Nigeria, seen through movies and the media
In an interview recently, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa lamented that people have negative stereotypal impressions about Nigerians. “A few things have happened while I have been here that demonstrate that the treatment given to us across board suggests that there is perception that Nigerians are generally unlawful, dishonest people, scammers and […]
In an interview recently, Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa lamented that people have negative stereotypal impressions about Nigerians. “A few things have happened while I have been here that demonstrate that the treatment given to us across board suggests that there is perception that Nigerians are generally unlawful, dishonest people, scammers and all the negative attributes,” he lamented.
Where do they get such irritating perceptions from? Simple! Mostly from our home videos and media. Frankly speaking, most of the Nollywood (Nigerian) movies and media stories are doing no small damage in denting the images of Nigeria and its citizens. Greater percentage of the movies have their theme revolving round unwholesome approach of Nigerians towards business transactions, betrayal, dishonesty, corruption in high places and official arrangements. Hardly do they have anything positive to script about Nigeria.
Compare this with an American film where actors make us believe there is no country like the US. An American soldier displays his unflinching and unalloyed patriotism and loyalty to his country even to the point of death. Everybody wants to go to the United States primarily because of the impressions created in their minds by the American movies and media.
The sub-conscious action of negative film scripting has cost us immensely outside. For instance, on my way from Nigeria from Ghana recently, I boarded a plane with a Ghanaian lady. As I started discussing with her, she stated that she is afraid of Nigerians and did not want to relate with any “because they are bad, fraudulent, wicked” and all sort of negative terms. I asked curiously to know if she had fallen prey in the hands of a Nigerian before. She answered in the negative but claimed to know all these through our home videos/films. It took much time before the impression was temporarily modified.
This may be part of what informed the Minister of Information’s opinion that the Nigerian film industry has contributed to the nation’s poor international image. I would want to agree with her on this proposition and tell her critics to be more objective when watching and analyzing Nigerian movies. To aid the cause of rebranding this nation, Nigerian writers and artistes should be re-orientated towards developing positive scripts about Nigeria and its people. They should realize that it not only negative things that Nigerians are perfect in.
In the same vein, Nigerian media have to develop interest in positive things that happen in the country to form their major headlines. More spaces and airtime should be dedicated to discoveries, research outcomes, and scientific breakthrough by Nigerians at home and abroad. Nigerian movie and media industries need re-branding in order to contribute their quota to developing positive image for Nigeria and its people.
Opadijo Jelili wrote in from Abuja