When thinking about global film industries, it likely comes as no surprise that the money and technology of Hollywood make it the primary provider of films in many countries abroad. There are, of course, exceptions to this assumption. For instance, many are aware of Bollywood, the Indian film industry that easily tops the charts for the most films produced each year. What may come as a surprise, though, is the powerhouse producer of Africa: Nigeria. “Nollywood” comes in second to India for the most films produced each year and dates all the way back to the late 19th century. Since then, Nollywood has seen immense improvements in production quality and film techniques that make it a force to be reckoned with. A great example of the advancement of Nigerian film is “Green White Green,” a 2016 comedy directed by Abba Makama, which takes a meta look at Nollywood and the current state of Nigerian culture with the rising influences of globalization.
“Green White Green,” whose full title reads “Green White Green (And All the Beautiful Colors in my Mosaic of Madness),” is not flawless in its execution but has potent moments that are entertaining, artistic and educational simultaneously. With the angles, colors and experimental techniques of a Spike Lee joint, it is cinematically remarkable, especially for an industry with a reputation of low quality, low budget films.
“Green White Green” is a coming of age story that profiles three boys right before they leave for university. The film follows them as they create their own movie about the history of Nigeria. Each of the three boys belongs to one of the three major Ethnic groups in Nigeria: Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. “Green White Green” is a social satire, and a lot of its parody is accomplished by creating a microcosm in the film that is representative of the country at large.
A prominent theme in “Green White Green” is the influence of western culture on Nigeria. For instance, one of the protagonists, Segun, dreams of moving to New York City and speaks of the superiority of movies like “The Matrix” and “The Avengers” to traditional Nollywood films. There is also mention of people like Chris Brown and the Kardashians who are blamed for influencing how the younger Nigerian generations dress and behave.
Nigerian films have a reputation of exaggerated plotlines and cheesy acting, and while “Green White Green” does not escape this entirely, it is not nearly as cringeworthy as others in the genre. Its satirical nature also makes the viewer question whether it purposefully resembles a traditional Nollywood film—negative aspects and all. Overall, though, it seems to have bit off more than it can chew. There are elements to the storyline that leave questions unanswered, and it breezes over issues that may deserve more attention. Nonetheless, it shows great improvement in quality and content from earlier Nollywood productions. “Green White Green” contrasts the perspective of the younger generation with traditional national opinions, and in doing so also comments on the new age of Nigerian films that are influenced by the rising access to western films.
“Green White Green” is one of the few Nigerian films available on Netflix. While it does not provide a comprehensive understanding of the genre, it is still a fun movie with plenty of insights into a culture to which we get little exposure. If you are interested in the Nigerian film industry, there is a fascinating documentary by the name of “This is Nollywood” that provides a deeper insight into the filmmaking process.
