Question;

How are the thematic preoccupations of Nollywood films corroborated by Nigeria's

current realities?

In other for me to begin my discussion about the thematic preoccupation of the

nollywood films and how it corroborate with the current realities we now correctly face in
the country I will like to start like this.

The Nigerian film industry affectionately referred to as Nollywood rose to local and
international fame for her melodramatic movies, over the top romcoms and slapstick
situational comedy via DVD and television (and much later, Iroko streaming platform).

The Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally

referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early
2000s, traced to an article in The New York Times.

So after saying a little about the film industry that is the nollywood,I'll now like to start my
discussion properly.
Many of Nollywood's films deal with AIDS, corruption, women's rights, and other topics of
concern to ordinary Africans. A lot of stories are centred on a ritual that has to be
performed, such often involving bloodshed and human sacrifice,
Nigerian movies are often centred on themes such as witchcraft or the supernatural, rags
to riches, twisted love or comedy, and sometimes a blend of all the aforementioned
themes. Nollywood films are known to have weak plots. Sometimes they're shot on a
meagre budget, with handheld camcorders and poor audio.
Nollywood, despite being acclaimed as the second largest movie industry in the world,
has faced its fair share of challenges ranging from the more obvious ones such as piracy
and poor cinematography to the more implicit ones such as subtitling and repetitive
themes. For some time now, Nollywood has been faced with the stigma of reiterative
and compulsive themes. Despite this, Nollywood movies are gaining more popularity and
acceptability within Africa and beyond. In truth, modern English-speaking Nollywood films
focus more on certain themes such as love, family crisis, infidelity, betrayal and marriage
than themes previously explored by older films, including rituals, history, societal
conflicts, politics and culture. Again, modern-day realities have encouraged the thematic
focus on issues like female empowerment and the plight of women that did not feature
initially in the earlier Nollywood films.

One of the themes that featured more conspicuously in earlier English-speaking

Nollywood films than the recent is rituals. In the movie, Living in Bondage (1 and 2)
produced by Ken Nnebue in 1992/93, the dominant theme is ritual. The story narrates
how poor Andy used his wife for money ritual, how she haunted him, how Andy became
mentally unstable and his eventual redemption. Also, the movie Issakaba directed by
Lancelot Imasuen also features rituals in its thematic preoccupation. It narrates the story
of a gang of armed robbers, fortified with mystical powers, terrorises a community, and
how Ebube and his Issakaba boys also acquired mystical powers to fight against crime.
Movies like Diamond Ring (1998), Karishika (1996) and so many other earlier produced
Nollywood films have rituals as one of the prevalent themes. However, now, this
thematic choice is less commonly found.

When considering films like This is Nollywood directed by Franco Sacchi and released in
2007, we find themes relating to history. It is a documentary film that details the
evolution of the Nigerian film industry, the processes of producing a movie and the
obstacles involved in movie production. Other documentary films worthy of mention is
Bariga Boys produced by Femi Odugbemi in 2009 and documents the street
performances of Segun Adefila and the crown troupe, who use guerrilla theatre, music
and drama to address poverty in the slums of Lagos; Portrait of a Lone Farmer is
another 2013 documentary that recounts the producer, Jide Tom Akinleminu’s life on his
father’s chicken farm in Nigeria; and Fuelling Poverty produced in 2012 by Ishaya Bako
narrating the activities of the ‘Occupy Nigeria’ movement when it was at its climax.

Another widely explored theme by earlier film producers i societal conflict, which borders
on a myriad of segments including politics, health and social. Such movies as Black
November released in 2012, which narrates the struggles of Niger Delta communities’
struggle against government and multinational oil companies in a bid to stop the
pollution of their environment; Dry released in 2014 in response to the child marriage
prevalent in northern Nigeria. More recent films do not explore themes relating to
societal conflict.

Some common themes rather prevalently explored by today’s film makers include
marriage, celebration, family crisis and romance. These feature in more recent movies
like Wedding Party, Chief Daddy, Merry Men and King of Boys. Indeed, a lot of films in
Nollywood foreground such themes as love, family crisis, infidelity, romance among other
common themes, and consequently aid the opinion that certain themes have been
over-flogged in the Nigerian movie industry. Other movies that explore themes relating to
female empowerment include King of Boys and Lionheart. This is a welcome
development, as the issue of female empowerment is recent and gradually gaining
prominence in Nigeria.

The under-explored themes and genres in English-speaking Nollywood films should be

foregrounded. Such themes include socio-political realities in the pre-colonial, colonial
and post-colonial periods, history, culture among other salient themes. Exploring these
other themes would deflect the subject matter of Nollywood films to something less
usual. Such novel and innovative themes should be lauded by film producers and writers,
as this would serve to cater for the diverse interests of Nollywood audience within Africa
and in the diaspora.
Nollywood films, as you may know, are a vibrant part of Nigerian culture and have gained
international recognition for their unique storytelling style. These films often mirror the
social, economic, and political issues that Nigerians face in their everyday lives. By
portraying these realities, Nollywood films create a platform for dialogue and raise
awareness about important issues.

One of the key ways in which Nollywood films corroborate Nigeria's current realities is by
addressing the issue of corruption. Corruption has been a longstanding challenge in
Nigeria, and Nollywood films often depict the consequences of corrupt practices on
society. They shed light on the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians who are affected by
corruption in various aspects of their lives, such as education, healthcare, and
governance. Through their narratives, Nollywood films aim to expose the negative impact
of corruption and inspire change.

Another thematic preoccupation of Nollywood films that aligns with Nigeria's current
realities is poverty. Nigeria, despite being rich in natural resources, still grapples with
widespread poverty. Nollywood films often portray the struggles of individuals and
communities living in poverty, highlighting the harsh realities they face. These films shed
light on the socio-economic disparities in the country and emphasize the need for
inclusive development and poverty alleviation efforts.

Gender inequality is another important theme explored in Nollywood films, which

resonates with Nigeria's current realities. Women in Nigeria face various challenges,
including limited access to education, economic opportunities, and decision-making
power. Nollywood films often depict the struggles and triumphs of women, showcasing
their resilience and advocating for gender equality. By addressing this issue, Nollywood
films contribute to ongoing conversations about women's rights and empowerment in
Nigeria.

Cultural identity is also a recurring theme in Nollywood films, reflecting Nigeria's diverse
cultural heritage. These films celebrate Nigeria's rich traditions, languages, and customs,
while also exploring the tensions that arise from modernization and globalization. By
showcasing the complexities of cultural identity, Nollywood films contribute to the
preservation and appreciation of Nigeria's diverse cultural tapestry.

Overall, Nollywood films serve as a powerful medium for storytelling and social
commentary, providing a lens through which Nigeria's current realities are examined.
They offer a platform for dialogue and reflection, allowing audiences to engage with
pressing social issues and envision a better future. Through their narratives, Nollywood