1.1 Introduction
Nollywood is an industry that is developed out of a context related to domestic and international cultural, economic, and political environments (Kunzler, 2007:1). Nollywood is the cinema of Nigeria, often referred to informally as Nollywood, consists of films produced in Nigeria; its history dates back to as early as the late 19th century and into the colonial era in the early 20th century. The history and development of the Nigerian motion picture industry is sometimes generally classified in four main eras: the Colonial era, Golden Age, Video film era and the emerging New Nigerian cinema. The Nigerian video film no doubt encouraged patronage to theatre profession in all aspects. Many people now see theatre beyond acting. Hence, many ventured into studying theatre or performing arts at the university and the effort pays bills, buy good cars, and build mansions and good houses for practitioners who are also looked up to as role models in the society.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The era started the correction of the wrong opinion that those who study theatre arts, performing arts and other related courses at the university are not the not-to-do well of the society. The acting profession as well as other specialties of the course saw a kind of approval that transient even to the religious sphere of Nigerian life. The Nigerian film industry, also known as Nollywood, produces about 50 movies per week, second only to India’s Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood. Although its revenues trail those of Bollywood or Hollywood at the global box office, officially Nollywood still generates, on average, $600 million annually for the Nigerian economy, with most of these receipts coming from the African in diaspora. It is estimated that over one million people are currently employed in the industry, which makes it Nigeria’s largest employer after agriculture. Although Nollywood’s long-standing informal structure and rampant piracy initially helped to establish the country’s film industry, these same factors now inhibit future domestic and international growth.
Film practice in Nigeria, like other media of mass communication and entertainment is a colonial inheritance. During the colonial era, film sponsorship, production and exhibition had deliberately been oriented in favour of government sponsored documentary films. Commercial production was left in the hands of private enterprise. The first film audience was born in Nigeria in 1903 with screening of the first film by Messer Balboa of Barcelona, Spain under the management of Herbert Macaulay at the captain Glover memorial Hall, Lagos. The gate takings were three shillings.
As a result of the colonial film orientation, post-colonial film production in Nigeria emerged in 1970 and there was independent film practice, which were wholly Nigerian produced films. Like most independent practices, film productions had several challenges although enjoyed a momentary boom between 1970 and the mid-1980s. Thus, the general economic downturn in Nigeria necessitated the introduction of practitioners.
Records reveal that the history of film in Nigeria predates the emergence of Nollywood itself. This was the release of one of the earliest films in Nigeria, “Palaver”, in 1904, in addition to the newsreels put on film by the British Colonial Administration. The newsreels, as scholars argued, primarily served as a propaganda used by the British Colonial Administration to promote its political, economic and social policies in Nigeria through its Colonial Film Unit (CFU) (Anoliefo, 2008; Alawode & Fatonji, 2013).
Nollywood and indeed, other films were made for the viewing pleasure of Nigerians initially, with messages to inspire, motivate, reprove and correct some anomalies particularly in the political, social and cultural sphere. The use of English Language as the main communication tool and marketing facilitated its expansion beyond the shores of the African continent. Today, Nigeria’s Nollywood is counted among the major business centres of film making in the world. It suffices to say that since the early 1990s, the Nollywood film industry has churned out thousands of titles and has successfully brought to limelight many talented Nigerian actors and actresses.
Succinctly put, the Nollywood actor is the veritable social instrument, which transports messages through forms, spectacle and symbols and also has the power to arouse such emotions that the viewers of Nigerian Home Video respond to. The Nollywood actor is the medium of communication between change and the society. Bringing to bear problems facing Nigerian’s Nollywood, this thesis is a deliberate attempt to elucidate and perhaps, furnish the reader within depth details of the challenges facing Nigeria’s Nollywood, with emphasis.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Problems and Prospect of Cinematography in Nollywood.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the problem that is evident here is that some makeup artists in Nollywood productions are solely after the application of makeup to a character’s face in a production. Film is a potent tool for portraying the culture and values of a people (UNESCO, 2009). Cultures and beliefs are learned through films just as they also serve as channels for social mobilization, and for showcasing the political and economic landscape of a nation. It is a tool for cultural diplomacy, responsible for branding the image of a country to give it a positive recognition in the international space (Kirsten, Rachel, John & Samuel, 2007). It is in view of this that the researcher intends to investigate the challenges and prospect of the Nigeria movie industry.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Problems and Prospect of Cinematography in Nollywood. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the relationship between Nollywood and cultural values of Nigeria;
- To ascertain the challenges and prospect of Nollywood;
- To ascertain the impact of Nollywood in the growth of Nigeria economy; and
- To ascertain the role of cinematography in Nollywood movie production in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the relationship between Nollywood and cultural values of Nigeria?
- What is the challenges and prospect of Nollywood?
- What is the impact of Nollywood in the growth of Nigeria economy?
- What is the role of cinematography in Nollywood movie production in Nigeria?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Cinematography in Nollywood does not have any impact on the growth of Nigeria economy
- H1: Cinematography in Nollywood have a significant impact on the growth of Nigeria economy.
Hypothesis Two
- H0: Cinematography does not play any role in Nollywood movie production in Nigeria.
- H1: Cinematography plays a significant role in Nollywood movie production in Nigeria.
1.7 Significance of Study
At the completion of the study, it is believed that the findings will be of great importance to the Nigeria movie and video census board who are in charge of regulating the activity of the industry, as the study will help them to understand the role the industry play in selling Nigeria heritage in the global seen. It is also believed that the study will be beneficial to the federal ministry of culture and tourism as the study highlight the importance of the movie industry in marketing the cultural values and heritage of the country.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Problems and Prospect of Cinematography in Nigeria’s Nollywood Industry.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Film: It is a roll or sheet of thin flexible plastic that is sensitive to light for use in photography.
Entertainment: Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience, or gives pleasure and delight. It can be an idea or a task, but is more likely to be one of the activities or events that have developed over thousands of years specifically for the purpose of keeping an audience's attention.
1.11 Organization of the Study
Chapter one of the study, provides background of the study, stating the problem of the study and the research questions and hypotheses to be tested in the study. It also highlights the significance of the study and scope of the study.
Chapter two reviews related literature on the Problems and Prospect of Cinematography in Nollywood.
Chapter three discussed the research methods to be used in designing the study which will include research design, population, sample size and sampling technique, data collection and data analysis methods.
Chapter four presents the data gathered in frequency and percentage tables. The data will also be analyzed and research hypotheses will be tested with chi-square statistical test.
Chapter five summarizes the outcome of the study, draw conclusions based on the findings of the study and make necessary recommendations.
