Introduction
Greetings, dear friends and storytellers. Today, I am filled with immense pride and joy to stand here at the Jos Community Film Festival organized by my fried, Prof Edward Ossai, and share a story—a story about our story, the one born in the quiet hills of Jos, in the shadows of the Plateau, where the spirit of Nigerian cinema first began to take shape. Today, we embark on a journey through time and place to honor the storytellers, the trailblazers, and the timeless productions that made Jos the heartland of Nigerian film. My hope is that you leave here inspired to not only transform the world with your stories but also to transform your lives and the lives of those around you.
Let’s take a deep breath and cast our minds back nearly a century, to 1926. This was the year Palaver was born—the first film on Nigerian soil. It’s hard to imagine, but back then, even as cinema was still young globally, Nigeria was laying its own cinematic foundations. And where else did this foundation begin if not here in Jos? This place, with its unique landscape and its rich cultural diversity, was a natural stage for filmmaking. Jos became more than a location; it became a heartbeat for stories that were not only Nigerian but deeply human. Today, let’s honor that heartbeat and reflect on how the past can illuminate our future.
Part 1: The Early Days – Planting the Seeds of Storytelling in Jos
The journey of filmmaking in Nigeria began right here in Jos with Palaver, a film that didn’t just showcase the Plateau’s landscapes but revealed a world beyond our borders. It made Jos a name whispered by filmmakers and storytellers across Nigeria, and soon, the Plateau became more than a backdrop; it was a character, a participant in our nation’s story. Jos was a window to the world—a view that invited filmmakers from across the country and beyond to witness our landscapes, our people, our stories.
Shortly around independence in 1960, Nigeria debut into filmmaking but that didn’t last long and there was a lull. In the 1970s and 80s, Jos blossomed as Nigeria’s cinematic capital with the advent of television. The Plateau’s beauty and natural lighting made it a filmmaker’s paradise, but it was not only the scenery that mattered. The people of Jos such as Peter Igho, Matt Dadzie and Dan Emeni had the desire and tenacity to bring stories to life. The NTA Network Centre and lots of private partnerships sprouted, and the Plateau became a fertile ground for television series, telemovies and films. Television, which was then gaining momentum in Nigeria, created demand for fresh, original stories. Jos producers and actors such as George Menta, Saddik Daba, Ene Oloja, Lantana Ahmed, Gladys Dadzie, Sulaiman Adara, MacArthur Fom and myself rose to the challenge, creating some of the most impactful television programs in Nigerian history.
Part 2: The Golden Era – The 70s and 80s in Jos Film Production
The golden age of Jos filmmaking is marked by unforgettable productions that captured the spirit, hopes, and daily lives of Nigerians. These weren’t just shows; they were pieces of our lives. Cock Crow at Dawn painted the struggles and triumphs of rural farmers, speaking to the realities of Nigerian communities. Behind the Clouds, Shadows, and Riddles and Hopes brought light to social issues, unmasking our fears, our dreams, our love for each other, and our resilience as a people.
In these productions, filmmakers from Jos like the Baba, Peter Igho and Matt Dadzie revealed their commitment to authenticity. Stories weren’t forced; they flowed from real experiences, real faces, and real places. This wasn’t Hollywood, nor did it need to be. The Plateau itself was an actor, bringing depth to each scene. This authenticity—this raw and unpolished truth—made Jos’s productions stand out. They didn’t just entertain; they resonated. They reminded us who we are.
These productions became more than stories; they became a blueprint for Nigeria’s fledgling film industry. They proved that, when we tell stories from a place of authenticity, audiences not only listen—they feel, they connect, they change.
Part 3: The Jos Legacy in Nigerian Cinema – The Home Video Revolution and the Birth of Nollywood
In the early 1990s, Nigeria’s cinema landscape underwent a seismic shift with the rise of the home video revolution. Many people wrongly ascribe that to Living in Bondage when, in truth, Jos was once again at the heart of this change. An NTA production Lynx, a telemovie from Jos, found its way to Alaba International Market in Lagos. It was mass dubbed with the title AWA from the name of the main character Hauwa played by Gladys Dadzie. The commercial success of this Jos movie laid the groundwork for the home video industry, providing a model for accessible and affordable filmmaking. This model didn’t just make film possible for a few select producers—it democratized it for countless aspiring filmmakers across Nigeria.
The home video revolution gave birth to Nollywood and Kannywood, a phenomenon that would go on to become the second-largest film industry in the world. It was built on the shoulders of storytellers who, like those in Jos, believed in the power of storytelling to change lives, to give voice to communities, to preserve culture, and to remind us of our collective humanity. Jos’s early productions became the standard for future generations of filmmakers, who saw that with dedication, local stories could not only compete globally but could set trends and spark conversations worldwide.
Part 4: Lessons for Today’s Filmmakers – Embracing Originality and Authenticity
Dear friends, I invite you to carry the torch of originality and authenticity that made Jos a beacon of Nigerian cinema. Today, the success ascribed to some of us make many of you to be tempted by the gloss and glamour that often come with modern film. But I ask you to remember the legacy of Cock Crow at Dawn, of Behind the Clouds, of the countless productions that emerged from Jos and touched the nation. Remember how they stayed true to our values, our culture, and our realities. In those simple, honest stories lies the power to change lives—yours and others.
Originality and authenticity aren’t just artistic choices; they’re keys to creating stories that resonate beyond screens, that linger in hearts, and that inspire change. Be original, not because it’s easy, but because it’s honest. Show Nigeria, show Africa, show the world our stories without compromise, and watch how audiences respond.
Part 5: The Path Forward – Film as a Catalyst for Change and Opportunity
Today, we stand at a crossroads with Social Media. As young filmmakers from Jos, you have the potential to bring forth a new wave of stories that will once again place Jos Plateau on the cinematic map. The world is more connected than ever, and your stories have the power to travel to places we couldn’t have dreamed of in the early days of Nigerian cinema. Imagine a future where filmmakers from Jos fuel the world’s imagination, where the authenticity of our stories is as prized as oil, drawing people in with the richness of our culture, our resilience, our beauty.
Film can be more than a career; it can be a calling, a way to preserve our stories and inspire the next generation. Use film to uplift your communities, to tell the stories of the Plateau, of Nigeria, of Africa. Film has the power to break barriers, to bridge divides, and to bring understanding and unity in a way that words alone often cannot.
Closing: Carrying the Legacy Forward
As you embark on this journey, know that you’re not just making films. You’re part of a legacy. The storytellers of Jos who came before you lit the path, and now, it’s yours to follow and to expand. I believe that films from Jos can indeed become the new oil, a treasure that fuels not only our economy but our spirit as a nation.
So, pick up your camera, your pen, your dreams, and your courage. The world is waiting, and there are stories that only you can tell. Let your voice be as powerful as the hills of Jos, as enduring as the Plateau, and as transformative as the power of cinema itself.
Thank you.
