The world's second largest film industry
In 1991 a young entrepreneur by the name of Ishaku Adele purchased a lock up garage in Lagos for a bargain price. He didn't really need the garage. It was just so cheap, he couldn't resist. As he unlocked the roller door for the very first time he wondered why he bothered. What would he do with this space? He didn't have a car or anything else to store in there. It had all been a waste of money and time. What a fool he was! Then he noticed that stacked in one corner was a pile of blank VHS tapes. In another corner was an old video camera and tripod. Ishaku assumed it was the residue of some failed wedding video venture and was about to toss the whole lot into the street when a thought struck him, like a bolt of lightning from God. What if on each 90 minute tape, he made a movie, a real movie with made up characters and a compelling plot, with a duration of exactly 90 minutes, edited in camera, on the fly. He could sell each tape for around 500 Naira (USD 4) at the local market. He had 27 tapes in the garage. That equaled 27 movies. If they were popular he could copy them and make even more money! That very day he shot his first movie, the next day he shot his second movie, and on it went. Nollywood was born!
Every year Nigeria produces well over 10,000 feature films that are avidly consumed in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Sudan and the African diaspora all over the world. These films are translated into French, Spanish and Arabic and reach a massive audience. Nollywood films are now being made in London, the US and even western Sydney. The industry employs more people than any other film industry apart from India.
Every year Nigeria produces well over 10,000 feature films that are avidly consumed in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Sudan and the African diaspora all over the world. These films are translated into French, Spanish and Arabic and reach a massive audience. Nollywood films are now being made in London, the US and even western Sydney. The industry employs more people than any other film industry apart from India.