Somtochukwu

The streaming platform flaunted its burgeoning relationship with the Nigerian industry on social media

Netflix

Netflix is starting to gain a foothold in the Nigerian movie industry and the trailer flaunting the blossoming relationship by the @naijaonnetflix Instagram handle could not have announced it any better. The trailer had a familiar crop of Nigerian actors perform a colourful montage that promises more in the fewest words. That performance was impressive enough to make me wonder if this isn’t the best moment the industry can boast of in its long, eventful history.RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

The current reality of the Nigerian movie industry has at least made better impressions on me than I ever imagined it could be able to muster in my lifetime recently and that is due in no small way to Netflix. This is not to even denigrate what Nolywood came from, as the industry has a long, impressive history that has helped it enjoy a strong audience around the continent for some time. With the calibre of talent that the industry has witnessed from days past, with legends like Hubert Ogunde who founded the first formalised theatrical group in the country’s history.

This drama group which started out as a product of improvisations to tell stories of Nigerian realities as long ago as 1945. From that you can trace a straight line of succession from that into what the industry which had grown very strong alongside its loyal following, to where it currently is. Huge enough to shape the realities of its teeming fans in diverse ways until it stopped to develop at some level.

The development of the industry was stunted by what I like to call the Nigerian factor. A string of inefficiencies and corruption that has plagued Nigerian realities for quite some time. With impoverished conditions that cut through different sectors, Nollywood was also stuck in some sort of limbo where it seemed too big for its boots. Due to low-quality projects and the evils of piracy that almost had the last laugh when it went toe to toe with the creative industry until technological advancements like Netflix granted it a new lease of life against an ancient foe.

It was common at some point to see the more successful directors have to pitch their movies as proposals to the public to canvass for funds to fund their movies. The more popular ones that were able to get funds but barely enough to sustain the industry for long. It was commonplace to see the best actors just disappear from big screen productions one after the other. In some worse scenarios, see or hear them source for funds to sustain them in their old age due to dwindling roles and income.

Then came Netflix, supporting the creative productions and bringing the most talented actors back on our screens again. Started as a trickle with movies like Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart and that stream grew even bigger in no time with the company getting involved in the production and distribution of movies, taking a huge burden off the actors themselves.

Today, that has now become an industry-wide development that has rejuvenated one of the most popular movie industries in the world. Taking it back to where it belongs, on its feet, churning out wonderful movies that have told our stories in the most creative ways possible.

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“Babafemi Busari is a passionate writer whose experience writing across several niches bring unique perspectives to familiar subjects.”

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