(By Eddie Iroh) - I know that aficionados of
Nollywood will have my guts for garters for saying this. I will say it all the
same. But there again this is directed mainly to Ndigbo who, with some
justification, traditionally claim “ownership” of the genesis of the Nigerian
film industry because of their pioneer role in the home video enterprise.
To be sure Nollywood is said
to have bumped up the re-jigged Nigerian GDP a few years ago and helped propel
the economy to the biggest in Africa. The industry provides substantial outlet
for the employment of scores of Nigerians from actors to crews and staff. No
one can sniff at that.
While this is not a critique
of the quality of Nollywood’s output one cannot but observe similarities
between Nollywood and the excessively exaggerated plots and storyline of the
Indian films of the 60’s – even though art and technology have moved on in the
five decades of the then nascent Bollywood.
But my concern here is
whether the Igbo people take any notice of how Nollywood portrays their culture
in the so-called Epic movies? Is art imitating life here or is it an instrument
of correction and change? Do Ndigbo notice how they are portrayed as a people
who can do just about anything for money, thus reinforcing the stereotype even
though those who have looted Nigeria since independence are predominantly non
Igbo?
Nollywood’s Igbo characters
will allow any moneybag however unscrupulous and questionable the source of his
wealth to marry their daughters, however miss-matched. The parents will swallow
even her most serious reservations the minute a wad of Naira enters their
hands.
