Nollywood - The African Mirror

Dec

2023

Nollywood set new highs in 2023: here are four of my favourite films of the year

THE Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, was once seen as a mass producer of poor-quality “home videos”. It’s now become known for increasingly slick films that can attract big budgets and compete at film festivals across the world. EZINNE EZEPUE, Lecturer, University of Nigeria As a critic, scholar and lecturer in Nigerian film, I regard 2023 as another impressive year for the quality of Nollywood output. I saw a number of great films both at film festivals and on subscription video platforms, particularly Netflix and Amazon Prime. I enjoyed the diversity in themes and the “un-Nollywood-like” experience each…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Afrobeats and Nollywood are shaping Africa’s gaming industry

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

GAME developers are blending music soundtracks from the continent and replicating narratives from African films in a bid to increase their cultural appeal among gaming enthusiasts. Popular West African music genres, Afrobeats, and the Nollywood film category are emerging as favourites, with game developers from the continent and beyond looking to tap into their extensive consumer appeal to drive downloads and revenues. A new report by Nigerian gaming studio, Maliyo, explains that this could fuel the gaming industry in Africa because “entertainment and culture are closely knit factors that influence social behavior and norms." “Over a relatively short period of…

Oct

2023

By The African Mirror

The Black Book is a gritty new thriller that raises the bar for Nollywood

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NIGERIAN thriller The Black Book has been in the headlines for reportedly topping global figures at streaming service Netflix, with 5.6 million viewers in its first two days. Does it live up to the hype? In my view, as a critic, scholar and teacher of Nigerian film and storytelling, the short answer is yes. Directed and co-written by newcomer Editi Effiong, The Black Book emerges as a significant film that establishes a new milestone for Nollywood, the ever-evolving Nigerian film industry. EZINNE EZEPUE, Lecturer, University of Nigeria It achieves this by combining several key factors: high production values, a desire…

Oct

2023

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

“The Black Book”: Nigeria’s tech elite fund Nollywood’s first Netflix chart-topper

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A bet by members of Nigeria's fintech elite on a feature film, "The Black Book" is paying blockbuster dividends, as the film strikes a chord with viewers around the world. The film has trended at number one on Netflix in countries as diverse as Greece, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden and Nigeria, since its debut on September 26. This is the first time that leaders in the country's meteoric fintech startup space have "crowded in" to fund a film in Nollywood, Nigeria's famous film sector. The move would appear to be a blowout success. "It’s Nigeria Day across…

Sep

2023

By The African Mirror

Queer film in Africa is rising – even in countries with the harshest anti-LGBTIQ+ laws

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A recent book, Queer Bodies in African Films, studies the growing LGBTIQ+ output from filmmakers around the continent, from Morocco to South Africa. In the process, it analyses what queerness is and means within the context of African countries. Its author, Gibson Ncube, is a lecturer and scholar who focuses his research on queerness in African cultural production – from literature to films. We asked him four questions. GIBSON NCUBE, Lecturer, Stellenbosch University Is there a growing queer representation in films from African countries? Yes, the last decade has seen a proliferation of these films. Nigeria’s Nollywood has produced a…

Jun

2023

By GABRIELLA OPARA, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Taking Nollywood to the next level with Aki and Pawpaw

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN 2002, Nigeria's film industry - widely referred to as Nollywood - presented Africa with a comic relief movie called Aki na Ukwa. The film stars Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme as two mischievous brothers (Aki and Pawpaw) who cause chaos at home, in their village, and at school. It is widely considered one of the funniest films to come out of Africa. It has been over twenty years since the much-loved characters first appeared on screen but now they are making a comeback in the form of a mobile phone game. On April 28, 2023, Play Network Studios announced…

Apr

2023

By The African Mirror

Nollywood could see a major boost from Nigeria’s new copyright law – an expert explains why

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NIGERIA has finally updated its 2004 copyright law, bringing it into the digital era – where the entertainment industry has been for decades already. Before the late 1990s, it was difficult even to get telephone services in Nigeria. And it was very expensive for private enterprises to make films. Since then, digital technology has unleashed a multitude of ways to receive information and entertainment. Author SAMUEL SAMIAI ANDREWS, Professor, University of Gondar With the arrival of digital technology, all a filmmaker needed was a simple video recorder and a group of talented creatives. Thus modern Nollywood – the Nigerian film…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Beverly Naya launches new clothing line

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO NIGERIAN media ‘It Girl’ Beverly Naya has ventured into fashion with her new line. Called ‘Be Naya’, Naya launched her line as a ready-to-wear collection that would range from dresses, jumpsuits and stylish sets in Ankara print for the everyday woman. “Be Naya is for the confident and fearless woman, the one who knows she can have it all because she’s worth it! I want women to feel amazing in my pieces and I want them to feel and ooze confidence in every room they walk into.” The actress and television presenter spoke to Nigerian publication Bella Naija…