THEATRE ARTS

This study investigates the promotion of patriarchy and portrayal of women in contemporary
Nollywood films, using Dry, Isoken (2017) and King of Boys (2018) as case studies. The
objective was to highlight the several ways in which women in the films are represented or
portrayed to viewers and ascertain whether contemporary Nollywood movies are an
improvement on the issues of gender stereotypes and sexism which are hitherto dominant in
the film industry. Anchored on the cultivation theory, the study used the qualitative content
analysis method. Findings revealed that women in the studied films are negatively portrayed
in several ways and that these portrayals are, at best, parallel to the Stereotypical ways in
which women were portrayed in aforementioned Nollywood movies. Taking cognizance of
the Fact that the three films are directed by women, the researcher recommends that
Nollywood female directors Should see beyond the lenses of monetary rewards and set a
pace with interests of changing the narrative and Portraying Nigerian women in a positive
light.

Costume is a very important aspect of the people cultural identity. It is one amongst others ways you can identify the culture and personality of the wearers. It function serves more than covering of the body, it is a unique identity that is particular to the people it is
identifying. The researcher observed that costume is not mere a fashion but rather as an
indispensable tools in cultural reflection thereby showing its element of culture and a
means of identifying class, status, group, position, as well as religion. This research is aimed at examining the traditional Benin society, in general and studies the costume use at 2016 coronation ceremony in particular. The research method adopted in carrying out this study is qualitative method of research, using pictorial representation and analyses. The findings of the study reveals that costumes communicate meaning and beauty of the Benin people and it reflect their social, status, and cultural heritage, it therefore recommends that there should be a platform where citizens especially youth should be educated about the significance of costume in cultural practices.

This study examined Contemporary Influence on Benin Traditional Mode of Dressing: A
Study Of Benin Traditional Marriages Ceremony. The objectives of the study were to
find out the modes of dressing of the Benin people, examine the symbolic meaning of
Benin traditional mode of dressing in contemporary times, as well as the contemporary
influences of Benin traditional marriage of dressing, and to study the impact of
contemporary dressing in the traditions of the Benin People. The problem the study
sought to investigate was the importance of Benin traditional dress in marriage ceremony, symbolic meanings Benin traditional dresses portray as well as how the contemporary
ways of dressing in traditional Benin ceremony reflect the people’s cultural identity. The
research method adopted in carrying out this study is the qualitative method of research. Pictorial representation of bride and groom’s costumes as well s their respective parents
were presented and analyzed respectively. Findings reveal that costumes communicate
meanings and beauty of the Benin people. It reflects their social status, cultural heritage, occasion/event as well as sex. It also reveals that in the traditional marriage ceremony of
the Benin people, the bride and groom as well as their parents wear costumes to identify
their respective roles in the marriage ceremony. Based on the findings it was
recommended that the family being the bedrock of every individual should inculcate the
value of one’s cultural heritage into a child so that when he/she grows, he/she will
remember their root and preserve their cultural heritage and also encourage them to
always remember their identity no matter the height they have attained in life. It is also
proposed by this researcher that parents should start very early with their children in the
aspect of appreciating their culture by always wearing them traditional costumes in
special events and also teaching them the core cultural values of their culture so that the
people’s culture will not go into extinction.

Costume is a very important aspect of the people cultural identity. It is one amongst others ways
you can identify the culture and personality of the wearers. It function serves more than covering
of the body, it is a unique identity that is particular to the people it is identifying. The researcher
observed that costume is not mere a fashion but rather as an indispensable tools in cultural
reflection thereby showing its element of culture and a means of identifying class, status, group,
position, as well as religion. This research is aimed at examining the traditional Benin society, in
general and studies the costume use at 2016 coronation ceremony in particular. The research
method adopted in carrying out this study is qualitative method of research, using pictorial
representation and analyses. The findings of the study reveals that costumes communicate
meaning and beauty of the Benin people and it
reflect their social, status, and cultural heritage, it therefore recommends that there should be a
platform where citizens especially youth should be educated about the significance of costume in
cultural practices