Why Can’t Nigerians Watch Country’s Biggest Movie?

May 22, 2014 1:01 PM

After weeks of silence on the ban of the HOAYS movie, the director of the movie, Biyi Bandele, has written an article on CNN.com to air his views.

The much awaited movie of the year 'Half of a Yellow Sun' had it's screening in cinemas paused by the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board. 'Half Of a Yellow Sun' is a movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘s book of same name.

The star studded movie featured Hollywood and Nollywood heavyweights including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, Anika Noni Rose, and Zack Orji among others.

After weeks of patiently waiting for the ban to be lifted, the director has stepped out to address the issue. Biyi Bandele, in an article written for CNN.com, airs his views.

Read excerpts below:

"When I heard last month that the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, headquartered in Abuja, had indicated that it would be unable to issue certification for "Half of a Yellow Sun" in time for the film's release date, I naturally assumed, at first, that what we were faced with was nothing more sinister than another instance of the typical, if frustrating, culture of wilful incompetence that we'd grappled with during the making of the film -- while shooting the film in Nigeria two years ago, there were times when we felt ensnared in impenetrable jungles of red tape, when we would be given the go-head by one arm of the government only to find our path blocked by the other arm".

I had no reason to assume that there might be anything more to it than that. I had no reason to assume, for instance, that the inability of the board to issue the film with a certificate might actually be a clumsy, heavy-handed ban in all but name.

Bala had arrived in Toronto -- I was told -- with several of her colleagues from the censor's office. I know for a fact that they watched the movie. I do not know for a fact that they all liked it. I cannot say if any one of them stood up when, as the end credits rolled, the audience rose and gave the film three standing ovations. But I do know that Bala was gracious enough to tell us after the screening how much she loved the movie. At no point did she express any reservations about the contents of the film.

The board claims that is has not banned the film but certain aspects of it "have some unresolved issues which have to be sorted out in accordance with the law and laid down regulations."

I've also heard tell that the censorship board's inability to make a decision about a ratings certificate for my film has been brought upon it because of a sudden concern that a movie that depicts scenes from the Biafra war might provoke "tribal violence" in a country that has in recent months been besieged with terrorist bombings and profoundly shaken by the abduction of over 200 school girls by Boko Haram.

Read full article here