Anachronisms in #Nollywood Igbo Epic Movies and Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò History
About ten years ago, I have written about anachronisms in several Igbo historical or epic movies. And I still see them in the new movies often showing on the AfricaMagic Epic channel on DStv.
You see Igbo warriors using the Takouba broadsword common in the Sahel region of Africa often used by the Tuareg tribe. And Igbo women having hairstyles and facial makeup of the Wodaabe fulani tribe.
Then they are chanting hums of the Wolof tribe of Senegal or Zulu tribe of South Africa, but speaking the Igbo language.
These anachronisms in Igbo epic movies are caused by lack of education and research on the culture, haute couture and oral literature of Igbo history since the period of Igbo Ukwu.
Every Igbo epic drama must be based on Igbo Ukwu history. Igbo Ukwu produced the oldest bronze artifacts known in West Africa and were made earlier than those of the ancient kingdoms of Ife and Benin. The bronzes include numerous ritual vessels, pendants, crowns, breastplates, staff ornaments, swords, and fly-whisk handles.
Artefacts found in Igbo-Ukwu dates back to 2000 BC in Lejja and 750 BC in Opi, both in the Nsukka region about 100 Kilometers east of Igbo-Ukwu.
It is wrong to use modern wax textile clothes for Igbo epic movies. Because, such textiles did not exist 100 years ago.
They can use Akwete cloth which has been in existence over 200 years ago. And Igbo also wove cloth from raffia.
Igbo warriors never dressed like Zulu warriors. And Igbo chiefs never dressed like Zulu chiefs. And Igbo women never had Wodaabe hairstyles and makeup.
Ohafia women.See pictures of the early period of Igbos on. https://igbophilia.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/five-brides-to-be/
- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series.
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