Noton (ix)

I read a post on Facebook where the poster was urging that people should vote for black books to be turned to novels (Now I'm not talking about thrashy Nani Boi and his brethren). The poster made a statement that struck me, "That whites can never run short of movies to act as long as they have authors". She couldn't have said any more truth than this.

Recently, I've started enjoying crime and prosecution books notably Josh Grisham's works which are very interesting. Sometimes when I read his works, I wish I was studying law but change my mind almost immediately cos our Nigeria hasn't reached the stage of the flawless investigation in 1st World countries. Other times, I wash my hands off law cos it's too risky (if I go by the books). Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is that Josh Grisham is a lawyer-turned-author who 8 of his 42 works have been turned to movies and all his works are bestsellers.

Of course, there are many other authors out there whose books have become movies. Adventurous and Warlike kind of films like Game of Thrones, yes the dearest GOT is a series. The reason the movie isn't yet complete is that George Martin haven't finished writing the 6th and 7th books. Maze Runner, Legend of the seeker, Shadow hunters, 13 reasons why, Twilight, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia are all books. The sappy movies that is viral like Me Before You, 13 reasons why, Twilight, A walk to remember, Love story, The notebook, The fault in our stars, The spectacular now, etc are all books. Even Infinity war  and Justice Leagues are all comics written by people and they've all been Blockbusters in the movie industry.
In Nigeria, we have our movie industry and the movies are as bland as anything you can think of. We cannot convert our books to movies that could get global awards. It's appalling that the most popular novel about our civil war was actually produced and directed by foreigners, yet we pride ourselves as the giant of Africa(past... More like Bedbug of Africa)

We have so many books, literature and otherwise that tells stories of our culture. Nothing has been done. I've always thought that it's only Chinua and Chimamanda that we have as Igbo authors, till I discovered many others.

Chigozie Obiọma and Chika Unigwe wrote "The Fishermen" and "On Black sisters streets" respectively. The books made me an emotional mess the days I read them. I have Nnedi Okoroafor's works but I haven't started reading her works, but I know her works portray Juju in a Harry Potter kind of way. Then there is Chinelo Okparanta's"Under the Udala Tree", Chukwuemeka Ike's "Sunset at Dawn", and many other wonderful authors.

Yet, we sit back and relax. We feel comfortable watching the likes of Nkoli nwa Nsukka, Ada Mbaano, Regina Daniels low budget films and the over-exaggerated humour of Wedding Party. Almost all the movies in Nigeria have same theme, same ending, there is no art in them. Little one would wonder why we are not internationally acclaimed.

I believe, nope, I know that if the literature works of Nigeria are made available in motion pictures, our movie industry will improve drastically with wildfire. But no, we are displaying the mediocrity in our thoughts and output. Yet we want God to come down from heaven and deliver Nigeria from Poverty. I laugh in German.....