Title:   PORTRAYAL OF IGBO MONARCHY IN NOLLYWOOD MOVIES

Abstract
The Nigerian film industry is one of the largest in the world and has become more than just an
entertainment tool. It is huge both in productivity and reach; today, Nollywood production is a
multi-billion naira industry which provides a source of livelihood for many people both at home
and abroad. Its films have attracted a wide patronage within and outside Nigeria and are hugely
entertaining for Africans. It is an industry that seems to be rising in terms of the amount of movies
it produces a year, (Uwah, 2011). This work was hinged on Social Representation theory. Content
Analysis was adopted to analyse 20 movies. Findings revealed that Nollywood films have
constructed Igbo monarchy as an important aspect of Igbo cultural setup, portraying royals as
playing vital leadership role – political and religious – in their respective communities. The qualities
Igbo monarchy portrayed include physical power, valour, divine connection, wisdom, and wealth.
It was concluded that portrayal of Igbo monarchy in Nollywood films tended to reflect some
dominant discourses of power, class and gender in Nigeria. It was recommended that filmmakers
should do more in the area of research towards better portrayal of Igbo culture in their
productions.
Keywords: Portrayal, Igbo monarchy, Nollywood, Movies

Citations:

Publication Date: 2021-07-09