Political economy of Nollywood: A literature review

Abstract

Political economy studies control and survival in social life. It is simply defined as the study of production and exchange and how these activities relate with the state and its laws. It is interested in how politics interacts with economics. Extensive essays and texts on the political economy of the film industry in general, and of Hollywood in particular abound. Such studies on Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, remains scarce. But in recent times, authors, both indigenous and foreign, are beginning to give increased attention to the struggle for power and control within the industry. This study is interested in how economic activities in Nollywood interact with the law and government. It searches existent scholarship to interrogate what has been discussed on aspects of the political economy of the industry. It discusses these studies under production, distribution and consumption. It reviews other important industry matters like policies, interrogating briefly the place of MOPICON in the political economy of Nollywood. This review forms an important document for research on Nollywood, to curb and forestall consistent repetition of studies within Nollywood scholarship.