Abstract:
Although the golden age of Yoruba folk opera, Yoruba travelling theatre and Yoruba theatre is over, but their contribution to the development of film genre in Nigeria remains historical. Although some documents hold it that the rise of contemporary Nollywood Film Industry points to Kenneth Nebue’s living in Bondage (1992), history has it that the Yoruba Travelling Theatre deserves the accolades for the rise of Nigerian Film Industry. Consequently, the paper argues for the recognition of the status of the Yoruba travelling theatre as the cradle of what is now Nollywood films. It undisputable that Kenneth Nebue’s living in Bondage brought the industry to limelight, nevertheless, The Yoruba popular theatre practitioners are catalyst for the rising video film production in Nigeria. The paper explores their contribution via their rich tradition of touring plays (mobile theatre), especially those of Pioneer Ogunde’s Aiye (1979), Jajesinmi (1980) and TaxiDriver (1982). Ironically, none of these films has been given national recognition.
