Behind the scenes of Nigeria’s movie business

Mar 27, 2014

Behind the scenes of Nigeria’s movie business

Michael Gold 1 Comment World cinema, Movies, Nigeria, Nollywood

Nigeria’s film industry, colloquially called Nollywood, is one of the largest in the world. Most movies are produced in local languages – including Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo – while others are made in English. Nollywood also has an increasing audience among Africans who live abroad and are keen for a taste of home. Reuters photographer Akintunde Akinleye went on location with a few movie shoots to take a look inside the business.

: Nigerian actress Taiwo Ajayi-Lycette gets makeup applied on her before filming a scene for “Dazzling Mirage”, directed by Tunde Kelani, on the outskirts of Lagos, September 9, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Cast members dressed in traditional attire perform in a scene during the making of “Dazzling Mirage”, directed by Tunde Kelani, at a film location in Lagos, December 19, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors perform a scene at night while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Akure, southwest Nigeria, August 26, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Cast members perform a scene at night while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Akure, southwest Nigeria, August 26, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors perform a scene at night while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Akure, southwest Nigeria, August 26, 2013. Nigeria’s movie business, often known as Nollywood, is one of the biggest in the world. Most films are produced in local languages – Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo among them – while many others are made in English. Nollywood also has a growing audience among Africans living abroad, keen for a taste of home, whether watched in south London hairdressers or rented from Texas video stores. Nigeria shot its first film, “Palaver” (Trouble), in 1904. Picture taken August 26, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: An actor performs a scene as a slain policeman while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Akure, southwest Nigeria August 27, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors hold flaming torches as they perform while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Akure, southwest Nigeria, August 27, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: An actress lies on the ground as a makeup artist applies artificial blood to her chest while filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Nigerian director Tunde Kelani (seated) watches a monitor as he directs a scene during the filming of “Dazzling Mirage” at a location in the outskirt of Lagos, September 9, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Cast members dressed in traditional attire perform in a scene during the making of “Dazzling Mirage”, directed by Tunde Kelani, at a film location in Lagos, December 19, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: A boy is seen through a camera monitor as he acts in a scene during the making of “Ake”, a film based on the childhood memoirs of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria July 16, 2013. Nigeria’s movie business, often known as Nollywood, is one of the biggest in the world. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: A cameraman films a scene from a crane during the making of “Ake” , a film based on the childhood memoirs of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria, July 14, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: An actress holds a slate as she performs a scene during the making of “Ake”, a film based on the childhood memoirs of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria, July 15, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors perform during the filming of “Dazzling Mirage”, directed by Tunde Kelani, at a location in the outskirt of Lagos, September 9, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Director Kunle Afolayan watches a monitor while directing a scene during the filming of police thriller “October 1” at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: A cameraman films a scene for the movie “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: A crew member holds a boom microphone during the filming of “Dazzling Mirage”, directed by Tunde Kelani, at a location in the outskirt of Lagos, September 9, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors perform a scene while filming filming “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Actors Sadiq Daba (L) and Aderupoko ride bicycles as they perform during filming for “October 1”, a police thriller directed by Kunle Afolayan, at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Crew members work while filming police thriller “October 1” at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

: Director Kunle Afolayan (right) directs a scene while filming police thriller “October 1” at a rural location in Ilaramokin village, southwest Nigeria, August 24, 2013. (Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)

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