NIGERIA FILM AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR NATIONAL UNITY

 (A CASE STUDY OF HALF OF A YELLOW SUN BY BANDELE)

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

Over the years, Nigerian films or movies have become extremely popular among Nigerians at home and abroad and a growing number of foreigners too have developed great love for Nigerian movies. Through these movies Nigerians are experiencing a cultural tie worldwide. However, the growing influence of the Western media and the concept of globalization seem to be creating a transition of Nigerian culture to the Western culture, especially in the urban areas and cities Mgbejume (1989). Most of the films shown in commercial theatres are meant primarily to entertain and they are fictional rather than factual and where they are based on facts, events that have actually happened are dramatized. Many entertainment films duel on sex, crime, rituals and so on but film like ‘half of a yellow sun’ tells about war, loyalty, brutality, and love in modern Africa. While painting a searing portrait of the tragedy that took place in Biafra during the 1960s. Film is a unique means of communication, its visual bias gives it a universal appeal and impact. Film plays important roles in the development and unity of any groups of people, ethnicity, and race as a nation or country. It is a veritable tool of national development and unity. One of the key areas in which film perform is in the realm of culture. Film is a purveyor of culture. It helps to preserve the culture of a people from eroding away( http://filminnaija.blogspot.com.ng). Culture is the totality of the ways of life of a group of people, nation or tribe including their food, costumes, dressing, music, marriage and burial practices etc and it is the bedrock of the essence of being of a people. (Tunde Oladunjoye in April 18, 2004) “Cannes Film Festival Knocks, Where is Nigeria?” retraced and emphasizes the role film plays in cultural promotion when he says “I am not aware of any nation that has been able to achieve development and unity without proactive promotion of its essential cultural components” and this is true because culture is an integral aspect of the life of a people. According to Ekwuazi (1991), the film is a cultural index, a cultural reflector, a socializing agent and therefore the instrument of unity to the nation. He further explains that the film constitutes an industry whose production is directly ideological. What this means is that the film, in this case, home video projects what it seeks to communicate to its audience, what it seeks to sell, what it wants its audience to understand and what it wants its audience to imbibe. This is why it is pertinent to review the home video as an image of unity for Nigeria. Wale Adenuga further opines that as “film is a popular culture and as expected, it must mirrorize, recreate and tell stories of the societies in which it subsists. The Nigerian film industry is no exception. Film plays a vital role in social mobilization and information. Film is used to popularize government policies and ideologies amongst the masses. Owing to its ability to hold a captive audience films are used more than any other means of mass communication to promote ideas of positive social transformation as well as to consolidate and build new relationship between culture and national unity and development for example, the National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of Information and Culture uses films to promulgate awareness on issues such as the HIV/AIDS endemic, anti-corruption, poverty alleviation, etc. It is a tool of national mobilization, unity, a sign of national autonomy and a means of the preservation of heritage and sovereignty

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Nigeria experience in everyday life communal mutuality in village festivals, traditional dancing tunes and steps, religious worships and socio-cultural cooperation in works.  This experience can be communicated to people through the use of film. Film is a unique means of communication, its visual bias gives it a universal appeal and impact. Film plays important roles in the development and unity of any groups of people, ethnicity, and race as a nation or country. It is a veritable tool of national development. Film is a purveyor of culture. It helps to preserve the culture of a people from eroding away. On this background the researcher wants to investigate the Nigeria film as an instrument for national unity.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1.   To ascertain whether Nigeria film is an instrument for national unity

2.   To ascertain whether the film half of a yellow sun brought unity to the nation

3.   To ascertain the level of unity half of a yellow sun brought to the nation

4.   To ascertain the relationship between Nigeria film and national unity

1.4 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H0: Nigeria film is not an instrument for national unity

H1: Nigeria film is an instrument for national unity

H02: the film half of a yellow sun doe not brought unity to the nation

H2: the film half of a yellow sun brought unity to the nation

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study, which is primarily aimed at explaining the Nigeria film as an instrument for national unity, will provide an insight into the problems associated with unity of the nation. This report would be of great benefit for nation, to expose them to the Nigeria film as an instrument for national unity. The findings will be useful for researchers to further generate knowledge in the field.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers Nigeria film as an instrument for national unity. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

FILM: Film, also called a movie, motion picture, theatrical film, or photoplay, is a series of still images that when shown on a screen creates an illusion of motion images

INSTRUMENT: A tool or implement, especially one for precision work.

NATIONAL UNITY: A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties (or all major parties) in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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