‘At Unchained Vibes Africa, we welcome moral suasion, policy dialogue and even criticisms that can help filmmakers improve their content. However, we condemn the attempts to gag, censor or dictate to filmmakers the type of story they can tell. In a democracy, what we need is film classification and not censorship, a major characteristic of military dictatorship’

THE renowned veteran actress, Dame Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, OON, is expected to lead talks at the March edition of the monthly Freedom Vibes Series organised by Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA).
The fourth in the series, the concert will have “participants will discuss the recent blame of ritual killings on Nollywood movies and the calls for censorship,” according to the Executive Producer, Ayodele Ganiu.
Reflecting on the theme, “Not Nolly: Asserting Filmmakers’ Artistic Freedom,” the edition holds on Saturday, March 26 at the Freedom Park, by Broad Street Lagos.
The event, usually a robust artistic package, will also feature other renowned artists, including Jide Kosoko, Norbert ‘Jerha young, Francis Onwochei, as speakers, with Segun Adefila, founder, artistic director of Crown Troupe of Africa as the ‘Artist of the Month’. As in past editions, DJ Valentino is expected to provide music, while the actor, Sam Uche Anyamele, will anchor.


Giving a brief on the on the theme, Ganiu, the avid culture activist, states:
“In recent times, there have been rising cases of ritual killings involving young Nigerians. On January 29, 2022, a girl was murdered for money ritual by her teenage boyfriend and three others in Abeokuta, Ogun State. While parading the criminals, the State’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, made some comments about Nollywood movies, alleging that some criminals had claimed they learnt the acts from movie scenes. The House of Representatives, while passing a resolution declaring a national emergency on ritual killings, also blamed Nollywood movies. Similarly, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, reportedly said that most of the recent ritual killings for money were influenced by some Nollywood films. He further directed the National Film and Video Censorship Board (NFVCB) to censor movies with money ritual content.
“The blame on Nollywood for crime in Nigeria is not new, but it took a new dimension in January 2022 when a young man was arrested in Ogun State for kidnapping. According to media reports, the suspect claimed that he learnt kidnapping skills from watching Nollywood movies. A careful review of social media comments revealed a veiled narrative to portray Nollywood as responsible for kidnapping and other criminal activities in the country. In September 2021, the Kano Censorship Board announced the prohibition of showing or selling movies displaying kidnappings, drug addiction and snatching of phones in the State.
Our Position
“Unchained Vibes Africa believes that blaming these crimes on Nollywood movies is merely an excuse to justify tougher censorship that can cover up for government’s inability to tackle the alarming crime rate in the country and general failures on security. More often than not, Nollywood movies mirror the society and leverage the imaginative space that art offers to depict these realities. At Unchained Vibes Africa, we welcome moral suasion, policy dialogue and even criticisms that can help filmmakers improve their content. However, we condemn the attempts to gag, censor or dictate to filmmakers the type of story they can tell. In a democracy, what we need is film classification and not censorship, a major characteristic of military dictatorship.”
Freedom Vibes Series is an integral part of Defending Democracy Vibes program supported by National Endowment for Democracy (NED) USA, Freedom Park Lagos, African Defenders Network, PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection, World Movement for Democracy, Lakreem Entertainment, Culture Advocates Caucus and Centre for Creative Arts Education (CREATE).
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