Nollywood

Nigerian cinema

Film-making in Nigeria is mostly split by region, ethnic group and religion. This means there are different film industries. Each one shows the issues of its own group. But there is also an English-language film industry that mixes film-making from most of these groups.

The Igbo-language film, Living in Bondage (1992), is often said to have started modern Nollywood. Chris Obi Rapu directed it. It starred Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, Kenneth Okonkwo, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Kenneth Nnebue. Other films came after it, like Circle of Doom, Nneka The Pretty Serpent, Rituals and Rattle Snake.

But Nigerian films started before the 1990s. One example is 1987's Things Fall Apart, which is based on Chinua Achebe's book of the same name. It starred Pete Edochie.

The Igbo language film Living in Bondage was the first huge hit of the video era. But most Igbo film makers like to make their movies in English. This is why some of the most loved Nollywood actors are Igbo, but mostly act in English. Examples are Patience Ozokwor (Mama G), Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme (Aki and Pawpaw), Nkem Owoh (Osuofia), and John Okafor (Mr. Ibu). These actors sometimes use Igbo sayings, but most of the talking is in English.

Yoruba-language cinema is another big part of Nigerian cinema. It started when Yoruba travelling theatre groups took their work from the stage to film in the mid-1960s. Some people say these were the first true Nigerian filmmakers. Movies like Kongi's Harvest (1972), Bull Frog in The Sun (1971), Bisi, Daughter of The River (1977), Jaiyesimi (1980), and Cry Freedom (1981) came from this time. People like Ola Balogun, Duro Ladipo and Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love) were important. They made Ajani Ogun in 1976. This film was a big success that made Yoruba cinema famous. More films by Hubert Ogunde and others followed. One of Nigeria's first big hits was from Yoruba cinema: Mosebolatan (1985) by Moses Olaiya made ₦107,000 in five days.^[source?] Modern Nigerian films include 2006's The Narrow Path by Tunde Kelani.

The Hausa-language cinema, also called Kannywood, is also part of Nollywood. It is mostly in Kano. It is the biggest cinema in Northern Nigeria. It grew slowly from shows by RTV Kaduna and Radio Kaduna in the 1960s. Dalhatu Bawa and Kasimu Yero made early dramas that Northern people liked. In the 1990s, Northern cinema changed a lot. People liked Bollywood movies more. So they mixed Indian and Hausa culture, and it became very popular. Turmin Danya ("The Draw"), 1990, is often called the first successful Kannywood film. Others came after it, like Gimbiya Fatima and Kiyarda Da Ni. Sunusi Shehu of Tauraruwa Magazine made the word "Kannywood" in 1999. By 2012, over 2000 film companies were registered with the Kano State Filmmakers Association.

The Efik-language cinema, also called Callywood, is another part. It is mostly in Calabar and includes Ibibio and Annang cinema.^[source?]

Ghanaian English-language cinema

The word Nollywood is also used for the Ghanaian English-language cinema. Around 2006 to 2007, Nigerian filmmaker Frank Rajah Arase signed a deal with a Ghanaian company, Venus Films. The deal helped put Ghanaian actors into mainstream Nollywood. This made some Ghanaian actors very popular. Examples are Van Vicker, Jackie Appiah, Majid Michel, Yvonne Nelson, John Dumelo, Nadia Buari and Yvonne Okoro. Also, making films in Nigeria costs a lot. So Nigerian filmmakers started making films outside Lagos to save money. This is like when Hollywood moved from Los Angeles to cities like Toronto and Albuquerque. Because of this, some producers started shooting in cities like Accra, Ghana. They used the saved money to buy better equipment.

Nollywood USA

Nollywood USA is a word for Nigerian films made by Nigerians living in other countries. These movies can be shot in any country outside Africa. They are usually made by Nigerian filmmakers living abroad for Nigerian people. Like the word "Nollywood", it is hard to say exactly what "Nollywood USA" means.

Nollywood USA movies usually tell Nigerian stories. They usually have famous Nollywood actors and new Nigerian/African actors living abroad. The movies often first show in Nigeria. They sometimes show in cinemas like normal Nollywood movies.

YouTube Nollywood

Nollywood filmmakers use YouTube because of piracy. The platform is changing how films are made and watched. YouTube Nollywood means films made just for this video platform. Filmmakers use it to share their work. Filmmakers who once made cinema hits now put their films on YouTube.

Nollywood loses about $10–$15 billion every year to piracy. Telegram groups are a big cause. The platform has made new stars. Some viral movies on it are Better Half by Ruth Kadiri, Treasure in the Sky by Uchenna Mbunabo, and Love in Every Word by Omoni Oboli.