Politics of Succession in Nollywood Films, Saworoide and Ikoka

Authors

  • Osakue S. Omoera Department of Theatre & Media Arts Faculty of Arts, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
  • Chukwuma Anyanwu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2020.266

Keywords:

Nollywood filmmakers, African culture, Politics of succession, Change agents, Developing countries, Filmic narrations

Abstract

Employing the media representation theory, this article uses the historical-analytic, key informant interview (KII) and observation methods to interrogate the issue of politics of succession in Nigeria as portrayed in Saworoide (1999, dir. Tunde Kelani) and Ikoka (2004, dir. Peddie Okao). Apart from highlighting the kind of challenges which politics evokes in the country and the possible ways of remediating them in a contemporary context, the study argues that Nollywood filmmakers have good reasons for shying away from politics, as interesting as it may be; it creates discomfort for governments as well as for the filmmakers. The former on account of their allergy to the truth and the latter on the likelihood of their works being confiscated, banned or even risk to life. The conclusion reached is that filmmakers who engage politics in their creative works deserve encouragement because growing societies such as Nigeria, are in dire need of spokesmen and women, who as change agents, can engender positive and developmental agendas in their ecosystems.

Author Biographies

Osakue S. Omoera, Department of Theatre & Media Arts Faculty of Arts, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Osakue Stevenson OMOERA, Ph.D, is at the leading edge of knowledge generation and dissemination, with specific reference to Nigerian (African) Studies. The foci of his research have been on three main planks: Nollywood studies, with emphasis on ethnic films; Media sociology, with emphasis on the social impacts of the media in developing areas of the world, including Nigeria; and Cultural dynamics, with emphasis on theatre and African performance studies. Omoera is credited to have pioneered scholarly inquiry into the Benin video-film segment of Nollywood studies. As well, he developed the "Active Volcano Paradigm" for the study of English as a language of mass communication, with reference to broadcast media news in Nigeria.

Chukwuma Anyanwu

Chukwuma Anyanwu, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. He was formerly of the Department of Mass Communication of the same university. Chukwuma had his first and second degrees from the University of Ibadan and his Doctorate from Delta State University, Abraka. His research interest covers Media and Film Studies, Public Relations and Advertising as well as Dramatic Literature and Creative Writing. He is a well-rounded academic whose academic interests bestride the disciplines of Mass Communication and Theatre Arts. He has published in all the literary genres and his plays are being performed in university theatres across Nigeria. Most of Chukwuma’s works can be found in www.pengician.com or https://www.researchgate.net.

References

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Published

2020-03-11

How to Cite

Omoera, O. S., & Anyanwu, C. (2020). Politics of Succession in Nollywood Films, Saworoide and Ikoka. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 8(1), 185–217. https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2020.266

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2020): Winter 2020

Section

Articles

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