Quite interesting. Also here in Nairobi Kenya we grew up on Nollywood what we used to call ‘Afrosinema’. Their stories have always been captivating. Cant wait to re-watch some of these classics!
Dj Ymas - Kenya
In the late 90s and early 2000s, cinema visits in Nigeria slowly decreased as direct-to-tv releases became popular across the country. Cheap to make and featuring didactic undertones, these films were often criticized for their shoddy acting, predictable endings, and recycled storylines following formerly modest girls coming to sticky ends—anything from death to their sugar-daddies freezing their assets—as a result of being exposed to hedonistic lifestyles.
Despite all these factors, at the time these films were considered entertaining and, on many levels, relatable. “Old Nollywood was authentic to the Nigerian experience,” says Dika Ofoma, a writer who covers the topic for publications including Dazed and Popsugar. “I know relatability is relative, but the old Nollywood films were very reflective of life for a large percentage of Nigerians. That’s why they were loved and watched.”
Now, in 2022, these films are lauded as being part of “the golden age” of the Nigerian film industry, laying the foundations for Nollywood as we know it today. They are also remembered fondly for their unique fashion statements, unintentionally funny scenes, and for creating some of the most iconic words and phrases—such as “you stink with poverty” from the 2006 movie Girls Cot—that are now etched into Nigeria’s pop culture history. Now, they are currently being referenced and recreated across the internet.