The Nigerian movie industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, is one of the leading movie industries in the world of movie production and probably, second in the continent of Africa. Several nominations and subsequent awards have been deservedly won by many Nollywood actors and actresses.
First, we know of many debutantes today who got their prowess courtesy of Nollywood. Think of names like Liz Benson, Ngozi Ezeonu, Patience Ozokwo, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephenie Okereke, to mention but a few. These and several other women’s life speak volume of the effect of the Nigerian movie industry. What about the males? There is also a long list of actors who have become scriptwriters, producers and directors from acting mere soap operas. Progressively also, my candid hope is that many Oscars will soon emerge from Nigeria.
Following these, Nollywood has undoubtedly become a very lucrative venture and has actively been spewing out swarms of actors and actresses who can stand credibly and defend their profession anywhere in the world. Just recently, the publication of the pornographic photos of a Nollywood star actress has opened wide a window for us, viewers, to see beyond the screen and probably, have insight of what happens in camera.
Without prejudice, let’s broach this issue of nudity in isolation, oblivious of whatever the raison d’etre is. This scenario of a star allegedly posing nude is unarguably a case of moral decadence and focal misdirection for up-coming stars. Rumours abound in Nollywood of cases of whoredom, infidelity, sexual harassment and indecency amongst stars, which allegedly has led to several break-ups in marital relationships.
Furthermore, it is not a gainsay that stardom is the target of every nascent artiste, but on the other hand, the sarcasm remains that it soon turns into the machete with which they are cut down if not properly guarded. The movie industry, actually, is centred on tuition via entertainment. The emergence of nudity in the movie industry suggests a sinister and an unpleasant future for the aspiring stars.
Astoundingly also, the contemporary Nigerian movies have been dominated by sex and amorous scenes. This goes for the music industry, where every musical animations and dance- steps follow a rhythmical pattern that is only aimed at arousing sexual orgies. Such monotonous portrayal in a country like Nigeria is probably a gesture; as where a crying child is pointing at, either of his mother or father will be there.
Definitely, there must be something spurring such scripts and thrusting them from the scriptwriters through the producers, directors and the rest of the crew for general acceptance. The question is, what has become of such films whose theme centres on nationalism, patriotism, ethnocentrism, colonial tyranny, examination malpractice, political violence, the rule of law and others. Have they not become sporadic in the scripts of our renowned movie writers, if actually, they’ve not eluded their faculty entirely?
To shoot a porn video or make nude picturesque is not the issue at all here but the fact that it is farcically coordinated under a pseudonym. Let Nollywood declare point blank of its intention to have a faction, with, maybe, a different nomenclature that will be licensed to produce pornography. There are several such industries in the Western world and they still operate independent of other movie industries. Killing two birds with one stone is wide off the mark and is inapplicable in this case. Blaming it on the press for disseminating pornographies is even hilarious either. For goodness’ sake, news can grow wings and fly from within Nigeria to anywhere without the active involvement of the either the print or electronic media provided the object of interest is a star.
Again, the lucrative nature of pornography should not be a criterion for bringing it into Nollywood. The inordinate love for money, they say, is the root of all evil and obviously, forms the bedrock of pornography. Whopping sums are usually dangled before famous artistes to lure them into either featuring in porn videos or posing nude in magazines for keen attraction to the public.Personally, I will urge artistes to shun the mere consideration of how much a deal will bring, but also for how far that much will last. Any wealth that is not durable is not fit for acceptance.
Another basic consideration here is the fact that the Actors Guild of Nigeria has opened wide its doors to people from all works of life: the good, the bad and the ugly. Curbing unemployment is very vital and must be commended in AGN, a role they have played outstandingly in Nigeria since inception. The caution here is that some of these people being recruited maybe, ab initio, prostitutes before joining the industry. They now use the latter to advertise sale of their commodities. The duo of AGN and the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation or any other intelligent agency responsible should please join in screening the influx of questionable characters in Nollywood, or probably put credible personnel to man the modus operandi of the Nigerian movie industry. Let the professionals be given a place first, then, others can co-join on merit.
All said, NBC should keep an eye on our movie industry and probably, instill sanity to save our face from impending shame.
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