Nigeria Cultural Heritage in Global Context – SS2 Citizenship & Heritage Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Nigeria’s cultural heritage in a global context is the way our living culture, including Nollywood films, Afrobeats music and literature, is enjoyed and respected around the world.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what “living culture” and “soft power” mean.
2. Describe how Nollywood, Afrobeats and Nigerian literature have reached the world.
3. Name key Nigerian figures in film, music and literature.
4. State four benefits of Nigerian culture going global.
5. List ways in which they can protect and promote Nigerian heritage.

What is cultural heritage?

Cultural heritage is the set of traditions, objects and ways of life that a people inherit from the past and pass on to the next generation.

• Tangible heritage: objects and places you can touch, such as museum items, palaces, monuments and cloth.
• Intangible heritage: practices that live in people, such as language, dance, music, festivals and storytelling.
• Living culture: the intangible part that people still practise today, such as the way we talk, dance and tell stories.

What is the difference between tangible and intangible heritage?

What is soft power?

Soft power is a country’s ability to influence people through its culture and creativity instead of force or an army.

• Example in daily life: a Nigerian song may be played in a club in London, a salon in New York or a shop in Tokyo.
• Nigerian soft power: films, music and books make people in other countries respect and enjoy Nigeria.
• Result: it brings in money, tourism and national pride, and it corrects false ideas about Nigeria.

What is Nollywood and why is it famous globally?

Nollywood is the nickname for the Nigerian movie industry, often described as the second-largest in the world by the number of films produced.

Why is Nollywood famous globally?

• Relatability: its stories about family, faith, struggle and success connect with viewers in Africa, the Caribbean and South America.
• Global platforms: Nigerian films now appear on streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video.
• Language spread: viewers abroad pick up Nigerian expressions such as “Oshey” and “Chineke!”

What is the impact of Nollywood?

• Jobs: it employs thousands of actors, makeup artists, editors and camera crews.
• Image: it shows the world Nigeria’s cities, fashion and talented people.
• Key figures: Funke Akindele and Genevieve Nnaji are well-known Nollywood names.

How has Afrobeats reached the world?

Afrobeats is modern Nigerian and West African popular music that mixes traditional rhythms with modern sounds and is now heard worldwide.

What is the link between Afrobeat and Afrobeats?

• Afrobeat (no “s”): the style created by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, mixing highlife, jazz, funk and traditional African rhythms.
• Afrobeats (with “s”): a newer pop sound that was influenced by Fela and other African music.
• Modern stars: Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido and Tems have taken Nigerian music to global audiences.

What are the global achievements of Nigerian music?

• Awards: Nigerian artists have won Grammy awards.
• Live shows: they have performed in some of the biggest venues in the world, such as the O2 Arena in London and Madison Square Garden in New York.
• Charts and streaming: Nigerian songs are streamed and played by listeners in many countries.

Why does music matter for Nigeria’s image?

• Universal language: people who do not speak our languages still enjoy the rhythm.
• Goodwill: foreigners who enjoy our music often become interested in Nigeria itself.
• Better story: it helps change the negative stories people used to tell about Nigeria.

How has Nigerian literature shaped the world?

Nigerian literature is the body of novels, plays and poems written by Nigerians, and it is studied in universities across the world.

Who are the major Nigerian writers?

• Chinua Achebe: wrote Things Fall Apart, one of the most widely translated African novels. It showed that Africa had rich societies before colonialism.
• Wole Soyinka: the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is also a leading playwright.
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: author of Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, which are read worldwide.
• Buchi Emecheta: author of The Joys of Motherhood, on the lives of women.
• Ben Okri: author of The Famished Road, which won the Booker Prize.

What is the impact of Nigerian writers?

• Record: they place the Nigerian point of view in world history.
• Respect: they show the depth of Nigerian thought and philosophy.
• Study: their books are set texts in schools and universities.

What are the benefits of our culture going global?

There are four main benefits: economic growth, tourism, national pride and the correction of false ideas about Nigeria.

1. Economic growth: streams of our music and sales of our films bring foreign exchange into Nigeria.
2. Tourism: visitors come for festivals such as Ojude Oba and the Calabar Carnival, or to see the home of their favourite stars.
3. National pride: it makes Nigerians proud and shows young people they can succeed at home and still become global stars.
4. Correcting misconceptions: it shows that Nigeria is more than stories of fraud and poverty. It is also a land of creativity, colour and talent.

How can a student protect Nigerian heritage?

A student protects heritage by respecting it, practising it and supporting those who create it.

• Value your roots: be proud of your mother tongue, food and dress.
• Support local: appreciate Nigerian films, music, books and goods before you look abroad.
• Respect intellectual property: do not pirate movies or music. Paying for them helps the industry grow.
• Take part: attend local festivals and learn the stories and songs of your community.

Revision table: key figures and global impact

Evaluation

1. What is meant by “soft power”?
2. Give two reasons why Nollywood films are popular around the world.
3. Name three Nigerian writers and one book by each of two of them.
4. State four benefits of Nigerian culture going global.
5. List three ways a student can protect Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Assignment

If you were to show a foreigner ONE thing about Nigeria (a song, a movie or a book) to make them love our country, which one would you choose and why? Write one paragraph in your notebook.