Abuja Resident’s Perception of Nollywood Portrayal of African Traditional Religious Practices

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the perception of Abuja residents on the portrayals of African traditional religious practices in Nollywood movies. The researcher employed survey research method and simple percentage was used for the analysis. In the survey, a simple size of 400 respondents made up of film viewers were selected through multi-stage sampling in Abuja, the federal capital territory. Findings showed that Nollywood movies portrayal of African traditional religious practices to Abuja residents is not a true reflection of what actually exists in the Nigerian society. Findings also revealed a spectrum of perspectives, ranging from appreciation for the industries efforts to showcase cultural richness to concerns about misrepresentations and perpetuation of stereotypes. The study concludes that influential role of Nollywood in shaping public perception remain critical and the portrayal of local contents should reflect African traditional religious practices. The study recommends guidelines for the portrayals of cultural and religious practices, educational initiatives to enhance cultural awareness, and the ongoing dialogue between to foster a more positive relationship between Nollywood and the community it represents.

Keywords

References