ABSTRACT
Video films in the form of feature films, short films, and documentaries have been globally acknowledged as platforms through which the identity, character, images, and cultures of societies are expressed, preserved, and transmitted. Relying mostly on secondary data from academic and non-academic literature and guided by the historical perspective theory, this chapter provides a historical overview of the growth and development of the Nigerian film industry, with particular reference to the Southern extraction (Nollywood). Reflecting on the development of Nollywood, through six distinct evolutionary phases, this chapter discusses the challenges of filmmaking in each of the phases and the significant contributions of each era to the overall growth of the industry in the West African country.
