Cinema of Nigeria
Nigeria's film industry spans four eras from colonial to contemporary.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The cinema of Nigeria, often called Nollywood, consists of films produced in Nigeria. Its history dates back to as early as the late 19th century and into the colonial era in the early 20th century. The history and development of the Nigerian motion picture industry is generally classified in four main eras: the Colonial era, Golden Age era, video film era, and the emerging New Nigerian cinema era.
- field
- Film industry
- nationality
- Nigerian
- known_for
- Second largest film industry in the world by annual film production (mid-2000s); third most valuable film industry by worth and revenues (2013)
- first_feature_film
- Palaver (1926)
- first_blockbuster
- Papa Ajasco (1984)
- first_color_film
- Fincho (1957)
Lore & Background
Film as a medium first arrived in Nigeria in the late 19th century, in the form of peephole viewing of motion picture devices. These were soon replaced in the early 20th century with improved motion picture exhibition devices, with the first set of films screened at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos from 12 to 22 August 1903. The earliest feature film made in Nigeria is 1926's Palaver directed by Geoffrey Barkas, which was also the first to feature Nigerian actors in substantial roles. As of 1954, mobile cinema vans played to at least 3.5 million people in Nigeria, and films being produced by the Nigerian Film Unit were screened for free at the 44 available cinemas. The first film entirely copyrighted to the Nigerian Film Unit is Fincho (1957) by Sam Zebba; which is also the first Nigerian film to be shot in colour.
Reader's Guide
After Nigeria's independence from the United Kingdom in 1960, the cinema business rapidly expanded, with new cinema houses being established. Nigerian films in theatres increased in the late 1960s into the 1970s, especially productions from Western Nigeria, owing to former theatre practitioners such as Hubert Ogunde and Moses Olaiya transitioning into the big screen. The oil boom of 1973 through 1978 contributed to the spontaneous boost of the cinema culture. After the decline of the Golden era, the industry experienced a second major boom in the 1990s, supposedly marked by the release of the direct-to-video film Living in Bondage (1992); the industry peaked in the mid-2000s to become the second largest film industry in the world in terms of the number of annual film productions, placing it ahead of the United States and behind only India. Since the mid-2000s, the Nigerian cinema has undergone restructuring to promote quality, with The Figurine (2009) widely regarded as marking the major turnaround of contemporary Nigerian cinema. As of 2013, Nigerian cinema is rated as the third most valuable film industry in the world based on its worth and revenues generated.
Did You Know?
- The first set of films screened in Nigeria were at Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos from 12 to 22 August 1903.
- The earliest feature film made in Nigeria is 1926's Palaver, which was also the first to feature Nigerian actors in substantial roles.
- The first film entirely copyrighted to the Nigerian Film Unit is Fincho (1957), which was also the first Nigerian film shot in colour.
- Papa Ajasco (1984) became the first blockbuster, grossing approximately ₦61,000 in three days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nollywood?
Nollywood is the common nickname for Nigeria's film industry, which produces a vast number of movies across multiple genres and languages. It ranks as the second-largest film industry in the world by annual output and the third most valuable by revenue.
When did Nigerian cinema begin?
The roots of Nigerian filmmaking stretch back to the late 19th century and into the early colonial period of the 20th century. The first recognized feature film, Palaver, was released in 1926.
What are the four main eras of Nollywood?
Nigerian film history is typically divided into the Colonial era, the Golden Age, the video film era, and the emerging New Nigerian cinema era. Each phase marked a distinct shift in technology, distribution, and creative approach.
What was Nollywood's first major blockbuster?
Papa Ajasco, released in 1984, is widely regarded as the first blockbuster in Nigerian cinema. It demonstrated the commercial viability of locally produced films for mass audiences.
Why is Nollywood important to global film?
Nollywood shows that a massive, commercially successful film industry can thrive well outside the traditional Hollywood or Bollywood models. Its sheer volume of productions and cultural reach have made it a significant force in world cinema.
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