The glamourisation of money rituals, smoking and other vices in Nollywood films might have prompted the recent moves by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to contemplate regulating them in Nigerian movies. Although drama from which Nollywood emerged, since beginning is associated with rituals and glamour such as smoking and drinking, the depiction of rituals in Nigerian films has been overused.
From the epical maiden Nollywood film, “Living in Bondage,” to numerous others that follow, almost all Nollywood films have one ritual scene or the other. Nigerian films have featured rituals to a nauseating extent that portray Nigeria in a bad light to the outside world. Having these money rituals in our films has indirectly promoted these vices in the society to the extent that many Nigerian youths tend to believe that without money rituals people cannot get rich or live a comfortable life.
The move to regulate money rituals and smoking in Nollywood films was revealed by the Executive Director and CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Shaibu Husseini, at a recent National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-Free Nollywood held in Enugu. The event was organised by the NFVCB and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.
Husseini also admitted that Nigeria was facing an industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions from parents, guardians and stakeholders. He noted: “When my predecessor approached the former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed on the need to make a subsidiary legislation to curtail the display of smoking in Nigerian movies, he saw the need to include money rituals.
In the same vein, the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, pursuant to section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004, has approved the Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Nicotine Product Promotion and Glamourisation display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits.”
Without doubt, Nollywood is the biggest movie producer in Africa and is ranked third behind America’s Hollywood and India’s Bollywood globally. Many people the world over see Nigeria first through the Nollywood films, our music and literature. Their impression of Nigeria is often based on this encounter. Like drama, movies imitate and reflect life. A movie reenacts a lived experience or a make believe, which is far from reality. However, the consumers of these films because they have suspended their disbelief see them as reality and tend to emulate the characters in the films.
This is one of the dangers of uncritical consumption of films, and fictional works of literature. That is why there is need for caution in portraying societal vices in films without necessarily stifling creativity. In an attempt to expose such vices, the unintended outcome of children and youths copying them results. While underscoring societal vices and showing that they are not worth emulating, Nigerian films should tell stories that depict our positive cultural values. Fortunately, there are so many of such stories not yet depicted in our films.
Films present a people’s worldview from different perspectives, including the good, the bad and the ugly. However, that should not be an excuse to unduly dwell on money rituals and other vices that will negatively impact the society. The prevalent stereotypes of ethnic groups, religious beliefs, and gender roles in Nigerian films should be checked. They don’t even enhance creativity. All over the word, films have been criticised for portraying violent and sexual themes, which negatively affect young people.
For Nollywood to attain the heights of Hollywood and Bollywood, those in charge must do away with obsession with money rituals and killings associated with rituals and present Nigeria and Africa in positive light. The rising drug epidemic, kidnapping and other vices can be traced to habits imbibed from films. The youths tend to emulate the smoking habits of favourite actors and actresses. Instead of an outright ban of smoking in Nigerian films, it should be curtailed. This is because smoking in movies is not unique to Nigeria. It features in most movies in the world.
The spate of money rituals (oke-ite) in real life today and the barbarism of some criminal elements in some parts of the country are hinged on the wrong impression that money and fame can only come through money rituals instead of hard work. Some youths caught in failed money rituals have blamed the wicked act on some characters in Nollywood films. Let Nollywood films stop glamourising fetishisms and money rituals.