With its alliances and betrayals, crimes and cash, and even a dash of witchcraft, the theatrical twists of Nigeria’s politics are inspiring directors from the country’s Nollywood movie industry.
With 190 million people in Nigeria and a growing wider audience on the African continent and among Nigeria’s diaspora, Nollywood has become the world’s second-largest cinema business after India’s Bollywood in terms of the number of films the industry pumps out.In “Dr. Mekan”, a satire released in 2018, Nnaebue tells the tale of the rise of a “repat”, a Nigerian who grew up or lived abroad for a long time and who returned to live in Nigeria, often disconnected from reality.
In another scene, the candidate’s campaign team is busy handing out cash to the crowd, while Mekan himself shouts at young people “Money will destroy you!” Adeleye did not choose humour, but action to criticise what Nigerian politics has become, and especially the idea of political “Godfathers” who bless or destroy aspiring candidates.
Nigeria is a cultural heavyweight in Africa, leading in film and music. But it has long been confined mostly to just entertainment.