The recently concluded 5th Festival of Indigenous African Language Film (FIAF 2011) held  at Owena Motels, Akure, with the theme: “Film, Economy and National Development”, has resolved that there is need to expose indigenous African language films

With a view to exporting the intrinsic values and potentials of our culture to other civilisations and also reinvigorate our endangered local languages. It was also resolved that the local films would provide opportunities for stakeholders to address the setback being experienced by African cultural heritage.

According to the Director of the Festival, Mrs Remi Ibitola, the festival advocates for the use of the film as a popular culture to propagate positive African values, being mindful of the economic, scientific and technological dimension of the medium; and mobilise film makers and other stakeholders to re-direct attention to the investment opportunities and commercial potentials available in the film industry.

These objectives resonated in all the activities lined up for the festival, from the lectures to the roundtable discussion, question and answer sessions, exhibitions, film screening and so on.

The festival was declared open by Dr Olusegun Mimiko, the executive governor of Ondo State with his wife, Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, and members of his cabinet in attendance.

In his remark, Governor Mimiko noted that the film medium is a key propagator of indigenous languages and cultural values which we need to cultivate towards achieving meaningful development. According to him, development, to be meaningful and sustainable, must be grafted upon cultural values of the people, drawing examples from Asian countries like Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Such values include honesty, hardwork, unity and a sense of the community as against individualism being glorified by liberalisation and globalisation.

The main lecture, delivered by Prof Onookome Okome of the Department of English and

Film Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, reinforced the need to pay more attention to the context and content of film practice in contemporary Nigeria. Entitled “Language and Indigeneity in Nigerian Cinema”, the lecture called attention to the need to properly interrogate the phenomenon of “culture” with a view to coming to terms with its complexity, dynamism and pluralism especially when viewed against the backdrop of its enduring manifestations in Nigerian Cinema.

He also called attention to the role of the travelling theatre tradition, the celluloid films and tele-drama in the development of contemporary Nigerian video film industry. Regardless of the language of its expression and cultural background, Nigerian films have contributed remarkably to the world cinema and the economy of Nigeria and perception of Nigeria by the outside world. There is, therefore, the need to build upon this success and address various challenges in the industry, some of which came to the fore during the question and answer session.

The second lecture on day 2 (Gele Day) was delivered by Dr. Akin Alao of the History Department, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. It focused on “Women Empowerment in Nigerian Film industry. While acknowledging the stereotypical, largely negative representations of Nigerian women in films. Dr. Alao advocated a greater valuation and esteem for the female gender. Women themselves are to seize the initiative and be at the vanguard of this project of self revaluation. He recommended the establishment of a forum for female film practitioners where all the challenges facing them will be constantly addressed. He also advocated the institution of a film foundation which can assist women with resources to realise their potentials in the industry.