The Nigerian image on the Nollywood screen

Abstract

The Nigerian Image on the Nollywood Screen is that popular conception held of Nigerians, their institutions, and the nation through Nollywood films. Film is not only a form of art but also a tool for social Reformation, Transformation, and Decoloniality; as it expresses the feelings of humans and their ideas, seeks to liberate, make visible, and advance a distinct perception of the image of the creating society. The film of a Nation is a liberatory language for the future of the nation as it projects the identity of the nation to the world. The research examines and interrogates what image of Nigerians Nollywood projects to the world. Merton’s theory of functionalism provides a fulcrum for the work and the survey method of data collection was employed. A questionnaire was administered to 500 respondents from the East (200), West (200), and North (100) who watch Nollywood films. Nollywood films portray Nigeria in a good light in the areas of lifestyle and infrastructure, but, considered the state as a stronghold in occultic practices. The respondents perceive Nigeria’s image as developing (76.3%), technically advanced (53.2%), and as a state with rich cultural heritage (82.6%), and commended the exploration of Nigeria’s heroic past and cultural heritage (62.0%). The respondents submitted that their interest in the country’s affairs increased, the more they watched Nollywood films (50.1%), understanding of other cultures (75.1%). However, respondents perceive Nigeria as a society full of conflict (71.0%), supernatural (75.1%), and perpetrating all forms of violence (68.5%). It concludes that the image projected ties the country to the image as perceived by the Colonizers. It, therefore, recommends that Nollywood become a tool for decoloniality.