Cinema of Nigeria

People in Nigeria love movies.

Many people call this film world Nollywood.

Long ago, people watched films through small holes. Later, they went to big halls to watch.

In the past, vans brought films to many people.

Some films were made in color. Other films were made for TV. People could even watch them at home.

Today, Nigeria makes many films every year. This makes it one of the biggest film places. It is a very big part of life.

People in Nigeria love movies. Many call this film world Nollywood.

The story of film in Nigeria began a long time ago. In the late 1800s, people watched movies through small peepholes. Later, they went to big halls to see films. The first films in Lagos were shown in 1903.

In the early days, many people watched films from vans. The first feature film made in Nigeria was called Palaver. It came out in 1926. It was the first film with Nigerian actors in big roles. Later, a film called Fincho was made in color.

After Nigeria became free in 1960, the film business grew fast. A new rule helped Nigerians own many movie theaters. This helped more local people make films. In the 1970s, many people had money to spend on movies. They also bought home TV sets.

In the 1990s, a new boom happened with video films. By the mid-2000s, Nigeria became the second largest film industry in the world. It made more movies than the United States! Today, Nigerian films are famous all across Africa.

People in Nigeria have a deep love for movies. Many people call this film world Nollywood.

This industry is a huge part of life and culture. It has grown into a massive business over many years. Today, it is one of the most important ways people share stories. Nigerian films are seen across the African continent and even in the Caribbean. This makes the actors famous names in many different homes. The films help connect people through shared stories and many emotions.

Making and showing films has changed many times. In the very beginning, people used small peephole devices to watch moving pictures. Later, they moved to big halls to see films on a screen. In the early 1900s, mobile cinema vans traveled to show films to people. These vans could reach millions of people in different places. Later, the industry moved to making films for television and video. Now, there is a big focus on making high-quality movies for modern theaters.

The history of Nigerian film has four main eras. It started with the Colonial era in the late 1800s. Then came the Golden Age era, which lasted until the late 1980s. After that was the video film era, which began in the 1990s. Finally, there is the new era of Nigerian cinema happening now. The first films shown in Lagos were at Glover Memorial Hall in 1903. The first feature film made in Nigeria was called Palaver in 1926. It was special because it featured Nigerian actors in large roles.

Many important things helped the film business grow. In 1972, a rule called the Indigenization Decree was made by Yakubu Gowon. This rule helped Nigerians take ownership of 300 film theaters. This helped more local people work in the film industry. The oil boom from 1973 to 1978 also helped a lot. During this time, people had more money to spend on movies. They also bought more television sets for their homes. In 1984, a film called Papa Ajasco became a huge hit. It made a lot of money in just three days.

Nigerian cinema is a very powerful force in the world. By the mid-2000s, it became the second largest film industry on Earth. It even made more movies every year than the United States. Only India has a larger film industry by number of productions. In 2013, it was rated as the third most valuable industry. This is based on the money the films make. Even though things changed, the love for cinema stays strong. People continue to build new theaters and watch new stories every day.

The cinema of Nigeria, often called Nollywood, is a massive and influential film industry. It is a vital part of the nation's culture and economy.

This industry produces a huge number of movies every year. These films are watched across the African continent and the Caribbean. They even reach the wider diaspora around the world. Because of this reach, Nigerian film actors have become household names. The industry has grown from small viewing devices into a global powerhouse.

Watching films in Nigeria has changed through many different technological stages. In the late 19th century, people used peephole viewing devices to see motion pictures. By the early 20th century, improved exhibition devices allowed for larger screenings. One major way films reached people was through mobile cinema vans. These vans traveled to different areas to show movies to the public. By 1954, these mobile vans were playing to at least 3.5 million people. Later, the industry shifted toward television and direct-to-video releases. Today, there is a strong focus on professional, high-quality cinema for modern theaters.

Historians generally classify the history of Nigerian film into four distinct eras. The first is the Colonial era, which lasted from the late 19th century until the early 1960s. The second is the Golden Age era, spanning from the late 1950s to the late 1980s. The third era is the video film era, which began in the 1990s. Finally, there is the emerging New Nigerian cinema era. Each era represents a different way that films were made, owned, and watched by the people.

The Colonial era saw the arrival of Western films in places like Lagos. The first films were screened at Glover Memorial Hall from August 12 to 22, 1903. In 1926, the film *Palaver*, directed by Geoffrey Barkas, became the first feature film made in Nigeria. This film was important because it featured Nigerian actors, such as Dawiya and Yilkuba, in substantial roles. During this time, the Nigerian Film Unit was established to help decentralize film production. This unit produced newsreels and educational films for local audiences.

The Golden Age began after Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960. During this time, the cinema business expanded very quickly. In 1972, a policy called the Indigenization Decree was issued by Yakubu Gowon. This decree required the transfer of ownership of about 300 film theaters from foreign owners to Nigerians. This change allowed more Nigerians to take active roles in the industry. Additionally, an oil boom between 1973 and 1978 gave citizens more disposable income. This extra money allowed more people to visit cinemas and buy home television sets.

Nigerian cinema has achieved incredible scale in the global market. By the mid-2000s, it became the second largest film industry in the world. This ranking was based on the number of annual film productions. In this category, Nigeria actually produced more films than the United States. Only India had a larger film industry by volume. By 2013, the industry was also rated as the third most valuable film industry in the world. This value is measured by the total revenue the films generate.

Several specific films helped define the success of different eras. In 1984, the film *Papa Ajasco* by Wale Adenuga became the first major blockbuster. It earned approximately ₦61,000 in just three days. A year later, *Mosebolatan* by Moses Olaiya earned ₦107,000 in five days. In the modern era, the film *The Figurine* in 2009 is seen as a major turning point. It helped mark a shift toward contemporary, professional Nigerian cinema.

This resurgence has led to a steady return of cinema culture across the country.