Nollywood and redefining Nigeria's identity through storytelling

The remarkable rise of Nollywood has transformed Nigeria's film industry into a potent and prolific vehicle for reshaping the country's identity through storytelling. Existing scholarship has shown that Nollywood, known for its storytelling prowess, has transcended national boundaries, captivating audiences worldwide and offering narratives deeply rooted in the Nigerian experience that move beyond stereotypes. This study explores Nollywood's pivotal role in reshaping Nigeria's identity by delving into the complex facets of its culture, history, and socio-political realities. The study adopts the narrative transformative theory as the theoretical framework and uses content analysis to analyse two Nollywood films, The Rise of Igbinogun directed by Ideh Chukwuma Innocent, and The Black Book, directed by Editi Effiong. Through this method, the study examined how Nollywood's storytelling has evolved global perceptions of Nigeria. The study discusses the profound impact of Nollywood's storytelling on promoting a positive image of Nigeria, emphasising its potential to challenge stereotypes and rectify misconceptions. The study argues that Nollywood plays a transformatory role in redefining Nigeria's identity and shaping its global image through storytelling.