E-Culture and African Video Films in a Globalized World: Amayo Uzo Philip’s Akwaeke Na Odum and Sacred Tradition as Paradigms

Abstract

Many artistes and scholars are learning to use the ICT to disseminate information to the global society. Today, as video films become one of the most popular arts in Africa, movie makers are increasingly making the medium one of the most prominent windows into Africa. It is increasingly providing Africans opportunity for profitable business, and also windows to global audience. Ironically, instead of promoting national images and culture, some film makers prefer to promote what could better be described as electronic culture. E-culture is actually not a real culture; therefore, it is not advisable in a global multi-cultural environment like ours, where there is information overload. This paper therefore traces the history and premises of e-culture; and so provides a virgin definition of the concept of e-culture as applied in the videos selected for study. It examines two Nigerian cultural or epic video films, namely: Akwaeke na Odum and Sacred Tradition, to show and
discuss elements of e-culture in both films; and highlights the implications of promoting e-culture, instead of the true culture, to the future of the nation in a globalized society like ours. Finally, it makes recommendations on the need to curb the growth of e-culture in video contents in the booming film
industry like ours.

Keywords: popular arts, video film, e-culture, global society