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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