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Hollywood is in L.A California, we all know that, right? Most of us, I assume, have also heard of Bollywood, wich is the Indian version of Hollywood, producing movies of the Indian version, most of them more than slightly melodramatic, and all of them very colorful and exotic - to my taste.
Today, I learned that there is also a Nollywood wich is the the Nigerian version of Hollywood, knocking out a large amount of movies,with African themes, with a Telenovala flavor to them. Africa Being Africa, with the illness, drought and wars that the Continent has been dealing with, the topics of these movies are more often than not quite harsh.
Pieter Hugo, South African Photographer has a new series of photographs, now showing at Michael Stevenson’s Gallery in Cape Town.
The series is portraits of Nigerian actors, reenacting typical Nollywood scenes, creating, extremely strong and disturbing images, some of them were so disturbing to me that I didn’t want to post them here but I do suggest you click here to see them.
Malachy Udegbunam with children. Enugu, Nigeria, 2008
Junior Ofokansi, Chetachi Ofokansi, Mpompo Ofokansi. Enugu, Nigeria, 2008
This is not the only series of work that Pieter Hugo has done with this kind of twist-your-gut images.
All of his work deals with questions of race and identity, and as someone that spent her early years in South Africa, I can attest that thoughts of those subjects are never far from my mind. I find his work most intriguing and would recommend you go over to his site and check out his various other projects.
via Heading East
This kind of work amazes me. I have a hard time imagining being a photographer in a place like this.
They are disturbing indeed. I’ll never look at Darth Vader the same way again.
Floppy - I also liked the Darth Vader one (maybe liked is not the right word)
John - It certainly isn’t candy coated like and aesthetic like Charlie Whites - But it now doubt makes you appreciate your situation and the fact that someone is able to make art out of an horrific situation is quite amazing.
This is what absolutely pisses me off!!!
White guy goes to Africa, sells the sensational to dimwitted folks outside as norm. Decades of the same garbage ("Africa being Africa"), (white) folks consume a steady dose of the dog crap.
- No, this is not "typical" of Nollywood fare. Its simple - go check it out (It should go without saying you shouldn’t grab the first title that says "Vampire in Lagos"). Nollywood does it’s share of stupid romance, religion stuff.
- "I have a hard time imagining being…in a place like this." I would too John. Just do me a favor, when you do go to a place like this and find yourself irresistibly drawn to the same eccentricities that about in your home country, pause look up and smell the flowers. Take pics of those instead. This way the next John is not misled by stereotypical and sensational caricatures.
- "horrific situation". What exactly? The "art" is flimsy. Its meant to be. Nigerians understand this. Its all tongue in cheek. You are fitting a round peg into your square narrative of what you believe Africa is.
But then what do I know? Surely, you understand my experience more than I do.
I have to say this is the most disgusting portrait of Nigerians I have ever seen. I watch Nollywood movies all the time and I really had to comment when I saw these pictures.
NO, Our Nigerian Stars absolutely DO NOT dress up like this either on or off screen.
I do not recognize any of the people he used in the pictures. Oprah showed one of our leading ladies (Geneviene Nnaji) when she discussed Nollywood on her show of the famous people.
If you want to know who Nollywood stars are, a simple search on google will show you the pictures. Other Nollywood Stars include Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Funke Akindele, Emeka Ike, Liz Benson, Stephanie Okereke, Jim Iyke, Desmon Elliot, not to mention the rest.
I am so angry at these photos.