NOLLYWOOD AND NATIONAL HISTORY: A STUDY OF NOLLYWOOD HISTORIC FILM COSTUMES AND THEIR IMPACT ON COLLECTIVE MEMORY AND NATION-BUILDING

Résumé

Although Nigeria is ethnically diverse, there are moments in history that were collectively experienced by Nigerians regardless of their ethnicities. Nollywood’s portrayals of historical events serve as a powerful tool for shaping and resonating collective memory which in turn promotes nation-building efforts. This research sheds light on the pivotal role Nollywood costumes play in shaping and preserving national history and collective memory. It explored the intriguing intersection of Nollywood with national history and collective memory through an examination of the use of costumes in historic film narratives. It also explored how costumes are employed as visual and symbolic elements within film narratives. It examined costume design and their reverberation of collective consciousness. A qualitative research method was employed for the study. Izu Ojukwu’s ’76 was selected as an example of historic film and its costumes were analysed as examples of costumes that recapture shared memories through analysis. It focused on the analysis of the non-ethnic-designs of the costumes used in the films studied and how they exude the oneness of the diverse ethnicities of Nigeria. It also explored the reception and perception of these costumes among audiences of diverse ethnicities and generations using quantitative methodology. Interviews were used to capture the nuances of their impact. Semiotics was adopted for the analysis of the films to examine how costumes convey historical narratives and how they may contribute to the creation of a common national identity. It will contribute insights into the fields of Nollywood costumes, Nollywood and nation-building research.