Why do you keep DEFAMING us? District 9 and Sony, we’re talking to YOU!
Posted on Monday, September 7th, 2009 at 9:30 AMBy BellaNaija.com
This weekend I decided to see the new movie, District 9.
I had heard that this was one of the first major Hollywood/South Africa collaborations and as ‘Lord of the Rings’ producer Peter Jackson was heavily involved in the movie, this made it seem even more appealing. Plus, trailers for the movie had been running for a few months now and my curiosity had been teased. So on Sunday night, I dragged my significant other for a trip to the cinema. Little did I know that I was in for than I expected.
*Minor Spoilers Ahead*
District 9 is a ‘documentary style’ movie about aliens arriving in South Africa and the chaos that ensues after their arrival. The aliens are housed like refugees in a slum called ‘District 9’. As with any slum, they have a set of hoodlums, a set of mindless thugs that run the seedy underbelly and guess what they are ‘NIGERIANS’!!
As we sat in the movie theatre, a scene opened and we see a bunch of dirty and crass criminals negotiating all sorts of criminal behaviour with the aliens.
In the documentary style of the movie, one of the characters being interviewed goes on to explain that – allow me to paraphrase – ‘things got worse when the NIGERIANS moved in, they sell guns, they run all sorts of scams, run human-alien prostitution rings, do voodoo/mutu and they are headed by a crimelord they call OBASANJO…..’
Yes, they went there! They named the movie’s ruthless and psychotic crimelord after one of Nigeria’s former Presidents.
I seriously wish I had the visuals to show, it was disgusting!
The audience at the cinema gasped and you could hear some sidetalk all around the theatre – people were quite outraged!
Throughout the course of the movies, the ‘NIGERIANS’ are portrayed extremely negatively. Basically, as ruthless savages! Believe me, it was bad!
Granted, this is a movie but you and I know that for many around the world, pop culture is their ‘school’, Opinions are perceptions are formed around what they see in film and hear in music.
The movie is actually a solid effort but the defamation of Nigerians and Nigeria totally distracted from that.
Some of District 9 'Nigerians' in action
I wonder why a fictitious country was not used, why Nigeria?
I am also very surprised that 3 days after the film’s release in Nigeria, there hasn’t been much of a reaction. I know for sure in China, Germany or other countries which frequently find themselves as the subject of movies or have their citizens frequently portrayed as the villains in movies – there would have been some sort of official position on this or the press would have made more of a fuss. I can’t believe I gave my 1500 naira to a filmmaker that has no respect and regard for me and my people.
We know it is just a movie but believe me, the potential negative impact of a blockbuster movie on Nigeria’s image seriously outweighs any positives that ‘Good People, Great Nation’ ads being flashed on CNN might have.
While we are on this, have you seen the Sony PS3 ad? So it’s so sad that ‘Nigerian millionaire’ is now synonymous with the email scams. Just like Mr. Ponzi will always be associated with ‘Ponzi schemes’ but Ponzi was a career fraudster. Why is all of Nigeria being shoved in the same box?
By the way, Boorish Male saw the movie as well and chose to channel any negativity from the movie into positive energy. See his post HERE
If you saw the movie, let us know your feedback. Even if you didn’t, so what are your thoughts on this?
UPDATE:
Nigeria’s Information Minister – Prof. Dora Akunyili’s response
Tags: District 9
I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET…will dash #200 to the mallam on the street and get the pirated version. Shit …lord know my money ain’t going to that bullshit. Is there anything that can be done? Can these guys be sued by an upright nigerian citizens coalition? And yes why could they not have used a fake country like ‘ZAMUNDA’….the Obasanjo thing is even a last straw. If the used George Bush, I know how my american brothers and sisters would react…..BOYCOTT the damn film
they just love painting us….is really crazy how they potray nigeria and nigerians in this cruel and disturbing manner,i think our media should wake up too..these people saying crap about nigeria havent been to africa talkless of coming to nigeria..they re all ignorant and stupid people.
I don’t think you realise only a few Nigerians were portrayed in this film, that being ganglords and gangmembers, not the whole Nigerian population… are you telling me they don’t exist because i’m pretty sure they do. What a shame you can’t enjoy the film because of this, i didn’t let the portrayal of greedy, racist and exploitative whites ruin it for me.
Honestly speaking…Nigeria is hardly ever portrayed good in most foreign movies. The Americans enjoy antagonizing any country that has some measure of strength in them…It went on from Germany,to Russia, to Iraq…well Nigeria too. If they didn’t find us interesting, they wouldn’t bother about us.
Not seen the movie yet but I am not going to be bothered about their depictions of Nigeria. Nobody bothers about something that is of little interest to them. We rock and they know!!!!
My little say on this one?These “whities” will never consider us, they’re just expanding that hate they have always had for black people and it’s not that really suprising.I think we just have to start portraying them in ours movie too.
These useless americans, are they not a shame of themself look at maddof that steal everybody money up to 65billion dollar, i have never see any nigeria that have steal that kind of money, also talking about internet fraud amerians they are no 1 in the world, americans should first settle their house before talking to nigerians they are also bunch of asshole both america and sony, all the dangerous things in the world they are all in america and south africa what is that useless south africa man talking about. boycott the damm film and sony. Is only nigeria that have the right to talk to their leader the way we like, an outsider don’t have the right, becos their leaders and their countries is not perfect.
To Matt below, I haven’t seen the movie, but if the leader of all the Nigerian criminals was called Obasanjo then the intentions of the movie-makers are pretty damn transparent. Granted I know that Nigerian-run crime rings are a huge problem for South Africa, especially in Johannesburg – the Nigerian quarter is one of the most dangerous parts in the city – but as Bella said, an outright denunciation of a country, using its former President too, is incredibly disrespectful and says a lot about the director’s motive to speak in ‘covert’ tones about Nigeria as a whole.
I have not seen the movie (not out where I am at the moment) but I can sympathise with the feelings expressed in the article.
I do have a question though, echoeing Matt’s comments above, are you of the belief that there isn’t a tiny element of truth?
Whilst I acknowledge that the majority of NIgerians are law abiding, honest, hard working and fun (have that joie de vivre about them), I have had interactions with some who go out of their way to perpetuate the myth about Nigerians being scammers, etc. But then again, you can put that down to there being good and bad people.
Perhaps when South Africans first watched Tsotsi, they did not like it because of what it portrayed.
It’s sad that often, the negative aspects of certain characters of some areas are portrayed as ‘gospel truth’ but let’s not lie to ourselves that these things don’t happen.
The fact that a real country was used in this movie should cause outrage by citizens of that country. The name of a real country, and the name of a former president? That’s taking it too far.
Whether or not the types of personalities portrayed exist in the named country, it is still unconscionable. Nigeria is not the only country that has such people. A fictitious country would have been good enough.
I’m sure the movie did not label these bad people as a “few Nigerians.” They were labelled as Nigerians, and we don’t need more of bad publicity than we already have.
knawa oh,this movie is a must see as people are vexn,boorish now bella..hmm
we must indeed deal with them in the best way we can,pscheww,mumu white people,dont they just stink
Like seriously I wrote about this last week on my blog and saw the Ad the week b4. I am surprised that Bella you are just getting to this now. but its okay aleast if we all join our voices..writing online maybe we can make enuf buzz about this nonsense called advert.
off couse there is an element of truth but that doesnt mean it should be used in movies and ads to ridicule us especially the hardworking and honest people.It doesnt make it right and it is not up to another country to be pointing that out in a fucking movie and ad campaign.If AT ALL another country wants to tell us the gospel truth they should fucking wait for a world summit and decently point out our flaws and then go ahead proscribe solutions to them. I saw district 9 and i was disgusted!They kept on referring to “Nigerians” so many it was like the writers did it on purpose to discredit us.
Yes we do have dubious people, we have crazy and selfish leaders but what country doesnt have that.Look at America, shebi it was the selfish wall street folks that caused the recession, about the thousands of Americans that hack into accounts of individuals and stores to steal credit card details, identity fraud nko, it occurs everyday in united states,serial killing nko?The ponzi scheme by Bernard Madoff nko? As in this people should give me a fucking break which country doesnt have scoin scoin (shout out to Mr.Fine boy)…
then go ahead to proscribe solutions to them
Matt you obviously are not Nigerian…
perhaps it is also because of the on going wahala btw S.Africans and Nigerians living in SA…In recent times many Nigerians have immigrated there and i know that recently there was an outcry against it…. so maybe this is all tied to it…who knows!!!
Sometimes I don’t understand Nigerians. All day everyday, I listen to fellow Nigerians bashing Nigeria, the government and its people. Now that others are taking notice, we are all up in arms about how unfair it is.
Though I don’t agree with some of the portrayals, I will say that what has been said about Nigeria in the American media is nothing that I have not heard before from the mouths of Nigerians themselves.
Also, I have seen district 9- and yes, the portrayal of Nigerians in that movie is questionable. If Nigerians don’t want others bashing them, then we should all try our best to address many of out nation’s shortcomings.
Lets not be in denial. And don’t act like you don’t complain about Nigeria all the time, because I can almost be certain that most of you have- yes, myself included.
Also, what the hell is with the Nigerian government writing a letter to Sony about the fact that they should pull the advertisement? Like, really- talk about displaced priorities! There are many bigger issues that the government should be addressing but fail to,yet, they are quick to issue a statement to SONY. Again, displaced priorities on the part of the government.
BTW- Nigerians everywhere can rejoice (I guess). SONY has changed the commercial and excluded the bit about “being a Nigerian millionaire”.
Doesn’t change the fact that there are many more important issues still facing Nigeria that the government will continue to ignore. Just shameful…
It’s a shame Nigeria is being portrayed like this I must admit. In all honesty though it isn’t like Nigeria has the most peachy clean international image in the 1st place. What we have got to understand is that when some people think about Nigeria their only conception or preconception about the country is bribery, fraud and overwhelming corruption (the usual really). Its very sad but is something we have to deal with and keep trying to change (because I know we are trying). I highly doubt this is the 1st and well surely not be the last time our country will be presented in this light especially in Hollywood. As for the depiction of us Nigerians in South Africa as mindless thugs it really is indeed a shame that a small number of Nigerians in South Africa can have such a negative effect on all of us as a whole. I guess all we can really do, especially those of us who are in Diaspora is to try and continue to promote ourselves positively in the best way we can, and make the international community and the Hollywood big dogs eat their words (and preconceptions) and realise what a great nation we are.
I’ll be buying a pirated copy of District Nine and will probably follow it up with a scathing review.
I just bought a PS3, and i really like that AD.
This is great news. I called their PR team last week at the corporate headquarters and threatened to do more harm than they can imagine if this was not fixed ASAP. I presume other Nigerians did the same.
A step further would be to remove the video on youtube and other social media sites. If everyone writes to youtube to take it down esp. since Sony has now removed video, they most likely will.
Cheers,
Uduak
I also complained to Sony and I’m glad they took the ad down
Yes, I often express my dissatisfaction with my country but it doesn’t give anyone else the right to do so. Why?Because, it is my freaking country and am aware of our struggles and challenges, and yes, triumphs that others don’t understand!
Nigerians(including the government) spend enough on Sony products and equipment to be able to object to such a portrayal. The company doesn’t think it’s a Nigerian millioniare when it’s collecting Nigerian money, right? It was a joke, but a misplaced one. They have removed the Nigerian part from the ad, and their message is still being delivered.
You speak of Nigerians putting Nigeria down, so what? I can call my mum on her faults in the family but it is not in anyone else’s place to do same. EVERY country has issues, dealing with them internally is NOT a free pass for people to take the piss. As for South Africa, all I’ll say in those in motherf@$ki@g glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Why weren’t the aliens called Afrikaaners? EEjits
Who says the ad has been taken down? I just saw it on tv, 2mins ago (fox 5,east coast).
wow!!!glad we have so many proactive people in our midst….we really are a great people…most as with most things negative always pevails!!
I saw it too like 2 days ago. I’m also on the east coast…can’t remember the channel. To be honest, these people don’t care as long as no one does anything. I can confidently tell you that if our government stands up and says something about it…loudly, they WILL pull those ads COMPLETELY…and fast! No one wants a lawsuit on their hands. Is it not the US again? Here anything goes…as long as the other party is ok with it. But you know the kind of government we have now, they are busy holding going all over the US holding owambe “re-branding” parties.
i really dont see what is wrong with the sony advert. Listen to the ad fully, dont just stop and vex when u hear ‘nigerian. The guy was just talking about e-mails and lies [which r very synonymous with nigerians...].
To be candid, it is okay for kelly abi is it kevin handsome to sing maga don pay and olu maintain to sing yahoozee, all them songs glorifyn ‘yahoo yahoo’ and we dance bcos the joke was on them…well its on us, and one that has being a long time coming.
Lets stop whining and do something about improving the image! signing petitions to take the advert off tv doesnt change people’s opinion.
i havent seen district 9, but i’m most def not watchn it in a cinema, i fit vex scatter d place! lol!
I wonder the idiot that came up with such an asinine idea… geez!
whatever!!! if we really care about our image then we should do something about it already and stop whining. the average nigerian thinks the international media is painting us black and focus on the bad but really, you cant blame them when the bad outweighs the good.
the whole world looks up 2 us as d giants of africa as we boost but we keep disappointing in every aspect. its good they are painting us our true colour so we can finally sit up.
Seriously, I was soooo looking forward to this movie cos as a sci-fi fan, it marked a departure from meaningless monsters and nihilistic grunge crap to sci-fi films that seek to stimulate intelligent discourse by taking on loaded issues and depicting them onscreen to provoke positive change.
Now, I’m sadhappy. Why? Cos they’ve gone and taken our Nigerian issues and placed them squarely in the cross-hairs.
Filmmakers like Neill Blomkamp take on the tough issues and basically point their finger in the faces of those who stick their heads in the sand and say to us: “Yeah, I said it! Yeah I went there! Change or sue me!!”
In once sense, the growing media spotlight on all things Nigerian (from american tv series to ads to hollywood movies) is an embarrasment. But then again, on the other hand it might just be the kick in our collective behinds that we all need to force change. Abi?
ps… been following your blog for awhile Bella. Love its evolution. I thiink it is definitely becoming a crucial piece of the puzzle that is Nigeria’s solution.
About the advert, so true! Nkem Owoh sang “I go Chp your dollar” and Yahooze and the likes have been in the airwaves and accepted y Nigerians so we can’t complain.
I’m sad about the commercial but we called it on ourselves. Our young men and leaders.
Next time tell we should tell our boyfriends, brothers, cousins doing yahoozee to quit. Or tell your corrupt fathers to quit corruption and make Nigeria ‘honest.’
But most Nigerians in South Africa sell drugs, do scams, counterfeit dollars and run prostitution rings…The movie is pretty much true-life only a bit exagerrated. My South African friends in America are appalled by the way Nigerians have messed up Joburg. And our leaders are corrupt no doubt so its easy to conclude that both rich and poor, educated and uneducated are a bunch of nasty aliens.
Truth hurts! I think its about time we do something to fix not only our imag but our behavious in other countries.
As honest as I have been, my green passport in the airport is enough to constantly embarass me through extra searching and scrutiny even in Thailand!!!! We have a bad image but its deserved.
Hello…? Nigeria used to be the 30th richest country in the world per head of population, now its nearly a failed state on the verge of civil war. Stop whinging about what the world says about you and clean your act up. Instead of whining about the names you get called why not do something in your own backyard and throw out the corrupt politicians, get back to the rule of law and make your country great. You have immense resources, both in minerals and people, but take a look in the mirror. Is this a nation to be proud of?
…the decent Nigerian tries to portray a good image whenever they can but when the media is constantly in our face how will the positive ever shine through? they are so bent on focusing on d negative all the freaking time…
There are times i talk about how retarded and annoying my brother can be to my friends..yeah its my brother i am allowed to say it..but God help any of my friends if they refer to my brother in the same manner….that’s the same way i feel about Naija…yes we are allowed to complain about our country but wetin consign Hollywood director!!!
Sorry but I don’t see what the big deal is. I think we Nigerians have much more important things to MAKE NOISE ABOUT (corruption, bank failures, govt that is asleep at the wheel, #lightupnigeria, ASUU strike) than a silly Sony commercial and a movie (I liked District 9 … great movie and no Hollywood faces … what a relief).
U wanna burn some time do it talking to your leaders … not the marketing department at Sony.
True Talk.
Yes we have issues like every other country on earth (including the US)…the only problem is nobody is addressing them. Madam info minister should be able to address this issue because we shouldn’t take it like just another hollywood movie. it’s not like the US has such a squeaky clean image as they so like to portray and as every desperate Nigerian likes to believe. I won’t go as far as to say they should apologize to us because they won’t and nobody will enforce it ‘cos most of our leaders are such doormats. Do you really think they would have the nerve to call a crime lord in any movie ‘putin’? that’s what we get for being nationals of a liverless country.
you really dont have clue…
@bella & boorish its a good thing you guys see the problem and recognise it…so where do we go from here, how do we make an impact as concerned nigerians to prevent this from reoccuring?
i say, we agree to blacklash the movie all over the web and write a petition. its sounds over ambitious but really consider our population and the number of people online…anything is possible
plus the movie should be banned in nigeria, by our information minister (Dora), because its goes frustrates all her efforts
I am beyond pissed…..from what I hear, Sony has decided to pull the ad with the derogatory comment and then replace it with another one. This was in response to an online petition signed by many Nigerians. I have not seen District 9 and will definitely NOT be seeing it after this. If we don’t take a stance as a people, we will continue to the butt of more tasteless jokes, ads, movies etc. I think I have steam coming out of my ears!!!
am sure they can be can be sued
I AM A NIGERIAN WHAT ARE WE COPLAINING ABOUT. I LOVE WHAT SONY DID, WHY? BECAUSE WE NIGERIANS IS LAZY, DESTRUCTIVE, CAWRADS, CORRUPT AND CRIMINAL. WHAT SONY DID IS INCONVINENT TRUOTH FOR US. I AM LIVING IN UK BELIEVE YOU ME THE WAY WE NIGERIANS COMMUNITY ARE LOOKING FOR MONEY IS DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER COMMUNITY. NIGERIANS IS INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT TYPE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES FROM PRESIDENT TO NURSERY SCHOOL CHILD. IN WHICH I AM A VICTIME OF MY FELLOW HEARTLESS NIGERIANS BOTH AT HOME AND UK. IF COMPLAIN ABOUT WTHAT SONY DID, JUST AHAVE A LOOK IN OUR COUNTARY STUCTURES OUR LEADERS ARE HIGHLY CORRUPT, ALL OUR INSTUTIONS HAVE FAILED. NOW KIDNARPING HAS BECOME DAILY NEWS. THERE IS NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE. SO FIGHT TO CHANGE OUR IMAGE. BECAUSE PEOPLE IN OTHER SIDE OF
Anayo,
I doubt if you are trully a Nigerian and that you live in UK. Your post shows how far from the point you are! I guess you are also running around the streets of UK snatching credit cards and passports as you could not write a single correct sentence. The point the writer is making is that you cannot defame a whole nation and demonize their democratically elected leaders because they happen to have a high percentage of fraudsters in their country. Indians and Lebanese and other Asians are perpetrating all kinds of crimes in Nigeria but does that give anybody any right to insult the whole Indian or Lebanese nations and insult their leaders? Of course no! These firms are supposed to be fictitious but using the name of real country and their former leader in the way described in District 9 is outrageous and needs to be condemned and if possible take some serious actions against the firm makers and Sony. I hate Obasanjo as a person but he was our leader and one of very few Africans to relinquish power peacefully albeit reluctantly but he deserves some respect.
Anayo or what you call yourself, are you sure that you were not a victim of your own waywardness? From the way you express yourself i wonder if you ever went to school or you are really living in UK. I do not support crime but I do not as well appreciate anyone deliberately denting the image of Nigeria and Nigerians. There are worst criminals everywhere including your so called UK and if Nigerians are doing whatever, mind you that they are not alone in such crimes. Citizens of whichever country are involved. You talk of corrupt leaders in Nigeria,what about UK? have you been listening to news or maybe you don’t have a radio or TV. Please, be objective next time you want to express yourself. Yes, it is true that our brothers and sisters are into such crimes but that is not a reason for anyone to make a public nuisance of entire Nigeria and Nigerians.Nigeria is bigger than you as an individual.Not all countries will take that lightly including your UK.
I must say that i have read a lot of the comments here and felt compelled to comment (this is my first time commenting on bella naija…i do love the site by the way)
First things first, i did not get the impression that the writer claimed that we Nigerians have a squeaky clean image. We all know that we are plagued by corruption et al.
Granted, but that does not give anyone the right to use it as an ad or to make a movie (of which the movie stoops so low as to even use Obasanjo’s name…come on!!)
And then to make matters worse you have some people posting here saying we deserve it? its not about deseved, its about the morality behind it..No one can do that to America or Britain or some of the strong countries of the west…there will be an outrage…and its not because these countries are corruption free (i once read, that it took Texas, a city in the USA, 90years to get rid of ‘open corruption’..even with simple things as dissing a fellow musician or using fur to make a bag, people go on demontrations which lead to the decline in sale of such items…bottom line is action is taken..whether we blog from now till the end of the world, its not gonna take corruption away and as long as you have a green passport (and no other alternative like me) we need to make things work. so in summary
1. dont side with foreigners when they diss your country because YOU WILL NEVER be part of them..even if you control all their shares in their top companies…they will smile in your front and hiss at your back
2. United we stand, divided we fall
3. Stop complaining and do something…we dont need a rocket scientiest to tell us that the country is pretty messed up..but because of a few people we keep moving forward even if its at a snail’s pace (God bless those that brought cinemas to nigeria which helped someone to watch district 9 lol). its little drops of water that make up the ocean (or maybe little buckets lol). if you cant do anything at least PRAY
4. Be one of the few Nigerians to set a good example…i am not corrupt and by God’s grace i will never be.
If all u wanna do is sit and complain, then start migrating to TOgo, Ghana and the West, because needless to say, our unborn children will be screwed!
God bless Nigeria
Abegi, Obasanjo deserved what he got and wished he got more but the fact that the entire Nation was categorized as such is really sumthing we all av to worry about and try come together to kick out all the old BASTARDS in power out and take over so we can spell out a well meaning and positive image for this once great nation of ours.
Some people on here sound so unintelligent with their statements and so annoyingly unpatrotic its amazing….I can bet its those who live in Naija and dont know what wahala lies ahead due to these negative portrayal of our Country..Its totally disrespectful for Sony which has a huge market in Naija and the shallow producers of District 9 to blatantly call Nigeria and a past leader into their mess…no doubt things are wrong but I beg to say thats not peculiar to Nigeria…Its high time some of the government officials call out the producers of that nonsense called a movie and to think they have the effontery to air it in Nigeria…the heights of Disrespect. I looked for the official webpage of the producer but couldnt get it..That being said though, I think its also a wake up call for we Nigerians ourselves to mend our ways…a yoruba saying is “Ti e o ba rin ni bebe iro, won o ni puro mo yin” This means literally If you dont walk in shady paths, no one can tell lies against you…If we do not act in terrible ways, these cant be pinned on us…Every individual should make up their minds to act right and perhaps, Nigeria would be a better place.. Naija O ni baje o!!!! God bless Nigeria!
you really couldn’t have said this better! good job!!