The Nigerian government just banned the portrayal of money rituals and ritual killings in movies, music videos, and even comedy skits. This move comes amid a growing concern about the impact of Nollywood, Nigeria’s powerhouse film industry, on some viewers.
The ban became official on May 22, 2024, with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) taking the lead. The new regulation, with the catchy title, “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco etc. Regulations 2024,” cracks down on the depiction of these dark practices.
In Nigeria, money rituals involve the extra-judicial murder of human beings to obtain their body parts for black magic that can bring financial wealth. The decision to implement the ban has been brewing for a while. Recent arrests of young Nigerians involved in ritual killings, some of whom mentioned movies as an influence, fueled the debate.
The NFVCB assures filmmakers this is not intended to kill creativity. They emphasize there are plenty of other story elements to explore and that the goal is to create a healthier media environment for Nigerian audiences.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
