African movies that come out of Nigeria and Ghana are the craze these days. The movies, which have soap-opera type themes are particularly popular among South Florida Caribbean’s population. Emanite Charles, of Miami, browses through a large selection of DVD’s
They’ve never walked along the dusty roads of Lagos, Nigeria, or set foot in an extravagant mansion in Ghana.
But fans of African movies now being sold in South Florida say they find themselves glued to their screens because in so many ways, the faraway continent feels so familiar.
“It’s everything from the drapes hanging at the entrance door in the kitchen to the way people go down on their knees before saying good morning to their elders,” said Hermante Leonard, who sees similarities to her Haitian culture in the movies.
Despite mediocre sound quality and a lack of special effects, Nigerian films are growing in popularity in South Florida, especially among Caribbean natives. In strip plazas in Lauderdale Lakes, Miramar, West Palm Beach and North Miami, vendors who used to specialize in movies from Jamaica and Haiti said they’ve recently switched their focus to African films because of the demand.
“These movies are entertaining,” said Fay Bailey, a retired nurse from Jamaica. “They showcase the beauty and strength in Africa, and there’s more laughter than anything.”
Fans say they help satisfy a need here, where mainstream films starring black performers are few and far between. They like the intelligent dialogue, relative absence of nudity and the prominence given to areas of Nigeria and Ghana not usually seen on Western television.
The Nigerian film industry, often referred to as “Nollywood,” churns out about 1,500 new movies a year, making it the third largest in the world, after Hollywood and India. Industry analysts estimate it grossed $286 million last year, compared with $2 billion brought in by Indian films.
African movies are performed in English with story lines that center on infidelity, family cohesiveness, folklore and spirituality. Unlike Hollywood blockbusters, however, these films are usually made on a shoestring budget of about $20,000, and sell here for about $10.
Caminito Rose, who is originally from Haiti, began selling the movies about four months ago in his North Miami store, Lionel Productions African Movie Mall.
He said on an average Saturday he sells about 400 Nigerian movies.
Fans say it’s not the price but the story lines that keep them wanting more.
Hopeton Green, of Lauderdale Lakes, said he buys them because “the backgrounds reminded me so much of Jamaica. The way the people dressed, their demeanor. The accent was the only thing that really marked the difference.”
Leonard said she became hooked after watching Blood Sisters, about a bad sister trying to destroy the good sister’s life.
So about a year ago, she started selling the movies at her music stores, Se Mizik Lakay, in Lauderdale Lakes and Oakland Park.
Other retailers say their clients introduced them to the films.
“I started selling them about two months ago because people came to me and asked me for certain titles,” said Jerome Altidort, manager at VS Music Store, in West Palm Beach, which specializes in Haitian music and movies.
Nigeria’s movie industry got its start in the early 1990s, when Nigeria was undergoing a financial crisis and foreign films were scarce.
Experts say violence at that time kept many Nigerians from going to local theaters.
To fill the void, local directors began filming with hand-held cameras and producing movies on a shoestring budget. The video films, as they’re called, often have sequels and, in some cases, up to four or five parts.
Some movie watchers say they block out time to watch the films, which are usually about three hours long, because once they get into Part 1, it’s difficult not to watch the sequel.
“I know it sounds [like a] cliche, but you really feel like you’re experiencing your roots,” said Opal Brown, of Pembroke Pines.
Industry specialists say easier access to the films is increasing their popularity, especially in New York City, Washington, D.C., and South Florida.
“The distributors of these video films don’t have to rely on a huge marketing strategy,” said Onookome Okome, author of the upcoming book Nollywood: Cinema, Culture, Society.
But piracy is also a big issue and local retailers say it’s hard to compete with the copiers who sell at rock-bottom prices.
“I used to have a lot more customers, but the piracy is slowing things down,” Leonard said.
Back at African Movie Mall, patrons Fay Bailey and Cherley Sanon are debating which story lines are more intriguing.
Sanon, who is Haitian, watched her first Nigerian film about three months ago in a hair salon.
She now has 20 titles and said she likes the movies that show off the affluent Nigerian neighborhoods.
Not so for Bailey, who countered, “I like the movies that bring me right into the villages.”
Read More:http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbafricannbsep18,0,6926604.story
Same here. When you declare your nigerianness around here, if your audience is white, they immediately spin some joke about 419 emails. If they are black, they almost always jump to the vodoo movies. Its incredible, but nollywood is getting a lot of good image and respect for nigeria. Now, if someone can just sit down and do a bit more about the shooting quality?
i love ur movies.
Nigerian movies are very interesting I just wish they have good ending, most of the time we as viewer are clueless about the storyline of the movie because there is no logical ending. Overall our actresses and actors doing are great job Keep it up!
Hopefully the writers can write can write a better conclusion.
My thoughts exactly, the filming quality can use some improvement, however, the popularity of Nollywood films also goes to show that people a more interested in a captivating story than the bells and whistles of modern film technology. I know I am.
I am worried about what appears to be a central theme of Nollywood movies-money-making or ‘enemy-killing’ rituals/voodoo. Apart from what has become the usual association of 419 with being Nigerian,they also suggest we all live by a single law of ‘money’/physical wealth.
Although Nollywood movies are popular in West Africa, East and even South Africa where I have had people ranging from hotel staff to professional colleagues ask questions about them, I find that our fellow Africans in these areas are even more cautious in our company.
All This shows that Nigeria can do better. The movie industry is growing so rapidly, as the actors are doing their best. It is a good idea for Companies, Banks, and also people who think they can help in sponsoring should all come together and make it happen. They are trying their best, all they need is a better technology and as they saying go “practice makes perfect, they will take it from there.
Most of the times when I watch this movies, I realise how much I love my country which never occur to me in any form except my family.
The government should invest in such as the movie industries because this is one of the better targets; this will not only give Nigeria a good name, but will make it know to all countries.
Yes I love these movies. I watch them online at http://www.zuluflix.com
I have yet to view your movies on-line, but this past Thanksgiving, my sisters were visiting from South Florida (I live in Tallahassee, Fl) and they brought with them two movies entitled ‘Blood Sisters’ and ‘Only Love’. I was crying profusely afterwards and since that time my collection has grown to over thirty (30) movies. I am truly a big fan now and will be for a long time. Keep them coming!
I have never seen anything that is perfect in life. Nigerian films are passing through phases and would eventually arrive at enviable shores someday. But thanks to critics who help sharpen our producers’ intellect from time to time. Today, I must confess that the industry has come a long way despite its short comings. We should always remember that Hollywood started from somewhere and eventually get to where they are today. Much of what we know of the U.S was propagated by Hollywood. Nigerian film producers should have this at the back of their minds that the country’s image needs to be projected positively not in the voodoo styles and witchcraft sensibilities. There are better ways to project the country’s image. The best of criminals and witches are found in America yet Hollywood down play on such images. Nigerian film producers should have a rethink and double check the themes they project about the country. But I must commend these producers’ efforts so far. Good job I must say but we can do better.
Western Images in African Media: A semiotic investigation of Three Ningerian Home Videos
By Terence Ekiseh
A stranger who is yet to be initiated into how the interactional signs and signals work in a community moves around half blindfolded. This is because he/she misses the most important meaningful social symptoms of the welfare or ailment of the people among whom he/she lives. As Adekunle (1997) has pointed out:
The proper understanding of the message and method of a literary work
requires much more than the ability to glean to the surface ideas in the
text. There is the need to understand the multifarious and variety of sign
post or meaning signaling devices located at many strategic places in the
text. These devices are semiotic elements which collectively present the
audience with the main message (p.9).
The films, One Dollar, Spirit of Love and Market Seller, are presented in this study as examples of the functional use in the African context and style of semiotic devices. Semiotic investigation of Western images in African films here, defines the elements which work together to produce meaning. Semiotics as stated earlier is the science of signs, how the signs work and the ways in which they are used in the films,
Western Images in African Media: A semiotic investigation of Three Ningerian Home Videos
By Terence Ekiseh
A stranger who is yet to be initiated into how the interactional signs and signals work in a community moves around half blindfolded. This is because he/she misses the most important meaningful social symptoms of the welfare or ailment of the people among whom he/she lives. As Adekunle (1997) has pointed out:
The proper understanding of the message and method of a literary work
requires much more than the ability to glean to the surface ideas in the
text. There is the need to understand the multifarious and variety of sign
post or meaning signaling devices located at many strategic places in the
text. These devices are semiotic elements which collectively present the
audience with the main message (p.9).
The films, One Dollar, Spirit of Love and Market Seller, are presented in this study as examples of the functional use in the African context and style of semiotic devices. Semiotic investigation of Western images in African films here, defines the elements which work together to produce meaning. Semiotics as stated earlier is the science of signs, how the signs work and the ways in which they are used in the films,
Interesting…..
though nigeria movies are interested but sometimes ,dont make sense, such that when an actor needs to shoot a theif he would b shaking which doesnt speak well of a well cultured police men.there is still need for improvement in all areas of nigeria film production.
Nigerian movies are very interesting I just wish they have good ending, most of the time we as viewer are clueless about the storyline of the movie because there is no logical ending. Overall our actresses and actors doing are great job Keep it up!
Hopefully the writers can write a better conclusion.
The process of making a thing is just as important as the content. With the said ‘nigerianmovie’ having international acceptance.That is what the home vidoes lack to be come Movies
their films are very intertaining, though they should improve sound quality. i cannot blame them for the way they speak. one needs to familarise themselves the language,
their films are very intertaining, though they should improve sound quality. i cannot blame them for the way they speak. one needs to familarise themselves the language,