Paper short abstract:

This study examines metropolitanism in selected films of Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan, and the projection of cultural integration in addressing some of the vicissitudes that characterize urban African settings.

Paper long abstract:

The Yoruba universe which the Yoruba film seeks to represent has grown and expanded overtime in order to accommodate and relate with the forces of urbanity. In response to this, such Yoruba Nollywood filmmakers as Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan have adopted metropolitanism as a motif for plot and thematic construction. This makes it possible for them to represent the contemporary Yoruba universe to include its interplay with other Nigerian or African cultural backgrounds. Thus, the films of Kelani and Afolayan, feature characters of different Nigerian or African cultural backgrounds and have metropolitan spaces and times that cut across cultural or national boundaries. Similarly, in presenting and resolving the issues that are raised in their films, these filmmakers have also projected the importance of cultural integration having recognised its dearth as a major challenge in many urban African settings. Against this backdrop therefore, this study examines metropolitanism in selected films of Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan, and the projection of cultural integration in addressing some of the vicissitudes that characterize urban African settings like family problems, marital challenges, love, sexuality and insecurity.