Why African Movies Will Keep Getting Better

By Author: Fola Atoloye
Total Articles: 1
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From Living in Bondage days (1992) to Half of a Yellow Sun (2014), African Movies has gone through leaps and bounds, breaking records and setting new ones. Resolute game changers are taking the bull by the horn and with ingenuity resplendent, they have found a way to eke out funds to further aid the stories they tell in sharper colours, better techniques and crisper visuals.
Today, Africans tell their stories and others are forced to listen. This wasn’t so when it was low in quality and had numerous repetitive storyline. Movies don’t come cheap but talented dramatis personae (involved both in front of camera and behind it) are doing all what they can to better their trade. The partnership between Indian Movie industry (Bollywood) and Nigerian Movie industry (Nollywood) for instance has blossomed into something of a respect and mutual benefit. The rate at which Nigerian directors, actors and industry players shuttle between both countries in search of knowledge, synergy and training cannot be overemphasized. In 2010 alone, exchange students with interest in cinematography and film making rose ...
... to a significant amount.
Over the years, many Indian film schools have solicited for budding Nollywood directors, producers and actors to take courses in schools like RK Films and Media Academy in New Delhi and International Institute of Mass Media – IIMM, India. American schools like New York Film Academy also have seen rise in Nigerian actors and directors flocking to gain advance knowledge in the art of movie making. Stephanie Okereke, Kunle Afolayan and many others are products of such institutes and today they have won several awards from their acting and directing careers. Not to forget the many seasoned directors like Lancelot Imasuen, Emem Isong, Late Amaka Igwe, Tunde Kelani, and so many more who also have synergized in beautiful ways with foreign friends and partners to shoot good and technically aesthetic Nigerian movies.
The Amazing Gracewas first of its kind that came out of the Nollywood stable back in 2008. Jeta Amata was behind the blockbuster and the film features a variety of Nigerian and British actresses and actors, some of which include Joke Silva, Nick Moran, Scott Cleverdon, Mbong Odungide, Fred Amata and Zack Amata. The film received 11 nominations and won the award for Best Cinematography at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007. Now we have movies like The Figurine; won five major awards in the African Film Academy and experienced tremendous success in the Nigerian movie industry. Phone Swap is a personal favourite for me and it has likewise garnered many reviews and success with premiering in France at the first edition of NollywoodWeek Paris and it won the Public Choice Award.
Movies like Last Flight to Abuja, Phone Swap, Heroes and Zeros, Mr and Mrs, and many more are doing well in the sphere of movies with quality and panache. Social media and online stores like tvnolly have also helped to improve the marketability and sustainability of Nollywood movies. The free to air streaming of interesting Nigerian drama, movies, and films have also made viewership easy to access all around the world and every day the numbers of views on tvnolly has continued to increase. With actors like Mercy Johnson, Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Noauh and a host of others gracing the website.
You can catch up on free yet very interesting movies on the website.