Abstract:

African cinema has been characterized, influenced and shaped by the infiltration of foreign cinema into the region since pre African independence era to date. Nigeria being an African country is also affected by this colonial impact. On the other hand, todays cinema is full of stereotypes with regard to the representation of different class of human being. Feminist critics at all levels condemn the female stereotype in the cinema, and call for the correction of such a patriarchal notion. This research work examines the Nigerian cinema and how it represents women on the screen to the audience. Two films from the two Nigeria’s film industries; Nollywood and Kanywood are selected and analysed using semiotics approach. Based on the result of the analysis of the two films, women in Nigerian cinema are being featured as diabolic, satanic, materialist, sexual materials, family breakers and victims of the cultural patriarchy of Nigerian societies.

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