INFLUENCE OF NOLLYWOOD MOVIES ON THE SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ENUGU NORTH.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine The Influence of Nollywood Movies on Social Behaviour of Students in Public Secondary School in Enugu. It adopted the Survey method with the questionnaire as its instrument of data collection. The study population was made up of the students in Enugu North based on Post Primary Schools Management Board’s record of population of 12,689. Using Taro Yamani’s formula as its sampling technique, a sample size of 154 respondents was drawn from population. The study found out that Nollywood movies do have negative influence on students and that not all Nollywood movies is good for student’s consumption among other films. The study therefore recommended that the producers need ethical re-orientation through creating awareness, conference and seminars on the type films they produce.It is advisable that the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) and other regulatory agencies continue to review the educational curriculum of movies training institutes in the country and the emphasis should be on the promotion of movies that are educative and morally inclined. Also, that school administrators, government, parents, educational psychologists, teachers and even religious organizations should organize symposia, seminars and conferences for the students regularly to create awareness on the influence of Nollywood movies (negative themes) on our youths.

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1. Background of the Study

Film is an imperative aspect of social communication. Every moving image viewed on screen conveys a meaning that is to be deciphered by the audience. As part of mass communication, it involves the use of vision and sound (audio-visual) in transmitting and disseminating its messages.The messages can be used in educating, informing, entertaining and socializing its target audience.

Film was introduced into Nigeria in the 1900’s by the British colonialists who used it for propaganda purposes, while the church used it to spread the Gospel. The Colonial Administration and the Church saw film not only as a medium for entertainment but as an effective medium of communication (Akpabio 2003). The British colonialist with the Christian missionaries used film amongst other media to persuade Africans to accept Christianity, education and the western culture.

The word “Nollywood” coined following the style of Hollywood (referring to the American film industry) and Bollywood (referring to the Indian film industry) is the generic name for the Nigerian film industry. It grew from the rich traditional culture of Nigeria into a supposedly modern internationally organized industry.

Studies show that, the Nollywood movie, “Living in bondage”, released in 1992, set the stage for the Nigerian indigenous home movies, popularly known as Nollywood. This industry has continued to grow and explode to greater proportion such that it has pushed foreign media off the shelves of movie rental shops across Nigeria and other parts of Africa. (Uwakwe, 2010).

The concern on media Influence has led to the development of different communication theories. This is an attempt to explain the relationship between communication messages and their influences on the respondent.

O’Rork (2006) and Wogu (2008) argue that audiences are more likely to emulate models of behaviour seen on the media if they expect to receive gratification from emulating another person. “…Behaviour is influenced not only by personal or live models but by those presented in the mass media”. (O’Rork, 2006:72)

Analyses on media Influence continue to show that the media have Influence on the pattern of behaviour of its audience. (Uwakwe, 2010; Okunna, 1999 and Okoye, 1993).

Okunna opines that because of their special power to affect the way people think, feel and behave, the mass media have been credited with incredible persuasive ability to change attitude and behaviour (1999). Therefore, this media influence could be in the area of language and behaviour response.

One of the most debated aspects of film is the extent to which violent and obscene scenes influence societal moral conduct. However, there has been little scientific evidence to prove casual relationships such as one between violence exhibited in films and increase in crime rate.

From the earliest days of the medium, adults have expressed concern about the influence of Nollywood movies on the social behaviour of secondary school students. Parents have shown anxiety about violence of film on secondary school students, since at that age, a child’s social and moral adjustment or mental health is affected.