Cinematography

Since the 1980s, the cinematography unit has focused on documenting African and, consequently, Igbo culture. The unit offers comprehensive resources for conducting visual research in the field and supports the Institute’s audio-visual library, which encompasses both internally produced films and tapes as well as pertinent materials sourced externally (Wright, 1984). A significant portion of African culture is conveyed through visual arts and oral traditions, including music and song, as well as through dance. In this regard, the Institute has acquired modern video cameras and tape recorders as tools for cinematographic research and documentation.
In addition to training and collecting research data for documentary productions, another important role of Our Cinema/Photo Unit is to seek collaboration with other researchers in the university community who are interested in exploring the use of cinematographic equipment and collaboration with other departments in research and programme coverage and documentation. The unit forms an indispensable, integral and organic component of promoting and sustaining the rich culture of Africa through research and teaching of various aspects of African lifestyles at the Institute of African Studies.