Workshops and Film Screenings Programme
The Nigerian Video/DVD Film Industry: Background, Current Situation, and International Prospects
Dates:9-12 August 2007
Organised collaboratively by the Ferguson Centre for African and Asian Studies, Open University; the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos; and the British Film Institute. With the support of the Nigerian High Commission, London.
Arising from a one-year collaborative research project, The Nigerian Video/DVD Industry and the UK African Diaspora, undertaken by the Ferguson Centre for African and Asian Studies, Open University, and the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos.
Admission to the film screenings in both the British Film Institute and the Nigerian High Commission is free of charge. Please note, however, that seats are limited at both venues, and advance notice is needed of intention to attend. For the British Film Institute screening of 9 August 2007 and workshop of 12 August 2007 tickets need to be booked in advance, by calling the Box Office on (020) 7928 3232. For the Nigerian High Commission screenings of 10 and 11 August 2007 advance notice needs to be given to Heather Scott, Ferguson Centre, Open University, either by sending an e-mail to or by ringing (01908) 655244.
9 August 2007
[Academic Workshop] 9:30 a.m-3:00 p.m. Open University, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1
9:30-9:50: Tea/coffee
9:50-10:00: Prof. Suman Gupta, Introductory Remarks
10:00-10:30: Prof. Duro Oni, The Development of the Nigerian Video/DVD Film Industry and the Contemporary Situation
10:30-10:45: Discussion
10:45-11:15: Dr. Françoise Parent-Ugochukwu, Nollywood from obscurity to the limelight: a brief survey
11:15-11:30: Discussion
11:30-11:45: Tea/coffee
11:45-12:15: Prof. Tope Omoniyi, Observations on Nollywood in London
12:15-12:30: Discussion
12:30-13:30: Lunch
13:30-14:00: Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, The Nigerian Film Corporation and the Development of the Nigerian Video/DVD Industry since the 1990s
14:00-14:15: Discussion
14:15-14:45: Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Representations of the Nigerian Video/DVD Industry in the News Media
14:45-15:00: Discussion
[Film Screening] From 6:40 p.m. Nollywood Screenings, British Film Institute,Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1
18:40: Images of Another Day, Dir. Amaka Igwe
20:50: The Narrow Path, Dir. Tunde Kelani
10 August 2007
[Academic Workshop] 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Open University, 1-11 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town, London NW1
10:00-10:30: Mrs Amaka Igwe, The Nigerian Video/DVD Industry: The View from Within
10:30-10:45: Discussion
10:45-11:15: Mr Tunde Kelani, The Nigerian Video/DVD Industry: The View from Within
11:15-11:30: Discussion
11:30-11:45: Tea/coffee
11:45-12:15: Mr. Emaka Mba, Censorship and the Development of the Nigerian Video/DVD Industry since the 1990s
12:15-12:30: Discussion
12:30-13:30: Lunch
13:30-14:00: Mr Esiaba Irobi, A Public Split in the Trousers of the Great: Discourses of Whiteness in Contemporary African/Nigerian Video Film/DVD Industry
14:00-14:15: Discussion
14:15-15:00: Panel discussion of project prospects and themes covered in the workshop, introduced by Prof. Duro Oni
[Film Screening] 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Front Hall, Nigerian High Commission, Nigeria House, No. 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N
Abeni II, Dir. Tunde Kelani
11 August 2007
[Film Screening] 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Front Hall, Nigerian High Commission, Nigeria House,No. 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N
Full Circle, Dir. Amaka Igwe
Sitanda, Producer Amstel Malta
12 August 2007
[Open Workshop] 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. NFT3, British Film Institute, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1
14:00-1410: Introductions / afternoon schedule
14:10-1440: Prof. Duro Oni, Context and Nature of Contemporary
Nigerian (Nollywood) film industry
14:45-15:15:Mrs. Amake Igwe, Career and Current Work
15:15-1545: Break
15:45-16:15:Mr. Tunde Kelani, Career and Current Work
16:15-17:00: Open discussion
Workshop Participants:
Mr. Afolabi Adesanya: Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation
Mr. Steve Ayorinde: Journalist covering Nigerian Films in Punch and other newspapers, and Ph.D. student of WestminsterUniversity
Prof. Suman Gupta: Chair in Literature and Cultural History, and Joint Director of the Ferguson Centre for African and Asian Studies, Open University. Also a Coordinator of the Nigerian Films Project.
Mrs. Amaka Igwe: Nigerian Film Producer and Director, CEO of Amaka Igwe Studios
Mr. Tunde Kelani:Nigerian Film Director and Producer, CEO of Mainframe Productions
Mr. Emeka Mba: Chief Executive, Nigerian Film & Video Censor Board
Prof. Tope Omoniyi: Professor of Sociolinguistics, RoehamptonUniversity, and Ferguson Fellow, Open University. Also a Coordinator of the Nigerian Films Project.
Prof. Duro Oni: Professor and Head of Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos, and Ferguson Fellow, Open University. Also a Coordinator of the Nigerian Films Project.
Mr. Cornelius Onyekaba: Ph.D. student of the University of Lagos and Research Assistant to Prof. Duro Oni.
Dr. Francoise Parent-Ugochukwu: Lectures in the Faculty of Education and Modern Languages, and is a Ferguson Fellow, Open University. Also a Coordinator of the Nigerian Films Project.
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