On Apr 24, 2022, at 8:00 PM, Edward Kissi <ekissi@usf.edu> wrote:
Nollywood films are destroying my community in Ghana. At the very least that is what many of the people I speak with when I visit Ghana tell me. They have become a cultural fixture in Ghana, and a negative force in productivity at barbershops, chop-bars, and seamstress shops. I also hear that these films, often played in buses, on long distance journeys, are causing deadly distractions to the drivers who play them in their buses. I have seen these distractions myself as a passenger in some of these buses. Ultimately, the onus falls on the drivers who have become addicted to these Nollywood films and their themes of seduction, intrigue, witchcraft, and adultery. It is clear, from what I have observed in Ghana, that these Nollywood films are breeding a culture of cynicism, and deepening already existing superstitions.
For the young men who love these films, they seem attracted to the Nigerian actresses with dark lipsticks and clad in half cloth with bare shoulders. Certainly, Nollywood films are feeding some urges in Ghana, but creating new troubles for my people.--
Edward Kissi
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 24, 2022, at 8:08 PM, Moses Ochonu <meochonu@gmail.com> wrote:
Let me be provocative and take a slightly contrarian stance on this Nollywood issue. What if Nollywood's original (and/or ongoing) badness is precisely the reason its films are popular, the basis of its initial and enduring appeal and its pan-African resonance? So, instead of, or in addition to, trying to refute Jibo's characterization of Nollywood, perhaps we should ask why and how the tropes of Nollywood badness that he references came to into existence, defined for a time, and remains marginally present in Nollywood's repertoire.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 24, 2022, at 5:42 PM, Harrow, Kenneth <harrow@msu.edu> wrote:
--i have some knowledge of nollywood. not like that of the true specialists, but enough to have published on it, and will publish more.the descriptions of nollywood that i read were true in 1992, around when living in bondage came out. in the 1990s kelani refused to align himself with nollywood.
that began to change by 2000, more or less. they are no longer really accurate at all, especially since what was called neonollywood replaced the old school esoteric style films. especially since the new great generation marked by afolayan and many many many other talented directors came on the scene, including fine actors like nnaji and mnay many others.nope, not like the early semiamateurist days.now there is much to criticize, but not one the lines of the old style stuff. my major complaint is the influence of global or world cinema commercialization, with netflix and amazon prime and many others now generating stock cliched genres and styles that lost the inspiration of neonollywood.it's a long story, so i'll stop there where i hope many others will find space to agree. overall, nollywood was an incredibly brilliant success story that gave a model to ALL THE REST of africa (well, give credit to ghana too, please) that inspired enormous offshoots from tanzania and kenya and many other, especially anglophone countries. the francophones maybe are chasing behind on this, for once... having been the great foreparents of afr cinemaken
kenneth harrow
professor emeritus
dept of english
michigan state university
517 803-8839
harrow@msu.edu
From: 'Emeagwali, Gloria (History)' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2022 1:05 PM
To: Oluwatoyin Adepoju <ovdepoju@gmail.com>; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Rita" The reality is that Nollywood is the--institution branding the country, andthe brand revolves around crime,treachery, drugs, superstition,black magic and sex"JI
I, too, did not think thiswas a fair summation ofNollywood.
Appreciate Nollywood's audacity to be theworld's second largest, and thecreativity that makes thispossible. Nollywood is vastwith various genresof film.
GE
Professor Gloria Emeagwali
Prof. of History/African Studies, CCSU
africahistory.net; vimeo.com/ gloriaemeagwali
Recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Research
Excellence Award, Univ. of Texas at Austin;
2019 Distinguished Africanist Award
New York African Studies Association
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Oluwatoyin Adepoju <ovdepoju@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2022 9:35 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Rita--EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click any links or open any attachments unless you trust the sender and know the content is safe.
Salimonu,
Your image of Nollywood loks more imaginative than realistic to me.
As for Jibrin's summation of Nollywood, it does not represent my experience of the representative spectrum of Nollywood movies as I understand that industry.
Thanks
Toyim
--On Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 21:40 Salimonu Kadiri <ogunlakaiye@hotmail.com> wrote:
--The reality is that Nollywood is the institution branding the country, and the brand revolves around crime, treachery, drugs, superstition, black magic and sex - Professor Jibrin Ibrahim.
Nigeria is good at copying and practising the worst out of Europe and the U.S., in particular. Nollywood is Nigeria's counterfeit copy of the U.S. Hollywood, but mostly in negative manners. Thanks to Nollywood, Nigeria is the largest importer of bleaching creams in the world. One-quarter of what is spent on imported bleaching creams is said to be enough to provide the entire citizens of Nigeria with potable water. Most skin bleaching products that help to remove melanin in the skin contain mercury, hydroquinone, corticosteroids, a variety of alpha and beta hydroxy acid, kojic acid, arbutin, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid, glutathione and others. These are either used as the main ingredient of a bleaching product or in combination. Cutaneous effects of skin bleaching are said to include mottled and uneven skin decolouration, acneiform eruptions, recurrent infections, skin atrophy, poor wound healing (especially after surgical operation), telangiectasia, body odour (bromhidrosis), exogenous ochronosis, skin cancers and hyperhidrosis. System effects of skin bleaching include hypertension, hyper-glycaemia (diabetes mellitus), Cushing's syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, cataracts, immunosuppression, renal failure and skin failure. Through Nollywood, Nigerians are indoctrinated to believe that black skin is ugly and are, therefore, encouraged to apply hazardous creams on themselves to remove the ugly black skin. Not only that, the traditional air braiding and plaiting which were Nigeria's gift to the Black world, especially the female gender, have been abandoned for imported Brazil's synthetic long and straight hairs. Sometimes, the counterfeited white skin is topped with blond straight hairs. Lifestyles which Nollywood induce ordinary Nigerians to adopt and consume cut deep into Nigeria's foreign reserves. Nollywood actors/actresses start quenching thirst with whisky instead of water and end up being drunkards.
Concerning superstition and black magic, Nollywood has helped to promote in younger generation of Nigerians that one can become stupendously rich, without working, through money rituals. Thanks to Nollywood's money ritual films, Nigeria's pen robbers, who steal funds meant to build schools and employ teachers to teach children; who steal funds to generate and distribute electricity; who steal funds to build and equip hospitals; who steal funds meant for maintenance of old and construction of new roads; who steal funds for refinery of crude oil for Nigerians; and who steal funds meant for purchasing weapons, recruiting police, soldiers to maintain security in Nigeria are very safe because Nigerians, both young and old attribute the sudden cause of pen robbers' wealth to money rituals.
In the good olden days, the would-be bride and bridegroom were brought together by a third-party, a-times from either of the parents or a close relative. Sexual intercourse was restricted within married couples and its purpose was to regenerate. Nowadays, Nigeria's social and print media are saturated by the boasts of Nollywood actresses and actors about how many men and women they have had sexual intercourse with respectively. They even talk openly without restraint about their sexual dates or dating. The Nollywood sexual culture in Nigeria is seen everywhere in the open stagnant sewages that criss-cross towns and cities of the country, clogged with expended condoms. Nigeria is said to be importing seven hundred million packets of condoms annually at the expense of the nation's ever dwindling foreign reserve.
She added that given my corpulence, I actually look like one of the big ogas with mansions and four-wheel drive vehicles in Nollywood films - Professor Jibrin Ibrahim.The a-forecited is a real permanent laughter stimulator because Nigeria is a country where overpriced petty-traders are used to posing as business giants and capitalists. The economy of Nigeria has remained till date at the age of open defecation and riding donkeys, and Nollywood is projecting Nigeria as a nation of big men with mansions and four-wheel drive vehicles. What kind of joke is that?S. Kadiri
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Ezinwanyi Adam <eziimark@gmail.com>
Sent: 23 April 2022 06:59
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - RitaThank you very much, dear Prof. This is a good break...indeed! I enjoyed every line... however, the following lines:
"Intrigued by the role Rita was playing in advancing Malawian democracy, I decided I must also see the world event unfolding. I convinced the Chair of our observer team, former Ghanaian president, John Kufuor to go and see Rita and her silky skin. To my surprise, he accepted and off we went to the sports centre where I quickly contacted protocol and we were led through the crowded VIP entrance to the executive lounge. Two hours later, the show had not started and the general manager of DSTV Malawi, organisers of the concert, came to explain that the hall was full, the crowd outside was larger than the one inside and the crowd had massed round the VIP entrance so they do not know how to bring Rita in safely.I told him President Kufuor and I walked through the crowd so why can't Rita do the same. He looked at me as if I was an idiot. Rita, he explained slowly, was a mega star and her security is very important. They cannot afford to take a risk. Knowing our place vis-a-vis a Nollywood mega star, President John Kufuor and I quietly walked through the crowd and left. The manager was right; no one took a second glance at us."
Yes, these lines, especially the ending part cracked me up.
--On Fri, 22 Apr 2022, 13:10 Jibrin Ibrahim, <jibrinibrahim891@gmail.com> wrote:
--Rita Dominic and Nigerian Citizenship
Jibrin Ibrahim, Deepening Democracy Column, Daily Trust, 22nd April 2022
This week, I am taking time off from the depressing and ugly life of discussing Nigerian politics to address the issue of beauty, elegance, love, romance and above all, happiness of all Nigerians at the traditional marriage ceremony of Rita Dominic and her heart throb, Fidelis Anosike in Owerri, Imo State on 19th April. I have looked at the photos circulated in the social media and both bride and groom looked radiant and so happy. I have been following Rita on the social media since 2009 and one of the central themes around her has been speculations and above all the genuine desire of Nigerians that this great icon of Nigeria should marry, she's done it, congratulations.
I have not followed Nollywood closely and know little about the industry and its personalities. My first encounter on the implications of my ignorance of Nollywood was while checking into a hotel in at Jinja, the source of the River Nile in Uganda almost twenty years ago. The receptionist decided to try her luck when she saw my Nigerian passport - do you happen to have the latest Aki and Pawpaw film she asked me. I responded that I had no idea what she was talking about. She looked at me as If I was from another planet and said since Aki and Pawpaw are the best actors in the world and they are from Nigeria, I cannot say I do not know them. She added that given my corpulence, I actually look like one of the big ogas with mansions and four-wheel drive vehicles in Nollywood films. Her verdict about me was clear, if I don't know anything about Nollywood, I cannot really be African, and certainly, not Nigerian. She appeared to be quite upset with me, checked me in with a frown as I wondered what the whole conversation was about. I quickly did my research, found out who they were and was ready for the next random person that would ask me about these two great Nigerian stars.
I did wonder however whether I am too old school in political science to get it, that being a Nigerian means being knowledgeable and passionate about Nollywood. My decision was that surely and slowly, I start learning about our film industry but as we shall see below, my learning curve was simply not steep enough.
My next encounter once again caught me totally unprepared. I had arrived in Lilongwe airport, Malawi, with a letter from the Commonwealth requesting I be given a visa on arrival to monitor their 2009 elections. I was worried about the usual airport humiliation Nigerians suffer. I handed my passport and waited with trepidation. The question from the immigration officer threw me off guard - "did you travel with Rita Dominic?" I asked who Rita was and he responded that as a Nigerian, how could I ask him who Rita was. I apologised for my ignorance and he that Rita was a Nigerian star who like me was to fly in from Johannesburg. Disappointed that I did not even know Rita, he gave me a form to fill and said when I get into town; I should go to the immigration office and get my visa. He was scanning the queue behind me hoping he would have the privilege of stamping Rita's passport. Once again, I felt very bad about my ignorance of my country's flagship industry.
On reading the local papers, I realised the visit of Rita Dominic was causing as much frenzy as the elections we had come to observe and both were connected. Rita Dominic was the headline story about the 2009 Malawian presidential election. The highlight of President wa Mutharika's campaign was the unveiling of a mausoleum in honour of the late dictator, Kamuzu Banda and Rita was invited by the President as the star attraction in the unveiling ceremony. That evening, a major concert was to be organised in Blantyre to present Rita to the people of Malawi. The newspapers and indeed everybody in the country referred to her as the girl with the silky skin. Mutharika's election gift to Malawi was to bring the girl with the silky skin to voters live, and that was why she made all the radio and newspaper headlines during the elections.
Intrigued by the role Rita was playing in advancing Malawian democracy, I decided I must also see the world event unfolding. I convinced the Chair of our observer team, former Ghanaian president, John Kufuor to go and see Rita and her silky skin. To my surprise, he accepted and off we went to the sports centre where I quickly contacted protocol and we were led through the crowded VIP entrance to the executive lounge. Two hours later, the show had not started and the general manager of DSTV Malawi, organisers of the concert, came to explain that the hall was full, the crowd outside was larger than the one inside and the crowd had massed round the VIP entrance so they do not know how to bring Rita in safely.
I told him President Kufuor and I walked through the crowd so why can't Rita do the same. He looked at me as if I was an idiot. Rita, he explained slowly, was a mega star and her security is very important. They cannot afford to take a risk. Knowing our place vis-a-vis a Nollywood mega star, President John Kufuor and I quietly walked through the crowd and left. The manager was right; no one took a second glance at us.
It was at that moment that I realised that Nollywood is Nigeria's gift to the world and the branding of the country needs to pivot on the industry. The reality is that Nollywood is the institution branding the country, and the brand revolves around crime, treachery, drugs, superstition, black magic and sex. These for me were not the best elements for branding a country without throwing in some positives. I was however wrong to assume that this Nollywood formula used to lift Nigeria into number two position in the world film production league table would not lead to significant improvement in the scope and quality of their production.
In October last year, I illustrated this improvement in quality in this column while reviewing the Nollywood film, King of Boys, by Kemi Adetiba. It was released in 2017 and became an instant box office mega-hit. The film recounts the narrative of massive corruption in Nigeria's political system through the rise and fall of the protagonist, the iconic 'godfather', Eniola Salami, excellently enacted by Sola Sobowale. It is a gripping story because she is not the typical Nollywood female protagonist engulfed in superstition and romance. She is a real 'godfather' and as the 2023 elections approaches, I recommend the film to all Nigerians. Following the film's runaway success, Netflix commissioned a sequel: a seven-part limited series. It was the streaming platform's first from Nigeria. The series, the Return of the King, picks up the story five years after the events of the original. Kemi Adetiba assembled a stellar cast with RMD, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Charly Boy, displaying impeccable acting. This is just bragging on my side to show I am reducing the level of my Nollywood ignorance.
Back to the topic, I join billions of Africans, the Caribbean and film lovers the world over in wishing Rita Dominic and her heart throb, Fidelis Anosike blissful marital life. President Buhari, do your job, I have not yet seen your congratulations to the couple.
Professor Jibrin IbrahimSenior FellowCentre for Democracy and Development, AbujaFollow me on twitter @jibrinibrahim17
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CAPWX8rUjLyT_kQc1sxLDVd7q5arGH%3Dt9D_ScEaWK1fNRavcMFQ%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CADfQU8dq%3DpNZUNWrxADdezfS8ndurP%3D5id%3D8XuNc23--cMbc8Q%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/HE1P193MB0076E8180AD2B60219B0651DAEF69%40HE1P193MB0076.EURP193.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/CAGBtzfPvECMe03Jg0uYKfr23om589G2qTHES%2BQKS5B91AQtGdQ%40mail.gmail.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/BL0PR01MB4514A736018B2D85CF3FB207DEF99%40BL0PR01MB4514.prod.exchangelabs.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/BL1PR12MB5191136DD9F75896156F2D08DAF99%40BL1PR12MB5191.namprd12.prod.outlook.com.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/091C3E4E-2A5B-48BB-AEAE-2A88D1F8BA8F%40gmail.com.
[EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/FB034E56-BFF5-4D25-B005-979F0694A009%40usf.edu.
No comments:
Post a Comment