摘要
In contemporary times, many Nigerians, and indeed Africans, go through huddles to behold some of their most cherished artifacts in foreign lands. Such artifacts were taken away by the colonial masters during their various conquests of ancient African kingdoms. In the modern days as well, such trips are made to other countries by Nigerians and Africans to research into some popular arts and amusements lost as a result of neglect. One of such lost is the popular form of literature that once existed in the eastern part of Nigeria--the Onitsha Market Literature. Using evidences from secondary research materials, this paper discusses the re-occurrence of this silly history of neglecting the production and consumption of popular culture in Nigerian and indeed Africa. Using the Nigerian video film industry, Nollywood, as a case study, a case is here made for the proper archiving of these video films for future generations. It is observed that just few decades of video film production in Nigeria, virtually all the pioneer films cannot be found anywhere in the country. Such films must be needed in future for research purposes as the foundations upon which other great films of the future will base. The work therefore concludes with the obvious recommendation that genuine efforts, will, and finances be committed to proper archiving of legally approved Nollywood films. This will engender the sentiment central to film archiving and drastically reduce the problems that may confront the future generation as regards research in the Nigeria video film culture, Nollywood.
