Entertainment
Why UNESCO Rated Nollywood World Second Biggest
Nkem Owoh Osuofia
The Nigeria’s film in
dustry is currently ranked as the 2nd largest film industry in the world (after India) based on the number of films released per annum and it is worth over US $ 3.5 billion.
The movie capital of the country is majorly in Lagos.
However, regional films are also produced in various parts of the country.
The first Nigerian films were made by film makers such as Ola, Balogun and Hubert Ogunde in the 1960s, but they were frustrated by the high cost of film production. However televise broadcasting in the country began in the 19605 and received much government support in its early years.
By the mid 1980s, every state had its own broadcasting station. Law limited foreign television content, so producers in Lagos began televising Local popular theatre productions. Many of these were circulated on videos as well, and a small scale informal video movie trade developed.
Nigerian film industry had always been making films on celluloid and the films were greened in cinema houses across Nigerian later released on VHS for various homes. However the release of the straight-to- video movie “Living in Bondage” in 1992 by NEK Video Links Owned by Kenneth Nnebue Launched the Home Video market in Nigeria. He had an excess number of imported video cossets which he then used to shoot his first film on a video camera.
Nollywood exploded into a booming industry in the Late 90s and pushed the foreign media off the shelves.
It is now an industry marketed all over Africa and the rest of the World.
The use of English rather than local languages expanded the market and aggressive marketing using posters, trailers and television advertising also played a key role in Nollywoods’ success.
One of the first Nigerian movies to reach international renown was the 2003 release “Osuofia in London” starring Nkem Owoh, the Nigerian comedic actor.
First Nollywood films were produced using celluloid while Nollywood’s straight-to-video productions were produced with traditional analog video such as Beta cam sp but today almost all Nollywood movies are produced using digital cinematography technology.
It will be recalled that the Guardian has cited Nigeria’s film industry as the third largest in adle world in earnings and estimated the industry to bring in US $ 250 MILLION PER YEAR. In April 2014 Nigeria’s GDP rebasing was concluded to be worth NG N853.9 billion (US $ 5.1 billion) and Nigeria’s Economy was announced as the Largest in Africa.
Nollywood’s biggest completion in the Nigerian market is the Ghanaian Film industry.
However, many Ghanaian productions are copy righted to Nollywood and distributed by Nigerian a Marketers due to Nigeria’s bigger market.
Nigerian film makers usually feature Ghanaian actors in Nollywood movies as well and that has led to the popularity of Ghanain actors almost their Nigerian Counterparts.
Van Vicker, a popular Ghanaian actor has starred in many Nigerian movies. As a result of these collaborations western viewers often confused Ghanaian movies with Nollywood and count their sales as one. However, they are two independent industries that sometimes. Share the colloquial ‘Nollywood.’
In 2009 UNESCO described Nollywood as being the second biggest film industry in the world after Bollywood of India in out put and called for greater support for the second largest employer of Labour in Nigeria.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’