| Title: | Portrayal of British Expedition to Benin Kingdom in the Nollywood Film “invasion 1897” |
| Author(s): | Francis AMENAGHAWON |
| Abstract: | The British expedition into the Benin Kingdom in 1897 is viewed as a watershed in the history of Africa, especially with the banishment of king Ovonranmwen from Benin to Calabar as well as the resultant pilferage of thousands of artefacts which today adorn museums in the United Kingdom; Germany. Various historical materials such as books as well cinematography have been used to document this event for posterity .This study attempts a textual analysis of the movie “Invasion 1897”, a Nollywood movie by Lanceslot Imasuen . Focus was on how the Invasion was framed and how the Benin Empire and the British expeditionists were portrayed. The framing theory served as a guide to this study. Findings showed that the movie adopted thematic frame more than episodic frames, while the Benin Empire and its Monarch were framed as rich in culture, proud and organized .The movie contributes to the documentation of the history Benin Kingdom and the preservation of its legacy. This study suggests that film makers and other institutions such as the mass media and the academia produce works that would preserve our history. |
| Keywords: | Benin Kingdom, Invasion, Framing, Portrayal, Frames |
