Nigerian Culture from the Lens of Nollywood

When one talks about the major film producing countries today, it is no longer news that Nigeria's Nollywood has surpassed Hollywood of America as it ranks second largest film industry after Bollywood of India in terms of volumes of films produced yearly. Although Nollywood movies have exported Nigeria's culture with regard to language, fashion, music, food, arts and crafts, a lot need to be done as the negatives outweigh the positives. People in Nigeria and abroad have raised divergent views about the themes and content of Nollywood films which graphically celebrate rituals and other societal vices degrading to the nation. This paper takes into cognizance that movies mirror the society but argues that if the mirror is cracked it will certainly reflect a distorted image. Whereas films from other countries sell their culture and national ideologies to its diverse viewers, it would appear that Nollywood narratives give a wrong impression of Nigeria to the viewing public under the cover of culture. Conscious efforts should therefore be made by all stakeholders to ensure that the filmmaker is professionally competent and well equipped as he exercises his social responsibility in line with his economic interests in the movie business.