divide as to how the average Nigerian feels about them. You’re either on one side of the fence or the other.
You either belong to the school of thought that Nigerian movies, like made-in-Nigeria products, are inferior to foreign exports or not. You either turn up your nose at Nollywood productions or place stock in K-drama and swear by 21st Century Fox and foreign cinema, in general.
Especially those of white make.
But this is no racist-fuelled rant or bid to guilt-trip you into watching Nigerian movies. These are just a few reasons why they’re better than you think.
Except, like the character Andy in The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro, you’re fully wired to detest anything of African make; it’s pretty hard to deny that Nollywood has come a remarkably long way.
From the shaky visuals of Living in Bondage, Issakaba, Igodo: The Land of the Living Dead, and Domitila to modern pictures like King of Boys, Breath of Life, and House of Ga’a, the evolution in sets, costumes, cinematography, and scripts is plain to see.
And it gets better every year.
Make what you will of the CGI, which, admittedly, is still catching up to the dizzyingly lofty standards Hollywood sets; there’s no denying that Nollywood stars are every bit as good as their international peers.
While era-defining legends like Ini Edo, Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji, Mercy Johnson, Pete Edochie, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, and Richard Mofe-Damijo still linger in the limelight, newer stars like Tobi Bakre, Nancy Isime, Alexx Ekubo, Osas Ighodaro, Teniola Aladese, and Bimbo Ademoye are thrilling audiences and growing fan bases with their on-screen charm and wonderful, versatile acting skills.
Over the last few years, the number of blockbuster Hollywood movies has arguably dropped. Production companies are investing more in TV series, book adaptations, live-action remakes, reboots, and the extension of established franchises (like the Fast and Furious series) than original pictures, even when it makes no sense to do so.
In all, the trend points to an increasing dearth of originality in scriptwriting.
The Nigerian movie scene, on the other hand, is awash with a rich variety, with stories exploring a wide range of themes. From the romantic comedies of Adire and Christmas in Lagos to the epic blockbusters Jagunjagun and Agesinkole to the banger crime thriller King of Boys, Nigerian motion picture continues to show that it has scope, as well as depth.
While nothing ultimately tops books, Nollywood movies remain a great informational resource for people looking to learn more about the Nigerian way of life.
True, many cultures remain underrepresented in Nigerian films, as the quest to accurately depict the realities of life in thirty-six states and over two hundred and fifty ethnicities continues to be painfully narrowed down to Yorubaland, the east, and the north.
Still, there’s no denying that the actors, producers and directors continue to do their very best to bring Nigerian culture to the big screens, especially in light of obstacles like funding and national security.
If you won’t watch Nigerian movies for the sake of sentiment (no matter how realistic), then perhaps you may be swayed to watch them based on hard facts.
Statistics show that the Nigerian movie industry is the second largest in the world, second only to Bollywood, and outranking Nollywood in terms of the number of films produced. While you’d probably argue that quantity doesn’t always equal quantity, Nollywood’s fast-growing continental and global reputation means that its offerings are more than worth your time.
Nigerian movies, unfortunately, continue to suffer from a lot of stigma, especially at home. However, the trends are changing. Despite funding, logistics and distribution challenges, Nollywood continues to grow, especially with the advent of streaming networks like Amazon Prime and Netflix.
The sky is the limit!
