The clip below is from a movie titled "Rain Drop". When a successful career woman is unable to bear a son for her husband, her mother-in-law presents her with a solution to the problem. Superiority of male children over female children is a negative aspect of Nigerian culture that can be seen in Nollywood films. Start watching at 0:40 to hear the solution. ( Edo & Dumelo, 2011)
It is not a secret that the culture of Nigeria has impacted the movie industry. Nollywood strong narratives of Nigerian culture have done a good job of bringing the positive and negative aspects of Nigerian culture to wider audiences. Personally, I have learned quite a lot about Nigerian culture just from watching Nollywood films. I even wrote an article on Nigerian culture for my Introduction to Sociology class using Nollywood films as my main source. Nollywood portrayal of Nigerian culture has been criticized negatively and positively. The article This Industry Called Nollywood states, “Nollywood movies are said to be replete with images of cultic, voodoo and fetish re-enactments that do not in any way represent African practices of the present generation. Another critical issue that has come under serious fire of criticism is the question of gender imbalance in movie narratology. Opinions and recent discourses reveal that scripts and directional interpretation of Nollywood movies still follow the patriarchal order and, therefore, favours men over the women”("This industry called," 2012).
There are various critics that criticize Nollywood films for showing the negative parts of Nigerian culture. These negative parts include male superiority in marriage, violence against women, corruption, male children being superior over female children, treatments of maids and other house helps, bribing in Nigerian courthouses and among Nigerian police forces, and much more. All of these are negative aspects of Nigerian culture that are portrayed in Nollywood films constantly. Just to give readers an idea, here is an example. The last Nigerian film I watched was about a rich man who earned his wealth through corrupt practices. He treated his female children horrible because he favored his sons over his daughters; he had many house helpers that he treated with disrespect even to the point of raping an innocent girl who was responsible for cleaning his home. This is just one of the many Nigerian films that showcase the good and bad of Nigeria rich culture.
The role of women in Nollywood films have led to criticism. “Ninety five per cent of the video films down play the liberating and positive roles of women. Women characters are cast in such ways that they are either made appendages to men, object of sexual gratification or lust. I think it is time Nollywood re-told the narrative of the woman in the light of contemporary achievements,” says Ejim Omalicha, a popular Nigerian singer ("This industry called," 2012). Professor Gbaazi Uko who is a Nigerian cultural anthropologist said: “The idea of constantly casting the continent in the Conradian mode is bad. It does not help to fight our cause. Why would it be that both the writers and producers of these scripts insist that western values would always prevail over the indigenous ones? Who are they trying to please?” ("This industry called," 2012).
I do not understand critics who criticize the producers and directors for showing the negative aspects of Nigerian culture. Like I stated above, it’s a known fact that Nollywood is greatly impacted by Nigerian culture. However, why should the producers and directors be criticized? Are they not showing all aspects of Nigerian culture? These producers and directors are Nigerians and they should be allowed to produce or direct movies that showcase these cultures in which they grew up. Why should they only showcase the good things of Nigerian culture? If there are certain practices or beliefs that they do not agree with such as male superiority and corruption, these producers and directors should be free to portray these practices and beliefs in a negative manner without fear of criticism. Nigerian movies are a representation of Nigerian culture and in order to be a great representation, the good and bad aspects of Nigerian culture should be portrayed from diverse perspectives. A well respected Nigerian film producer name Teco Benson once stated, “Film, with its subtle messaging approach remains the best medium for encouraging change in behaviour within society and Nollywood has an important role to play in this” (Atkinson).
There are various critics that criticize Nollywood films for showing the negative parts of Nigerian culture. These negative parts include male superiority in marriage, violence against women, corruption, male children being superior over female children, treatments of maids and other house helps, bribing in Nigerian courthouses and among Nigerian police forces, and much more. All of these are negative aspects of Nigerian culture that are portrayed in Nollywood films constantly. Just to give readers an idea, here is an example. The last Nigerian film I watched was about a rich man who earned his wealth through corrupt practices. He treated his female children horrible because he favored his sons over his daughters; he had many house helpers that he treated with disrespect even to the point of raping an innocent girl who was responsible for cleaning his home. This is just one of the many Nigerian films that showcase the good and bad of Nigeria rich culture.
The role of women in Nollywood films have led to criticism. “Ninety five per cent of the video films down play the liberating and positive roles of women. Women characters are cast in such ways that they are either made appendages to men, object of sexual gratification or lust. I think it is time Nollywood re-told the narrative of the woman in the light of contemporary achievements,” says Ejim Omalicha, a popular Nigerian singer ("This industry called," 2012). Professor Gbaazi Uko who is a Nigerian cultural anthropologist said: “The idea of constantly casting the continent in the Conradian mode is bad. It does not help to fight our cause. Why would it be that both the writers and producers of these scripts insist that western values would always prevail over the indigenous ones? Who are they trying to please?” ("This industry called," 2012).
I do not understand critics who criticize the producers and directors for showing the negative aspects of Nigerian culture. Like I stated above, it’s a known fact that Nollywood is greatly impacted by Nigerian culture. However, why should the producers and directors be criticized? Are they not showing all aspects of Nigerian culture? These producers and directors are Nigerians and they should be allowed to produce or direct movies that showcase these cultures in which they grew up. Why should they only showcase the good things of Nigerian culture? If there are certain practices or beliefs that they do not agree with such as male superiority and corruption, these producers and directors should be free to portray these practices and beliefs in a negative manner without fear of criticism. Nigerian movies are a representation of Nigerian culture and in order to be a great representation, the good and bad aspects of Nigerian culture should be portrayed from diverse perspectives. A well respected Nigerian film producer name Teco Benson once stated, “Film, with its subtle messaging approach remains the best medium for encouraging change in behaviour within society and Nollywood has an important role to play in this” (Atkinson).