The Rebirth of a Nation: Nollywood and the Remaking of Modern Nigeria

Abstract

With over 2000 movies produced annually, and an estimated $200 million in U. S. earnings in 2006, the Nigerian film industry is now the third largest in the world after those of the United States of America (Hollywood) and India (Bollywood). The unprecedented rise of Nollywood in the past two decades attests to its successes in uniquely telling African stories from the perspectives of Africans, a storytelling role that had for too long been left in the hands of many who portrayed the continent as the bastion of dangers and backwaters of human civilization. However, despite Nollywood’s contributions to the telling of African stories to the rest of the world, the need to contribute to the remaking of Nigeria – its home base – has now become necessary at a time when the country is beset with numerous social, economic, cultural and political problems that threaten national unity. In the three sections of this article, a short history that provides a background to Nigeria as a state and highlights the taproots of the current problems being encountered in the country, an argument for a redefinition of the Nigerian state which supports the idea of remaking the country as a viable postcolonial African state in the 21 st century, and the role of Nollywood in Nigeria’s national rebirth are presented.