Cultural Specificity in Nollywood comedy films

Abstract

In his seminal work on humor, Noel Carroll suggests that comedy is deeply rooted in the cultural context in which it originates, and its resonance may be confined to specific societies, struggling to transcend national boundaries. This paper explores Carroll's assertion within the context of Nollywood, Nigeria's vibrant and diverse film industry. With over 250 ethnic groups, numerous languages, and a wide range of comedic sensibilities, Nollywood offers a compelling case study for investigating the cultural specificity of comedy. This study focuses on two Nollywood films, The Wedding Party Part One (2016) and Aki and Pawpaw (2021), to examine how certain comedic elements, such as set pieces, gags, jokes, wordplay, and characters, adhere to or transcend the cultural specificity Carroll describes. By analyzing these films, this paper seeks to understand how Nollywood's diversity shapes its comedy and whether certain comedic themes can resonate beyond Nigeria’s borders.