Ethnic Identities through Costuming and the Future of the Nigerian Film Industry: A Study of Moonlight Girl by Nonso Okonkwo and Goddess of the Sun by Iyke Odife

Abstract

This paper looks at the use of costume in projecting ethnic identity of a particular peoplein Nigerian film industry. The term ethnicity currently refers to people thought to havecommon ancestry who share a distinctive culture. Culture may refer to the appreciationand understanding of literature, the arts and dress code of a people. For the purpose ofthis paper, the concept of the culture of the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria is exploredthrough costume. The dress they wear is examined using films that reflect their culture.Igbo culture is held 10 be the mirror that reflects the lives, histories, and identities of 19b0 people. For this reason, the artists have tried 10 protect and promote Igbo culturethrough home video films. It has been argued that through the use of costume, history canbe recreated and culture preserved for ethnic identity. The Igbos are regarded asculturally distinctive people. However, studies have shown that most Igbos are ignorantof their cultural past, people and arts. Hence, the video film is used to propagate the Igboidentity and ensure cultural sovereignty. Natural identity is about shared values. Basedon the critical analysis of two films set in traditional 19b 0 environment, this paper wantsto establish that Nigerian video film costume designers have the potentials of rising up tothe challenges of cultural promotion through costumes.