Nollywood storms London School of Economics

This is definitely a cheering news for all lovers of the Nigerian motion picture industry globally known as Nollywood. Recently, the famous and revered London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom, proudly screened its first ever Nollywood movie, Ije: The Journey...to its multiracial students and stakeholders.

The Nollywood-Los Angeles collaboration, produced and directed by youthful Chineze Anyaene, a multiple-award winning filmmaker, was shown at the Global Media and Communications post-graduate program's weekly interaction.

The duo of Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji are the lead acts in the pulsating and suspense-filled flick. The diverse audience in attendance at the event in the Graham Wallace Room, spanned four continents (Africa, Asia, Europe and North America). Also in attendance was the Programme’s Director, Prof. Terhi Rantanen.

At the post-screening discussion afterwards, the viewers, most of whom were encountering Nollywood for the first time, offered pointed and critical reviews of the film. They discussed its framing of contemporary socio-cultural issues of transnational migration, legal justice, gender representation, identity, stereotypes and family, among others. Some expressed dissatisfaction with the film’s “poor” quality, especially its dialogue and plot, noting that the script could have been better.  

However, others applauded it as a “fantastic movie.” One student, Elizabeth McClearycale Lockwood, remarked: 'I thought it was really fantastic. I loved seeing how Chineze was able to tie together aspects of both cultures/industries... It’s always interesting to see how other cultures understand my own [American] and also, how they see this interacting with and influencing their understanding of self. I thought it was really important to note that even though Anya [Omotola] was living the “American Dream” she so desired, it first backfired on her, and was finally only put right when she remembered her roots and her own (forgotten/”ignored”) culture.'

Speaking during the question and answer segment, one of the students that facilitated the historic screening of Ije at LSE, Chijioke Azuawusiefe, SJ, said it was really amazing how far Nollywood has come. 'Yes, it still has a long way to go, but in its 20 years of existence, Nollywood has grown into a continental and global phenomenon, as the largest and the second largest film industry (in terms of production) in Africa and in the world, respectively. It has grown into an industry that attracts trained and qualified practitioners, continually improving the quality of its productions.  

Nevertheless it is also good to keep in mind whence it has come: from business opportunities taken advantage of by a group of men (who unfortunately are always denigrated as illiterates) with no basic training or education in film. However, these men (who deserve to be celebrated) have given Nigeria a viable industry that today tells Nigerian stories with Nigerian voices to Nigerian audience.  The audience identifies with and love these stories.  They see themselves and their world in the stories. And that’s the secret of Nollywood’s success.”