A Taxonomic Analysis of Benin Video Film

Abstract

This paper attempts a taxonomic analysis of Benin video film, an emerging stratum of Nollywood. It employs the evaluative methodology to highlight and X-ray the classificatory modes of Benin video drama as could be randomly distilled from the over 200 Benin movies the researcher has encountered. In the course of the investigation, it was found that the discernible categories within the creative cusp of Benin visual literature are more or less crafted after some existing genres in the larger Nigerian film ecology, revealing some of its strengths and weaknesses. It is against this backdrop that this paper offers some suggestions aimed at redressing some of the flaws, attracting capital investment, building support infrastructure as well as stimulating further scholarly interest in the promising Benin video drama sub-sector of Nollywood.