Nudity Takes the Spotlight in Nollywood
It's been a long road to this point, but the birthday suit is finally having its time in the sun in Nollywood.
A wise man once said, "Nudity is the rawest form of self-expression, where vulnerability meets liberation, and the canvas of the human body becomes a masterpiece of authenticity."
I agree with everything he said, and judging by the current landscape, it seems Nollywood does too. The industry appears to have taken this quote quite personally, considering the significant rise in the number of big-budget productions featuring glossy body parts that must not be named.
Itβs hard not to trace how far the Nigerian film industry has come from the days when Mercy Johnson loosened her wrapper for Van Vickerβs pleasure and captured the imagination of audiences in Corporate Maid (2008). It was a time when actors infamously clad themselves in large white blankets and moved in unrealistic rhythms to the desires of the flesh. For a long time, realistic sex choreography on screen felt like a taboo conversation even the most daring filmmakers rarely crossed. Showing raunchy nudity on screen was once a no-no. Yet, as the only thing constant in life is change, there have been major shifts in the depiction and consumption of bare skin in the Nigerian movie industry, and the present day seems to be the cream of the crop. Nudity is finally having its moment in the sun in Nollywood.
Nudity and sex scenes aren't new to Nigerian movies, but with the advent of streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video as mostly unpoliced avenues for film distribution and consumption, there's been a noticeable increase in the number and frequency of movies and TV shows that show bare skin. Previously, we could go years between bold new releases that got the public talking about which actor dared to bare it all, but these days, seeing an actor in their birthday suit is becoming routine.
Of course, not everyone is excited about this new development. For a country as religiously ingrained as Nigeria, this shouldnβt come as much of a surprise. Yet, it is worth noting that this is the same country whose populace has continued to rank high in the worldwide chart of porn consumers. So, the big question here is: who is really fooling who?
The premise of this article isnβt to argue for or against this sensual topic but to shine a spotlight on this storytelling device that has continued to gain prominence and shows no signs of stopping soon; to better examine if itβs been as nuanced and tastefully done as the filmmakers probably hoped itβd be, using the opinions of a small pool of diverse film lovers. We shall be looking at specific scenes featuring prominent nudity of an actor(s) on screen who may or may not be about to engage in intimate activity.
I have compiled as many titles as possible, mostly from recent releases post-2010, so donβt expect to see the infamous 1994 Glamour Girl bathtub scene featuring Eucharia Anunobi and Zack Orji on this list. If anything, consider this a shoutout and an honorable mention of a movie that got our grandparents wondering where the moral compass of our parentsβ generation was headed.
We shall be taking a look at some of the most popular movies in recent memory that feature nude scenes: Dark October, Oloture, Fifty, Elesin Oba, Shanty Town, Alter Ego, Anikulapo, A Sunday Affair, Blood Sisters, Oloture, Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, and Half of a Yellow Sun.
In ascending order of their year of release, here are some of the boldest Nollywood releases to feature a nude or sex scene in a movie or TV series made for the theater or streaming and what some movie lovers have to say about them [forgive me if this truly rubs off like an Oscar category. It was intentional].
Rules of engagement: For each of the 11 nude/sex scenes on this list, we sample opinions from a diverse group of four (4) film lovers. They share their thoughts on this subject using the three (3) parameters below to dissect each scene under review:
What was your first thought when you saw this scene play out?
Do you think it served any purpose to move the story forward?
Rate the effectiveness of the nude/sex scene. On a scale of 1 to 5, how tasteful or distasteful was it?
Note: Some parts of the features below have been edited for clarity.
1. Half of a Yellow Sun (2013)
Scenes: Olanna (Thandie Newton) steps out of the bathroom with her breasts showing. In another scene, her breasts are visible while she and Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) have sex.
Dami:
It was completely unnecessary. I'll admit at the time I didn't think much of it and it may have even been nice, but in hindsight, it was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the scene or plot. It could have been done without the frontal nudity. In fact, I'd say it was done particularly because of the subject matter i.e. because it was based on a Nigerian book. I would be so bold as to say that it was something done for purposes of showing that hey, this is how we do in Hollywood.
Effectiveness? It wasn't so distasteful at first glance. It can be excused, so I'd give it a 2 out of 5.
Freddie:
It was pretty cringe. Our society heavily frowns upon nudity. Definitely, some people would say "Oh it's the 21st century," but I still stand and believe that things like this shouldn't be over portrayed in our movies. The amount of nudity in this movie didn't serve any purpose, in my opinion; I mean they were trying to inculcate the trend of nudity, and I think it was unnecessary. I'd rate it 1/5. I don't like nudity in Nigerian films, it's not a part of who we are.
Ben:
My first thoughts were along the lines of βOh, OK... some flavourβ. I think the use of nudity in this movie was meant to show the complete and total affection the couple had for one another. I'd give it a 4 out of 5. It was well-executed, in my opinion.
2. Fifty (2015)
Scene: Sammy (Emmanuel Ikubese)Β shows his bare bum after Elizabeth (Ireti Doyle) catches him cheating.
Dami:
This is done to further the narrative. It is simple and not over the top. He's caught in the middle of a romp with the small chic. It fits, and the camera doesn't linger unnecessarily on Sammy's bum (or his partner-in-crime for that matter). The scene is probably about 30 seconds or less.
It wasn't distasteful at all. it gets a 5/5 for effectiveness.
Freddie:
Cringe yet again. We didn't need to see that. I rate it 0/5.
Ben:
I thought it was funny more than anything. I'm not sure it moves the plot forward; we couldβve done without it. I'd give it a 3/5, it was mostly just a funny scene to me.
3. Alter Ego (2017)
Scene: Adaora (Omotola Jalade Ekeinde) has steamy sex scenes with Timothy (Wale Ojo) and Daniel (Kunle Remi).
Dami:
I have reservations about this film and its execution of whatever story or theme Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was trying to show. Everything else in this movie is something I don't want to talk about, but the sex scenes at least weren't frivolously gratuitous. I think it worked to show Adaora's issue with her sexual life. Distasteful? No. Effectiveness, 4 out of 5.
Freddie:
The scenes are hot and steamy, no doubt, but seeing the great Omotola in that light isn't something I'd like to see often. For what the movie is about, I think it did well to pass its message, but the sex scenes still felt cringe. I give it 2/5.
Ben:
I was impressed by the fact that Omotola was pushing boundaries in acting. I thought they moved the story forward as that was literally one of the tenets of the movie. The scenes were well shot. I'd give them a full 5.
4. ΓlΓ²tΕ«rΓ© (2019)
Scene: The girls are lined up and given a ritual incision.
Dami:
ΓlΓ²tΕ«rΓ©βs supposed to be a showcase of the inner workings of prostitution and whatnot, and this scene perfectly describes the horrific stories we have heard about that profession. How you know it works is that you're enthralled more by the diabolical nature of the ritual, even though there are some beautiful women naked on screen.
Freddie:
It was fairly okay. One might say they could have covered the girls up a bit, though. I think the scene served its purpose, but the nudity felt a little bit too much. I give it a 2/5.
Ben:
A very visceral and raw representation of what these girls go through 2. The filmmakers maybe wanted to highlight how uncomfortable this is and it really shone through the screen 3. Perfect 5
5. Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019)
Scene: Nnamdi (Jidekene Achufusim) and Kelly (Munachi Abii) have steamy sex in silhouette.
Freddie:
This was better in silhouette. I think itβs an easier way of getting Nigerians used to the idea of nudity in Nollywood productions. It did serve its purpose. A 3.3/5.
Chuks:
It was hot. Muna na fine babe. It was added to spice the film, but I donβt think it added any flavour to it. It was hot cos Muna is...phew, an easy 4/5 for me.
Ben:
Lovemaking in silhouette was a really nice touch and hadn't really been explored like this Itβs been a while, so I can't really recall if it served any purpose to the story, but I do remember that the execution was good. A 4 out of 5.
6. Blood Sisters (2022)
Scene: Timileyin (Genoveva Umeh) and the other girls fight nude in the bathroom.
Dami:
Prison shower fight! It was calm. I was so moved by what was happening that I didn't take much notice of the nudity (LMAO). It's like that Guy Pearce scene in Memento.
Freddie:
The scene demanded the show of skin, even though it was a lot. It served its purpose, but I also think it could have been directed in a way the girls didn't have to be stark naked.
Chuks:
It was absolutely unnecessary if you ask me.
Ben:
I was not expecting that, but it was still cool to see. It served to highlight Timileyinβs discomfort and paranoia. It was raw and gritty to make us as uncomfortable as she was at that moment. A perfect 5.
7. Elesin Oba (2022)
Scene: The sexy maiden(s) entertaining the kingβs horseman at the start of the movie.
Dami:
Well done! Artistic in delivery, and I mean how else do you mention that someone is enjoying a harem of beautiful women without some topless nudity? It helped to paint the picture of the titular Elesin Oba's authority, and how much leeway he had because of his status. Of course, I appreciate that it was just topless, otherwise it would have bordered on gluttony.
8. Anikulapo (2022)
Scene: Saro (Kunle Remi) and Arolake (Bimbo Ademoye) have sex and show colorful body parts.
Dami:
I questioned the need for this when I first saw it, but it's saved because the lighting covers most of what's happening. So no foul; no malicious intent. I think it passes the test. I was taken aback though, because I'm in love with Bimbo Ademoye and didn't think she would go nude in a scene (thank God it was prosthetics).
Chuks:
I was surprised mainstream Nollywood could show breasts. It showed how progressive the industry could be in a traditional setting.
9. A Sunday Affair (2023)
Scene: Sunday (Oris Erhuero)Β and Uche (Nse Ikpe-Etim) bothΒ show their bare bums as they have sex.
Dami:
So this one is a unique entry, and I think it's okay because of the movie's premise. After all, they're in a steamy relationship that they are hiding from the other's sick best friend. Passionate, sensual, and a comfortable runtime. Not distasteful at all.
Ben:
We all knew it was steamy going in, so not that much of a shock. The script wasn't the strongest, but at least the scenes highlighted the sexually charged atmosphere of the love triangle. In all, the sex scene was just there, it offered nothing new. A 3 out of 5.
10. Dark October (2023)
Scene: Tizzy (Chuks Joseph) opens the movie already lynched and with torn clothes. His bare bum is shown.
Dami:
Itβs perfectly done. It's a bit of a careful carefulness- Tizzy's getting lynched, ain't nobody thinking about his bum lmao, but it adds to the jarring nature of mob lynching
Ben:
This screams shock value, intending to tell us that this movieβs subject is not going to be a comfortable one. This is nudity used not for sex but to send a message. It was done well. A 4 out of 5 for me.
11. Shanty Town (2023)
Scene: Shalewa (Nancy Isime) is strippedΒ by Chief Fernandez (RMD), her bare breast and bum show.
Dami:
Same thoughts about the good scenes I rated on this list, but I'll also add that it set the precedence for what kind of show we were watching (even if the third act tanked in execution).
Freddie:
I'm not gonna lie this scene was hot, I watched it again and again but itβs not something I'm used to in Nollywood so I found it weird despite how hot it was. I mean Nancy Isime did say that was a body double, but it still felt foreign to me. Bare breasts, bums, and all that. Itβs just too much It did serve a purpose for the story, though. A 3 out of 5.
Chuks:
It was meh. The material didn't move me.
Ben:
It was obviously a body double, but I was still impressed with the amount of nudity that the filmmakers were comfortable showing. Chief Fernandez showed the poor girl that he has full control over her as a human, assuming he even sees her as up to a human. Its execution was on par but the message was very much there: βYou're beneath me and I can do whatever I wantβ. Using the body double was a nice touch, as you don't want to make the actors uncomfortable. A 4 out of 5 for me.
A little askβ¦
Having crafted The Orange Pill Nollywood for over a year, each edition involves long hours (days and weeks even) of research, thinking, writing, editing, and design. If you find the insights valuable, here's a simple ask: like the post and/or leave a comment, subscribe (if you haven't), and share it with at least two people you think will love it. Your support means a lot! π§‘
Special thanks to Dami, Freddie, Ben, and Chuks for agreeing to do this edition of TOP Nollywood with me. I canβt thank you guys enough. π§‘π§‘π§‘
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I've absolutely enjoyed this. Very timely also.
I guess the older generation were more far-right, concerning sex and nudity, than the new generation. Even though they enjoyed it and loved it, they hated talking about it. They still hate it. It might look like hypocrisy, but context has told me it's more of a 'mental barrier' kind of problem. They acted based on what was passed on to them in their closed world. Haha...
I like to think that, today, our world is open; cultures are blending, and the typical modern Nollywood buff is very liberal and comfortable discussing sex and nudity; and that's why we're witnessing their rise in our features-- filmmakers are capitalising. But as this article rightly addresses, there has to be a balance.
Kudos to the responders. Their perspectives were very insightful. Loved the varying views they conveyed on the same titles. And that's one of the things that, more so, make sex and nude scenes tricky devices in film making. One key thing though is, if you must do it, you must do it right.
Brilliant piece!