Nollywood points to a future for African film [radio programme]

In this 6-minute radio programme, InterWorld Radio's Eniwoke Ibagere explores a growing trend that the New York Times has labelled "Nollywood": Nigeria's thriving home-grown film industry. Films are shot in just a few days, often for less than US$10,000, distributed on Video Compact Disc (VCD), and watched all over the continent and beyond.

By interviewing actors, filmmakers, and consumers in Lagos, Ibagere learns that Nollywood has really taken off in Nigeria, as producers cannot afford to produce films for the big screen. The filmmaking process is quick and typically involves the use of a handheld camera; little attention is paid to the mechanics of making films in order to maximise investment. According to one interviewee, some Nollywood directors have made 90-100 films. Apparently, West Africans outside of Nigeria are becoming interested in Nollywood; some films include French subtitles.

Purchasing or renting video films is becoming a popular means of entertainment. One customer explained that he enjoys the films because they "bring out the root of every Nigerian". Nigeria's cultural heritage is highlighted in many of these films, and themes like group governance, democracy, and socio-economic development are undercurrents in some of the stories. Most of films are set in small villages, where the everyday lives of regular people are captured in a visual medium. This man also appreciates the fact that the films make him laugh.

While one Nollywood actress whom Ibagere speaks with stressed that some very good films are being made, another actor was critical of the direction that the Nigerian theatre and film industry seems to be going. He said, first, that the films are a "quick fix" - an effort to make a profit, even at the expense of artistic quality or variety in content (the same stories are rehashed, using the same actors, he explains). Some worry that a few greedy people are "hogging the industry"; there are a lot of talented filmmakers who apparently get excluded from this tight-knit group.

Despite challenges associated with the Nollywood acting industry (no lights, mosquitos, long hours - one actress said she has an 8:00 a.m. call time and often does not finish until midnight), actors have experienced a change in status because of Nollywood. One actor claimed that parents frequently tell them their children want to be actors and ask his advice; 10 years ago, he said, such a conversation would rarely take place.

To listen to this radio programme in MP3 or RealAudio format, click here to access the Panos London Online search engine. Type "Nollywood" in the "title" field, then click "go". The link "[listen online]" is functional as of this writing (the link to "Nollywood points to a future for African film" is not).