非洲風情：尼日利亞，非洲有個羅里活

來自豪薩、約魯巴和伊博三大族群的四個朋友，受尼日利亞歷史啟發，決定拍攝電影。經過三十年的軍政府統治，尼日利亞建立「第三民主共和國」，二零零三年首度舉行首次民主選舉。何時才會結束博科聖地的恐怖襲擊？怎樣解決嚴重的貪污問題？可否真正脫貧，發展出口型經濟？

這部二零一六年的電影《綠，白，綠》，講述年輕人的成長故事，由尼日利亞導演艾巴・瑪卡瑪製作，反映他對尼日利亞當前局勢的分析。他批評政府嚴重依賴進口，包括具藝術價值的電影；而非洲未曾出現任何電影運動，期望發起經得起時間考驗、同時國際電影界立足的電影運動。

事實上，繼美國荷里活及印度波里活，西非國家尼日利亞「羅里活」或會成為明日之星。這個擁有逾二億人口國家，自一九七零年代以來，石油出口成為最主要的經濟來源。文化記者薛布・侯塞尼相信，影視娛樂是原油後下一個金礦，當地政府明白不可太過依重原油賺錢而銳意轉型。

二零一零年，尼日利亞工業銀行設立特別部門支持業界發展。當時國內僅三間正規戲院，部門計劃興建足夠戲院讓從業員能償還債務。「電影之家」欲從拉哥斯貧困地區開設，入場費僅一美元，從製作、發行發放映一條龍包辦。《結婚派對》遂成首部票房逾一百萬美元的羅里活電影。

德國的巴斯蒂安・哥達，獲尼日利亞裔的英國朋友積遜・優古邀請，到拉哥斯尋找商機。他們首宗生意以一萬美元購買一百部電影版權，在線上影音平台收費播放，五天內已回本。現時兩人創立網上串流平台「伊洛可影視」，用戶分佈在非洲、美洲和歐洲，讓世界重新認識尼日利亞。

羅里活最主要電影類型，涵蓋一夜致富為題材，及帶有濃厚基督教傳教精神的敘事元素。一九九二年《束縛》，講述債務纏身的安迪走投無路，最終向神秘的兄弟會出賣自己的妻子獻祭，遂升官發財並重娶妻子。惟死去的妻子化做鬼魂回來，令他變得瘋癲，最後希望則是耶穌基督。

至於堪稱羅里活史上最成功的作品，二零一七年《什納・藍波再現》，取材自當地九十年代犯案累累的同名頭號劫匪，角色名稱藍波則參考荷里活明星史泰龍主演的經典作品。藍波是在當地西部横行的武裝劫匪，懂得巫術令他每次均可全身而退，而其超能力則是來自具有超能力的蛇。

製作人普林斯・艾克・奧利薩指，「如果想賺錢，電影就必須大眾化，曲高和寡是不行的。」羅里活利用簡單器材，重塑非洲昔日前殖民時期歷史，或加入製造熱話、具神秘色彩的情節。惟重量不重質及盜版電影等，成為羅里活發展「陣痛」，解釋為何艾巴・瑪卡瑪堅持重質製作。

一九八零年代，隨着當地經濟衰退，電影文化幾乎絕跡。時至今日，電影文化開始復甦，惟幾乎依靠複製過去的方程式。「是時候令全世界都想成為尼日利亞人。」導演當・奧莫比相信，羅里活要做的事情，是讓全球觀眾看畢電影後明白當地處境，亦是他們這群電影人繼續努力原因。

Nollywood - Film Business African Style

4 friends from the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, which are the 3 largest ethnic groups of Nigeria, decided to make a film. After thirty years of military rule, the country established the "Third Nigerian Republic" and held its first democratic election in 2003. When will the terror attacks by Boko Haram end? How can corruption be combated? Is it possible to end poverty and develop an export-oriented economy?

The 2016 film “Green, White, Green” is a coming-of-age story of young people, produced by Nigerian director Abba Makama, expressing his opinion of the Nigerian status quo. He criticized the import-oriented economic system, including movies. A significant film movement has never happened in African history. All Abba Makama hopes is to initiate a timeless film movement and stand out in the global industry.

Following Hollywood in the United States and Bollywood in India, “Nollywood" in Nigeria would be the next one spotlighted. With a population of over 200 million, it has relied on oil exports as its main economic source since the 1970s. Journalist Shaibu Husseini described the  entertainment industry as the next gold mine after oil; while the local government is willing to transform their single-resource economy.

The Bank Of Industry introduced Nollyfund in 2015 to facilitate the development of Nollywood. Back in 2010, there were only 3 cinemas in the country. Its department supported the building of cinemas so the moviemakers can repay their debts. The first-funded “Film House” planned to construct cinemas in the poor areas of Lagos. Audience just needs 1 dollar for the ticket. “The Wedding Party” in 2016 thus became the first Nollywood film to gross over one million dollars.

Bastian Gotter from Germany was invited by his Nigerian-British friend Jason Njoku to seek business opportunities in Lagos. They purchased the rights of 100 films and streamed them online with only USD 10k, essentially break-even within 5 days. Currently they established the streaming platform “Iroko TV”, with users spread across Africa, America and Europe. The world is going to rediscover Nigeria.

One of the characteristics of Nollywood films is about getting rich overnight with strong Christian narratives. Andy, who was in the 1992 film “Living in Bondage”, faced the situation of redundancy and bankruptcy. He decided to pledge his loyalty to Lucifer and sacrifice his wife Merit to a satanic cult, with enormous wealth in return. Merit's ghost kept haunting him until he confessed his sins towards Christian.

As for the most successful film in Nollywood, the 2017 “Shina Rambo Reloaded” is based on the notorious local bandit from the 1990s, with the character's name referencing the classic role played by Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone. Rambo was an armed robbery kingpin who terrorized the south western region. However, blessed by a serpent with the mystical power, he managed to survive each time.

Prince Iyke Olisa, the producer of "Shina Rambo" series believed, “If you want to make profit, the film itself must be a blockbuster, instead of a highbrow one. The production of Nollywood films requires simple equipment. It reshapes the African historical narrative before the colonial era via mysterious plots. Yet, the low-quality production and piracy become a stumbling block of Nollywood. That’s why Abba Makama insists on high-quality production.

In the 1980s, the declining economy eradicated the film industry. Currently, this industry is on the progress of revival, yet replies on the replication of its successful history.  “It's time for the whole world to want to be Nigerian.” Don Omope, the director, believed Nollywood’s mission is to build better understanding of Nigerian culture among the global audience, which remains a driving force for these local filmmakers.

IMG: https://www.newsweek.com/nollywood-and-chill-five-nigerian-tv-shows-binge-watch-2016-420124