Everybody knows that Hollywood is the cinema capital of America. Most movie buffs are aware of Bollywood in India. What may surprise many film-goers is Nollywood, the center of the Nigerian film industry, produces a share of the world's African comedy movies. Nollywood produces a significant contribution to the global film pool. Yoruba, a tribe in West Africa and South Africa also have active film enterprises.
If you are going to close your eyes and leap into a pile of Nigerian film comedies, perhaps "Four Forty, Part I" (2012, Nigeria) may possibly not be the best place to start. Most of the scenes play out in the dusty gardens of a small village where a bored and lazy middle aged man amuses himself in the arms of an innocent teenager who is confined to a wheelchair. Two months later, the girl's parents march her angrily to his front garden and dump her into his custody. While it is not at all difficult to work out what has transpired here, what is difficult is trying to find the funny here.
One of South Africa's overwhelmingly popular contributions to the genre is "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (1980). Here, we discover the story of Xi, whose tribe is isolated its members are blissfully unaware of the existence of the world beyond its borders. The leading role of Xi is played by a man who became Namimibia's most famous actor, N!xau, whose previous career was as a bushfarmer in Namibia, died in 2003 from an illness acquired while hunting for guinea fowl.
Among other things, "The Mangler" (1995) serves to illustrate the broad spectrum and richness of the genre. Here, a folding machine based in a laundry turns out to be possessed by the devil. Directed by Tobe Hooper and based on a short story by Stephen King called "The Night Shift, " which was published in a Stephen King anthology. The critics weren't impressed but with that pedigree and story line, it's a hard one to pass up.
The West African Yoruba tribe has evolved into a force in African cinema. The latest release to come from Yoruba is "EKO ONIBAJE" (2014, Yoruba), featuring Bolaji Amusan and Mistura Asunmo. Here, a man seeking personal growth allies with a group of businessmen whose product is defrauding innocent people by posing as disabled persons.
Strictly speaking, not a comedy, but one of the most significant African films ever made, Yaaba (Burkina Faso, 1989) depicts one of the most troubling dilemmas of modern life in Africa. This is the conflict between modernization, meaning taking on western characteristics, and maintaining its own cultural identity.
Another less than funny but not insignificant film was "The Nightingale's Prayer" (1959, Egypt). One of the most salient movies ever made by Egypt, the story is about gender inequality in Arabic culture. Directed by Henry Bakarat, the film represented Egypt in the "Best Foreign Language Film" category in the 32nd Academy Awards in 1960, although the film was not accepted as a nominee.
What is lovely about African comedy movies is you don't need to jump a plane to Africa to view them. Many of Africa's best are available online for streaming. Hopefully, this will prompt someone to find the comedy in Nollywood's "Four Forty."
If you are going to close your eyes and leap into a pile of Nigerian film comedies, perhaps "Four Forty, Part I" (2012, Nigeria) may possibly not be the best place to start. Most of the scenes play out in the dusty gardens of a small village where a bored and lazy middle aged man amuses himself in the arms of an innocent teenager who is confined to a wheelchair. Two months later, the girl's parents march her angrily to his front garden and dump her into his custody. While it is not at all difficult to work out what has transpired here, what is difficult is trying to find the funny here.
One of South Africa's overwhelmingly popular contributions to the genre is "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (1980). Here, we discover the story of Xi, whose tribe is isolated its members are blissfully unaware of the existence of the world beyond its borders. The leading role of Xi is played by a man who became Namimibia's most famous actor, N!xau, whose previous career was as a bushfarmer in Namibia, died in 2003 from an illness acquired while hunting for guinea fowl.
Among other things, "The Mangler" (1995) serves to illustrate the broad spectrum and richness of the genre. Here, a folding machine based in a laundry turns out to be possessed by the devil. Directed by Tobe Hooper and based on a short story by Stephen King called "The Night Shift, " which was published in a Stephen King anthology. The critics weren't impressed but with that pedigree and story line, it's a hard one to pass up.
The West African Yoruba tribe has evolved into a force in African cinema. The latest release to come from Yoruba is "EKO ONIBAJE" (2014, Yoruba), featuring Bolaji Amusan and Mistura Asunmo. Here, a man seeking personal growth allies with a group of businessmen whose product is defrauding innocent people by posing as disabled persons.
Strictly speaking, not a comedy, but one of the most significant African films ever made, Yaaba (Burkina Faso, 1989) depicts one of the most troubling dilemmas of modern life in Africa. This is the conflict between modernization, meaning taking on western characteristics, and maintaining its own cultural identity.
Another less than funny but not insignificant film was "The Nightingale's Prayer" (1959, Egypt). One of the most salient movies ever made by Egypt, the story is about gender inequality in Arabic culture. Directed by Henry Bakarat, the film represented Egypt in the "Best Foreign Language Film" category in the 32nd Academy Awards in 1960, although the film was not accepted as a nominee.
What is lovely about African comedy movies is you don't need to jump a plane to Africa to view them. Many of Africa's best are available online for streaming. Hopefully, this will prompt someone to find the comedy in Nollywood's "Four Forty."
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