THE NIGERIAN VIDEO FILM AND THE

RECONSTRUCTION OF NIGERIAS POLITICAL

HISTORY: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED FILMS

OCTOBER 2010

ABSTRACT
The power which the media has in the society is one that cannot be over-emphasized. This paper
takes a critical look on how the Nigerian video film industry, which is a very important part of
the media, has functioned in the area of reconstructing Nigerias political history. Using well
defined parameters such as thematic concerns, filmic setting, plot and character, this work looks
at some Nigerian video films produced in the 2009, and how they have tried to reflect our
nations past political history. The study reveals that there is a dearth of filmic materials that
attempt to replicate political happenings in the countrys history.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS

PAGE

Title of dissertation ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

Abstract -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii
Acknowledgment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iii
Dedication ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv
Certification----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------v
Table of Contents---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------vi
List of Tables------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------List of Figures------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter One: Introduction and Background

1.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

iii

1.2 Objective of the Study---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7

1.3 Significance of the Study------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
1.4 Statement of Problem----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
1.5 Purpose of Study ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.6 Scope and Limitations---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
1.7 Research Questions------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
1.8 Operational Definitions--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

Chapter Two:

Review of Relevant Literature

2.1 Introduction---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
2.2 Brief Political History ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13
2.3 Theoretical Framework--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
2.4 Ethics and the Media------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19
2.5 Methodological Framework---------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
2.6 Empirical Literature------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

Chapter Three: Research Methodology

3.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 27
iv

3.2 Research Design------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28

3.3 Population of the Study ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29
3.4 Sample Size------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
3.5 Research Instrument--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
3.6 Data Analysis Procedure---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31

Chapter Four: Presentation/Analysis and Discussion

4.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32
4.2 Textual Content Analysis--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
4.3 Analysis and Presentation of Interviews---------------------------------------------------------- 43

Chapter Five: Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 48
5.2 Conclusion------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 49
5.3 Recommendations---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50
References ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 52