ABSTRACT
Film is a popular medium for recounting history. In recent years, thanks to Hamilton’s success, historical plays are also becoming popular. But much of scholarly attention on these historical sources has focused mostly on Western countries. Missing from the literature is how Africans are also using plays and film to recount history. In the last two decades, African cinema has been telling stories of Africa’s past. Nigeria’s “Nollywood,” which is the second largest film producer in the world, has recently begun recounting the stories of powerful precolonial women like Queen Amina of Zaria, Princess Inikpi of Igala, and Princess Moremi of Ife. These stories are important because they challenge the centuries-old myth that African women were the most oppressed and passive in the world. Unfortunately, this stereotype is still in effect. Therefore, this chapter examines how powerful, historical female figures from precolonial Nigeria are portrayed and remembered through historical films and plays. This study argues that not only is history important, but knowing it can have a positive and powerful effect on the present.
