In this week’s passion post, I want to focus on the film industry in the United States and Nigeria. Specifically focusing on black representation in Hollywood, and Black domination in Nollywood.

So, what exactly is Hollywood and Nollywood?

Hollywood: the film industry of the United States which is largely known and recognized by many. Each year hundreds of movies are produced from Hollywood centered around political issues, violence, controversy, life and more.

Nollywood: the Nigerian film industry that produces hundreds of movies primarily focused on drama, social, and political issues, while avoiding majorly controversial topics. 

Starting with Hollywood, some of the world’s most well-known and loved movies have originated from Hollywood. Some of these include the Spider-Man and Star Wars series. In this post however, I want to highlight movies and shows like Us, Get Out, Blackish, Black Panther, and That’s So Raven. 

You may be wondering what each of these have in common, and that is that these productions highlight incredibly talented Black actresses and actors in Hollywood. Unfortunately the film industry often fails to showcase Black talent, with just about 11% of leading film roles going to Black actors, and films with largely black casts are more often to receive lower investments in production and promotion.  

These unsettling statistics and the lack of Black representation in film, makes situations where Black actors are featured more powerful and impactful on the Black community. For example, Black Panther, which came out in 2018, was Marvel’s first Black-led superhero film. It successfully brought attention to Afrofuturism and the progression of technology with the evolving African diaspora. The movie also helped to draw attention to incredible Black actors, providing them with opportunities to shine on-screen. 

Personally, I remember when Black Panther originally came to theaters and watched it with my family. I also recall when the second movie was released, my high school planned a trip for members of the African American Student Association to watch the film. Both films greatly impacted Black communities positively. 

Furthermore, I distinctly remember watching shows like Blackish and Grownish with my mom. It wasn’t often that shows featured Black actors and could accurately discuss and draw attention to Black issues and the Black experience in the United States. These shows and films however opened the doors to introducing these kinds of productions to Hollywood, which is incredibly necessary for the future of the US.

On the other hand and across the world, Nollywood has continued to produce movies and shows like The Set Up and Jenifa’s Diary. Entirely Black casts are not uncommon in Nollywood productions as they are produced in Nigeria, a country with a high Black population. 

Despite these differences, the constant refreshing Black representation in film productions from Nollywood and the continuously increasing Black representation in Hollywood movies is significant to Black American communities and Nigerian communities. Experiencing a sense of belonging and relatability to the media we consume is incredibly important to every community, so it’s nice to see the representation of people who are like me on the big screen. And as always, more representation would always be appreciated!