Blending Eclecticism and Specificity: The Art of Nollywood Epic Film Costumes

Abstract

This research explores the unique approach to costume design in Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry. It focuses specifically on the epic film genre and discusses how Nollywood costume designers blend a variety of cultural and historical influences to create costumes that are both authentic and visually striking. It argues that this approach to costume design reflects the eclecticism and diversity of Nigerian culture while also highlighting the specificity and hybridity of the ethnic costumes represented in the film. Drawing on a close analysis of costume designs in Fred Amata’s Ijele (1999) and Kingsley Orji’s Eyes on the Throne (2019), the article offers insights into the creative processes and cultural context that inform this distinctive style of costume design. It uses the cultural hybridity theory by Bhabha Homi to explore the unique approach to costume design in films. Ultimately, the article demonstrates the importance of costume design in Nollywood epic films and argues that it plays a crucial role in constructing the visual and narrative world of these films