This piece is part of Nollywire’s FRAME at NIFS series, highlighting discussions about the authentic experiences of women within Nollywood’s narratives and production environments.
At the Nigeria International Film Summit in Lagos, during the FRAME panel, Brenda Fashugba, co-founder of Lagos Fringe, brought attention to a nuanced issue. While Nollywood’s advancements are often celebrated through its on-screen content, she emphasized that many facets of women’s lived experiences remain overlooked both in storytelling and in the industry’s creative spaces.
One significant area of omission she pointed out is women’s health, particularly topics like menopause and pre-menopause. “These stages of a woman’s life are rarely depicted or discussed in film and television,” Fashugba noted, highlighting how this silence creates a void in representation and misses the chance to foster empathy and dialogue among viewers.
Beyond narrative gaps, Fashugba shed light on systemic obstacles that hinder women’s participation in technical roles such as editing and cinematography. She explained that Nollywood’s reliance on informal mentorship often excludes women, while concerns about safety and mobility further restrict their access to behind-the-scenes opportunities.
Despite these challenges, she praised the unique attributes women contribute to filmmaking. Skills like adaptability, teamwork, and resilience are consistently demonstrated by women, yet these qualities are frequently undervalued even as the industry benefits from them.
According to Fashugba, genuine progress demands more than superficial commitments to diversity. It requires deliberate efforts to create pathways into technical professions, champion narratives that reflect the full spectrum of women’s experiences, and acknowledge the distinct strengths women bring to film production.
“Women are not merely audiences,” she asserted. “We are creators, and we deserve to see all dimensions of our realities portrayed on screen.”
This perspective encapsulates a core message of FRAME: advancing representation in Nollywood involves transforming the industry’s foundational structures as much as enhancing the stories presented to viewers.
This article is part of Nollywire’s FRAME coverage at NIFS Lagos.
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Watch the Complete FRAME Discussion Featuring Biodun Stephen, Ego Boyo, and Brenda Fashugba
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