The Importance of a Database, Library and Museum for the Nigerian Film Industry
Having a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry will increase the local and international appreciation of Nollywood and Kannywood in the global film industry.
I have severally emphasised the importance and significance of a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry for the immense benefits to Nigeria, socioculturally, sociopolitically and economically.
I have seen cases of ignorance in the articles, books, documentaries and other publications by foreign authors and directors, because of the lack of a database, library and museum for the Nigerian film industry. In many of the publications, Kannywood, the dynamic and vibrant Hausa language film industry of northern Nigeria is excluded, but Nollywood, which is actually predominantly made up of film and TV productions in the official language of English, Igbo language and Yoruba language becomes the primary representation of the Nigerian film industry.
The foreign film journalists, film writers, film students and film scholars land in Lagos, meet and interview the notable directors and actors based in Lagos and rush back to America and Europe to publish their articles, reports and books and produce their documentary films on Nollywood. But if you ask them:
"Did you meet the famous "Baba Wande" (Kareem Adepoju) of the Yoruba language TV series and movies?
They don't even know he existed?
"Did you interview the popular Igbo actor, Amaechi Muonagor?"
"Minagoy?"
"No! Not Minagoy. He is not French."
Don't even bother to ask them about any of the top actors and movies in Kannywood.
Lest we forget, before the bestselling Igbo language home video, "Living in Bondage" in 1992, there was the bestselling Hausa language movie, "Turmin Danya" (The Draw) in 1990.
Okay, right now in Nollywood, who is talking about Rahama Sadau's new movie, ‘Mati a Zazzau"?
Amaechi Muonagor
Rahama Sadau
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series is the first book to celebrate Kannywood actresses on the same level with Nollywood actresses.
Most of the foreign publications on the Nigerian film industry are superficial and show lack of comprehensive researches and studies by the authors.
This is why having a database of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry is important, because of the ignorance of the public and others on the biographies and filmographies of Nigerian directors, producers, screenwriters and actors.
The AGN, DGN, AMP and ITPAN don't have any database of the members. That is why I have severally proposed that there should be a Nollywood database, library and museum for the benefit of public information and education, film studies, African studies, film tourism and movie merchandising.
I obtained the documents of the British Colonial Commission's inquiry and court trials of the principal participants in the Aba Women's Riots in 1929 and I also obtained the letters of Rev. Sister Mary Slessor to her sister about her missionary life and work among the Efik people. These important documents are for the benefit of Nigerian history and also for the benefit of Nigerian filmmakers who want to do the film adaptations.
The Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film Institute and the professional bodies in the Nigerian film industry should cooperate to have the database, library and museum for Nollywood and Kannywood.
- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series
247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter
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