This write-up was inspired by an online discussion generated by a comment made by a Nollywood stakeholder. The person had wondered why a certain Yoruba actor, in a movie showing on one of the Africa Magic channels, was murdering the English Language. The person felt this popular actor should’ve spoken Yoruba, and that the movie would’ve made even better sense if it had been shot in Yoruba.
Others soon joined in; offering many more examples of different ‘bad’ Nigerian movies showing on Africa Magic. One person said movies from the East were the worst. Another person declared that Afmag had become the dumping ground for ‘anything goes’. Someone else then went on to heap praise on ROK (Dstv 168 & 169) and ELTV (Dstv 165) as his best stations. Hold it; let’s not get carried away here. I would’ve chimed in with my objections but it soon became obvious that the conversation had devolved into each person’s pet peeves and likes.
Suffice it to say that no part of Nigeria’s movie industry is ‘perfect’. The other day, I was watching Africa Magic Hausa (Dstv 156) because my husband, who prides himself on being a Kano boy (having been born in Kano) often ‘freezes’ us on that channel. Aside from its hollow plot and cartoonish acting, the subtitles in this movie would win the top prize if there were a World’s Worst Written Subtitles’ Awards. Worse still, Kannywood doesn’t have the monopoly on mangled subtitles. You’ll also find them in some Yoruba and Igbo language movies.
However, Africa Magic is the one platform that helps to showcase all these movies. Is there any truth to the accusation that Africa Magic has become a place for ‘anything goes’? Clearly, a more stringent vetting process is needed; call it better quality control or better gatekeeping. I know content is king especially considering the huge task of filling endless hours of programming.
I doubt I’d have seen that Hausa film were it not for the Africa Magic Hausa channel. This is the one reason Africa Magic cannot afford to shirk or shift responsibility to the movie producers or anyone else for that matter. It’s Africa Magic that’s showcasing/beaming these movies after all.
London Bridge murder, the Nigerian connection
This isn’t really about the case of the terror attack that took place on June 3 last year, but it was the news on TV about the anniversary that got me thinking as to how life is becoming increasingly cheap in Nigeria. A few days ago, a truck fell off the Ojuelegba bridge in Surulere, Lagos, for the umpteenth time, killing three people. It was barely acknowledged by the government.
Can you imagine what would happen if we, as a nation, actually stop to acknowledge our dead and mark their death anniversaries? I admit, this may take over a chunk of our calendar. Just think of how this year began for the people of Benue State with the brutal murder of at least 73 people.
Yet, no one is going to be talking about them come January 2019; not even Ortom, the governor of Benue State and supposed chief mourner. He’ll definitely be preoccupied with the elections and ‘delivering’ his state at that time to be worrying about the dead.
Nonetheless, if we remembered our dead enough, perhaps we would be more careful to protect the living.
Naija, all the way
Unlike Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and others, I get no financial reward for saying ‘Naija, all the way’. Still, what other options do we have? Nigeria’s Super Eagles had yet to play their (second) match against Iceland (the land of the SSons) as of the time of writing this. So, I have no way of knowing the outcome of that match. Are we back to the usual: “If Team Y loses” or “If everyone in Team X falls ill or dies!” This would only happen if we beat Iceland. But if we lost that match, not even the infamous maths of 97% + 3% =100% can get us to the second round. We’d join fellow African teams like Egypt, Morocco back home.
Anyhow we, ordinary Nigerians, are part of the problem. We have no patience for planning and building towards a target. Someone shared a story of how China has a plan to win the World Cup in 2050! Plans are already in motion: Tens of thousands of training centres and football pitches to be created by 2020, thirty years and almost eight World Cup finals before their target. How many Nigerians would agree to this?
Whatever happens, it’s Naija all the way!
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