A Break with the Past: The Nigerian Video-film Industry in the Context of Colonial Filmmaking

This article examines the Nigerian video-film industry from the perspective of the country's colonial past. It begins with the premise that the development of the video-film industry can be seen as part of a decolonisation process. It therefore seeks to establish what links, if any, exist between the present day video-film industry and colonial filmmaking. It posits that the growth and success attained in the industry reflect an overcoming of the strictures which, thanks largely to the legacy of colonialism, had held back the growth of African cinema.