This chapter chronicles the historical overview of the film industry popularly referred to as
Nollywood. It takes an explorative look at the existence of the industry, its challenges,
performances and future imperatives. The second section of the chapter identifies Nigeria's
indigenous cultural values which are at the brink of extinction because of the uncontrolled
intrusion of alien, mostly Western cultural values into the Nigerian society. The chapter holds
that Nollywood is one sure channel this intrusion occurs. This informs the third section of the
chapter. The section juxtaposes the industry's existence and role with that of igeria's
indigenous cultural values. This is because the film industry is part of the culture industry.
Another major reason is that culture defines a people and Nollywood is a means of cultural
dissemination.
This chapter, therefore, attempts to evaluate the type of cultural values the Nigerian
film industry portrays. To achieve this objective, some vital questions as posed by
Ekeanyanwu (2009) become pertinent here: Are Nollywood films bastardizing Nigerian
indigenous cultural values or are they promoting them? Do the themes of Nollywood films
portray Nigerian indigenous cultural values in true light or not? What role could Nollywood
possibly play in promoting Nigerian indigenous cultural values and thus advance Nigeria 's
developmental agenda? These questions have remained contemporary, apt, topical and
controversial. The issues they raise have also remained unresolved suggesting a Nigerian
society and an industry in a dilemma.
This chapter attempts to take advantage of the emerging paradigm shift in
media/cultural studies by looking at the developmental imperatives of a focused, cultureconscious
Nigerian film industry. It sees Nollywood as an instrument of development in the
hands of Nigerians and dreams wide about such possibilities if well used. This position will
pervade this section and inform the concluding arguments.