Meet the film curator bringing the new generation of Nollywood to London.
Beyond Nollywood is a three-day festival of Nigerian films held annually in London
as part of the British Film Institute’s Black Star event series. The weekender is
only in its second year, but it’s impact is already clear. Returning curator Nadia
Denton has once again set out to showcase the full breadth of new Nigerian
cinema—from art house to documentaries to animation and experimental films—
made by the new generation of Nigerian filmmakers.
We caught up with Denton, the author of “The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to
Success: Beyond Nollywood” (from which the event takes its name), ahead of the
festival’s opening gala this Friday at the BFI Southbank.
What birthed the idea for Beyond Nollywood?
Beyond Nollywood is Nigerian cultural film content that extends beyond
Nollywood—documentaries, art house, animation, experimental and diaspora
films as well as music videos.
In writing my book two years ago I discovered that the content on the periphery
of Nollywood is actually a growth area within the Nigerian film industry, and in
my opinion the most likely to cross over internationally.The festival is in its second year and you’re curating it for the second time,
which must mean that you did a very good job last time around. How do you
compare the success of the first to the expectations you have this time?
The first Beyond Nollywood weekender took place in 2014 to mark the release of
my book. It was a small event where we showed four films and had conversations
more closely tied to the book.
At this year’s Beyond Nollywood we’ll be showing 17 films as well as host an
afrobeats night [the first ever at the BFI Southbank] with DJ Cuppy as well as a
special Nollywood Star showcase with Nse Ikpe-Etim.
So whereas the first event announced the launch of my book, my expectations are
that this year’s event will extend the concept of Beyond Nollywood even further
as well as attracting a far wider audience.
Tell us about your curatorial process.
It was important for me to continue the conversation started in [my book], which
is essentially that there is some exciting film content emerging from the Nigerian
film space which is rarely seen because it does not fit the Nollywood model.
A number of the films are by filmmakers that featured in my book, like Ishaya
Bako (Henna and Silent Tears) and Tope Oshin (Ireti and Amaka’s Kin: The Women
of Nollywood) and also other talent that I discovered along the way such as Abba
Makama (Green White Green) and Victoria Thomas (I Believe in Pink).
I was essentially on the lookout for content that tells us something different
about the international Nigerian experience and filmmakers emerging from thisspace. I wanted to curate a programme that had quirky films which would
challenge audience expectation.
How were the films chosen?
I chose films that had not yet been seen in the U.K. and had been made in the
last 12 months. These are films that I regard as being unusual or which had a
narrative that we don’t often see coming out of Nigeria. So we have shorts that
deal with issues ranging from Boko Haram as we see in No Good Turn (Udoka
Oyeka) to prostitution in Honey (Olu Yomi Ososanya).
I also mixed these up with voices from the diaspora. They include an
afrofuturistic-inspired short called The Golden Chain by video artist Adebukola
Buki Bodunrin and Mrs. Bolanle Benson (Sade Adeniran), a sensual piece about a
60-year-old woman who has an illicit meeting with her lover.
Why is it important to have a festival like Beyond Nollywood?
The Nigerian film industry is changing in weird and wonderful ways and it’s great
to be part of a trend as its developing… Beyond Nollywood seeks to provide a
space for filmmakers and audiences who want to extend their experience of the
African film narrative… Without it, most of the filmmakers who are being
showcased would not have had their work exhibited in the U.K.
Are we paying too much attention to Nigerian cinema at the expense of other
African countries?
I think people pay attention to what they are interested in… The program is for
people who are interested in Nigerian cinema as see it as a part of the widerAfrican film narrative rather than in conflict with it… I think it is fair to say that
most people want to see good films regardless of where they come from.
Is there any real difference between “New Nollywood” and “Nollywood”?
Yes, I would argue in budget and aesthetics. New Nollywood is glossy and has high
production values that are intended for the cinema screen. Nollywood, on the
other hand, is made for the small screen and is more about mass sales than
artistic virtues.
I enjoyed Faaji Agba and have seen it twice so far. Why did you choose it?
I chose it because there are no other significant music documentaries that have
come out Nigeria in recent years featuring veteran musicians such as Fatai Rolling
Dollar. I knew that it had a ready audience who would want to learn more about
the history and development of musical forms such as akpala, highlife, juju and
afrobeat.
What’s your attraction to Nollywood as opposed to other film industries?
Throughout my career I have championed the work of filmmakers of African
descent. Nigeria has one of the biggest industries in Africa. The Nigerian film
industry is of particular interest to me at the moment because I noted a trend
four years ago when I started writing my book and have seen this develop much in
the fashion that I thought it would which was more international acclaim for what
I term “beyond Nollywood.”Take Green White Green for instance, the film that we are opening the
programme with. Not only is it the first art house film to emerge from Nigeria, it
has had rave reviews in the international film press as well as premiering at the
Toronto International Film Festival. It has also has been sold to Netflix.
Do you think if Nigeria’s film industry was started with the same production
ethos imported for Hollywood or elsewhere, that it would have still grown at
the rapid rate it has—most of which is the enterprising work of individuals?
I think it’s unfair to compare Nollywood to Hollywood or any other industry for
that matter. Nollywood developed out of unique circumstances which are peculiar
to Nigeria.
What has been a strength for Nollywood, i.e. the enterprise of individuals, is also
what has created the most challenge within the industry. At present there is no
overriding body or organization that can be said to represent Nigeria.
Individuals can only go so far. It is a collective, unified body of practitioners that
is needed to elevate the industry above its current position.