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Why We Think Nollywood Is Promoting Nigeria Internationally

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It wasn’t until the 1990s, when a grassroots movement in Nigeria emerged and shaped the Nollywood that we have come to understand today.

Why Nollywood is Called Nollywood

Nollywood was unplanned – it sprang from the interplay of a few unique coincidences and circumstances.

Initially, it shared its audiences with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), equivalent to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the UK. Between 1970 and 1990, the NTA created and broadcast a rich slate of compelling television shows, including The Village Headmaster, Cock Crow at Dawn, Mirror in the Sun, Behind the Clouds, Supple Blues, Checkmate and Ripples.

The Yoruba people and their traveling theater tradition are a major player in the creation of Nollywood. The Yoruba are a group of African people living in the western part of Nigeria and Benin, who would put on plays as they traveled from village to village.

They soon began filming these plays, and turning them into movies on VHS. It was fast, cheap, and a great way to share their stories. 

If the Nollywood story has to be well told, there is no way one can skip the names of the great Yoruba film makers, actors and actresses, some even winning recognition beyond the shores of Nigeria. Greats like Moses Adejumo, popularly known as Baba Sala, Duro Ladipo, recognized worldwide for his film ‘Sango‘, Ola AfolayanAde Love, Isho Pepper, Lere Paimo, Alhaji Kareem Adepoju, popularly known as Baba Wande, Jimoh Aliyu – Aworo, Iya Awero, and many other prolific actors and actresses from the Yoruba Sector of the industry can never be overwritten.

These Men, both living and dead, had produced some of the greatest films that rocked the Nigeria South West and produced the Yorubas with quality and hilarious entertainment. The fact that the Igbos might find it difficult relating to these films, given the language barrier, should not in any way diminish the importance of these productions.

How It Became The Second Largest Film Industry?

By the mid-90s, people were actually making a living turning these plays into movies. Others, like the Igbo Group, an African group coming out of south-eastern Nigeria, decided to do something similar. In 1992, Chris Obi Rapu directed Living in Bondage film in 1992.

Nollywood employs more than a million people directly or indirectly. It is being touted as the country’s second-biggest source of jobs after agriculture.

Based on the sheer quantity and quality of films being made, economic observers consider Nollywood one of the major planks on which to diversify the Nigerian economy.

Recently we had to opportunity to ask people in the industry seeking their opinions to see if Nollywood is promoting Nigeria Internationally

Below are some of the recent Nollywood Hits

The Wedding Party (2016):

A mega-hit with one of the biggest budgets for a Nigerian film to date. It also has a mega-hit sequel. A fun romantic-comedy about a couple’s nightmarish wedding day.

From Lagos with Love (2018):

The film explores parental pressure on relationships. It reveals some ugly truths about familial impact and the choices we make.

Omo Ghetto:

The Saga’ is a comedy produced and directed by Funke Akindele. It is a follow-up to the actress’s 2010 trilogy film ‘Omo Ghetto,’ which is about twin sisters who were separated at birth.

Chief Daddy (2018):

Chief Daddy’ is a 2018 Nigerian comedy-drama film directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and produced by Mosunmola Abudu and Temidayo Abudu. It was written by Bode Asiyanbi. On December 14, 2018, the film was released in Nigeria, and on March 15, 2019, it was distributed in the Netherlands via Netflix.

King of Boys:

‘King of Boys’ is the next-highest grossing Nigerian movie. Furthermore, this film has been adapted into a Netflix series.

Kemi Adetiba directed the first film, which was released in 2018. The main character of this film is Alhaja Eniola Salami, a philanthropist and businesswoman with a potential political career who is lured into the war for power.

In the meantime, she turns brutal in her quest for success. Sola Sobowale, Adesua Etomi, Illbliss, Reminisce, Sharon Ooja, Jide Kosoko, Osas Ighodaro, and Toni Tones are just a few of the actors who appear in this film.

That Brings us to the Final Question, Do you think Nollywood is promoting Nigeria Internationally? And Why .

I will leave that Question for you to answer , Make sure you comment, Like and share this video so as to enable other viewers to express their own points

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