25 Jun 2006 |
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| {mosimage}Nollywood is the other name for the Nigerian entertainment industry. Next to Hollywood in LA, and Bollywood in Bombay, Nollywood is now the third largest entertainment industry in the world. Since the late 1990's, Nigerian movies have found a place next to offerings from Hollywood and Bollywood, in the cities, towns and villages across English-speaking African countries and beyond. Though made on low budgets, Nigerian movies have become huge hits, with stories, themes and faces familiar to Nigerians and other Africans. It is now, according to conservative estimates, a $45 million a year industry. The pay cheque for Nollywood actors and actresses has also increased along with the growth of the industry. It is believed that actors and actresses earn as much as four figures in dollars per movie, a huge leap from less than $100 per movie 15 years ago. Not exactly what their counterparts in Hollywood would earn but it is still huge by Nigerian standards. In keeping with the normal pace of Nigeria's movie production with low budgets, the movies are typically filmed over several days, with just one digital camera in most cases. The stories are perhaps no different from those found in Hollywood movies, though many have Africa-specific themes, like ritual killings, witchcraft, polygamy, the use of the whip on a child as a way of instilling discipline, etc. Although, a school of thought would argue that the movies are exploitative, the fortunate or unfortunate thing is that, what is projected in these movies are a part of our culture. They are a part of our day-to-day lives and we cannot really run or shy away from them. After the first big hit in 1992, which was about human sacrifices in the movie entitled "Living in Bondage”, the Nigerian home video industry has been revolutionalised. Since then, Nollywood and its stars have proved to be extremely resilient and determined even in the face of adversity and piracy. A week or two after shooting ends, the movies flood the Nigerian market, sold for a paltry sum per cassette or DVD and shown to the public in restaurants, video centres or in private homes. An average movie will sell about 50,000 copies and a blockbuster four times that. Recently, top Nollywood actresses and actors arrived in Ireland from Nigeria to premiere some new home videos which have now hit the market in order to create a positive awareness towards Nollywood & other African movies, and provide an avenue for the community to enjoy and experience the colorful and diverse cultural lifestyles of Nigerians through entertainment, cinema and music. There is a tendency for African children and indeed adults in diaspora to forget about the African culture as a result of growing up in a different culture. Through Nollywood and other African movies, diasporic families try to educate and enrich their children’s understanding of the African culture e.g. a girl bends the knee to greet older people while a boy prostrates to greet. Aside from the cultural aspect of things, Nollywood can assist by providing positive information about Africa through movies and documentaries. This will in turn help people from different cultures to understand the African culture, promote the local movie industry in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, and allow people to showcase local talents to the international community. Nollywood movies are like reference points for black migrant families. The movies are a constant reminder about every day life back home. Nollywood stakeholders are now looking at the possibility of collaborating with their colleagues in Ireland, different parts of Europe and the rest of the world with a view to bringing African movies to the forefront of International cinema. Sadly piracy is a menace that has hindered the continued progress of the home video industry in Nigeria. Producers, directors and actors, have been frustrated by the lack of prosecution for pirates. Nollywood filmmakers do not get any money back in terms of royalty even though these movies are very popular outside the shores of Nigeria. The Government of Nigeria must therefore tighten its laws on piracy because our Nollywood Stars deserve the best. They have come a long way. Now is the time to reap what was sowed over decade ago.
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