NARRATIVE AND STYLE IN NIGERIAN (NOLLYWOOD) FILMS

Abstract

At a little over 50 years of age, fi lm is a relatively new medium in Nigeria. Despite its youth, however, it has established itself as a powerful and popular art form. Nigerian fi lm producers have creatively exploited the techniques that give fi lm its narrative power while expressing emotions and ideas. In general, Nigerian fi lms are both created and produced in the context of their social and economic conditions. Resting on this foundation, this paper takes a critical look at the story and style of contemporary Nigerian fi lms. Employing the concepts of fi lm form and style as the theoretical background, we consider issues such as the organization of fi lm narrative, the cohesiveness and relatedness of scenes (the progression of plots), and the techniques used for presentation and character development. The paper also provides recommendations to improve the quality of productions.