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 Bella
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
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I am particularly amazed that some so called Nigerians could say a fellow human being is Mad or a bastard, just because he feels strongly about what he believes in. A question was thrown to us; if what depicted of us in District 9 isn’t what we watch on our Nollywood movies everyday. Part of the major problems that we have as a country is shying away from the reality. Nigerians should continue to pretend that everything is just Ok. I wonder how many of similar films I had watched, even depicting America in a similar manner, the truth is, an opinion poll of Nigerians on the film will indicate a total indifferent. What is an Alien film gotta do with a hungry, homeless man? We have accepted the grave yard kind of peace for so long. The result is just what we are witnessing; horrible things! Special attention should be given to Korede and Uzo’s comments. We must be sincere with ourselves, we have been fooled by our leaders for too long. Without us accepting our failure I seriously doubt it if we’ll know where to start from.
Say the word terrorist, and the first thing you think of is an Arab,
Say the word Mafia, and the first thing that comes to mind is Italy.
Columbia and drugs, brazil and samba, orientals and “shakpanshoo”.
By and large the activities of the citizens of a nation will define it.
When our ladies run to Italy to prostitute, and send the money home, do we admonish them? No, we say they are hustlers. We turn a blind eye and relatives and family, “collect their own”. When our people make money from scamming embezzlement and corruption, do we condemn them? NO! Instead we give them awards and titles, as long as the “settle us”. We have individually and collectively sold our birthrights, and the right to be angry when people call us name. Almost everywhere Nigerians go a large number (not all mind you) manage to entrench themselves in nefarious activities. Unfortunately human beings will always remember the bad and not the good. And it will always take more of an effort to redeem your image.
Apart from the alien factor, there is nothing in district 9 that is not a staple of our home videos.
Who are we kidding? 99% of our home videos dwell on prostitution, vodoo, using of a loved one for sacrifice in order to procure wealth or power. I challenge anyone to randomly pick any 5 nollywood movies and not find scenes equally horrendous. Oh! So we can feel shame? But only when it is someone else that says what we say to ourselves and know to largely be true?
I was ashamed when i watched the movie (in yankee mind you) but i had to be honest with myself. We all, including the silent honest and hardworking majority brought this on ourselves.
And until every Nigerian wholeheartedly and totally condemns every and any Nigerian when the err, regardless of our relationship with them, and the risk to our benefiting from their “success” we deserve whatever the consequences of our complacency may be.
Pardon some of my grammatical errors and missing punctuation marks, in my earlier comment. I was in a hurry.
Suddenly, we are ‘offended’ Rotflmao! what are we trying to gain here, fame or what? It is high time Nigeria grew up! And this is just the beginning. Since we dont want to wash our durrty linen in the country, it will be spread for EVERYBODY to see.
Listern to Dora akunyili repond to district 9 and Sony ad: thank God
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/2009/09/090919_district9.shtml
It’s not Defaming if its TRUE … and most people agree its TRUE …. so there’s NO Defamation!!! Great Film by Sony – Recommended -5 Stars *****
This is ridiculous! Which people agree its true. Canabalism, prostitution with Alien? Maybe where you come from it is true.
If you dont believe me then go to:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_scam
All internet access to Nigeria and Nigerians should be cut until they can demonstrate their honesty and integrity!
i read most of the post and all i can say is little wonder the country is the way it is. I dont think there is a single country in this world that doesnt have it’s downside even South Africa. But its kind of pitiful when someone throws dust in your face and the peps in your home say well there was dust there anyway. Economic development begins with nationalisim, thinking as one, if this is the picture painted of us by some movie and some Nigerians say it’s Okey…. then i have to ask if they are really Nigerians. No matter how bad your country is….stand up and fight for it…that what makes the difference between us and developed economies. Who says they dont have their skeletons, but i dont hear them saying yes the do and it is okey for somone to insult them. Nigeria is not perfect but it is still my country and i have chosen to stand up for it for better or worse and if i die trying at least i am better than all those of you who havent done anything but complian. I support whatever actions the government takes against sony at least it a statement that we wont stand this kind of slander. To the person who spoke about Yahooze and and i go chop your dollar, if i can recall i go chop your dollar was ban not because europeans or americans spoke against it but because the government felt it was wrong. Also be reminded the financial crime is bilateral, you should read some of those scam mails and honestly tell me if the recievers themselves are not courrupt, knowing fully well that the content of such mail. Nigerians sell drugs to who and where…..? Because drugs are not that common in Nigeria however i cant say the same for South Africa
This is exactly how i feel.
Thank you for your post.
i agree. chinese and indians who are taking over the world will NEVER stand for their country to be defamed. DESPITE all the horrible things that go on there (forced abortions, child marriage, bride burning, killing of girl child etc). there are nationalist TO THE CORE. the prob with naija is that our favorite sport is to insult ourselves. even when outsiders insult us we say ‘we must deserve it’ kai. colonisation of the mind is reaaaalll
This is no doubt a very serious problem. If i must say the truth,we are the root cause of this stereotype that is making a true Nigerian angry. Daily,i receive not less than 15 e-mails from scammers. Tell you what? The authors of these scam-mails are even so dumb to let the intended recipient know that they’re from Nigeria with Nigeria mobile numbers. I get pissed off when i get these emails and wish i could just lay my hands on the authors and kill them for dragging our name in the mud.Our leaders are terrible,but must that now change who i am? Must i robb because the leaders are bad? Must i become a fraudster? The answer is NO. Please,i know it hurts to see these things in movie and even in real life situations but we are the root cause of our problem.The government refused to do things right despite the love of God for that country with the abundance of both natural and human resources.
FYI!! Nigerians are the ones getting slained by SA gangsters in South Africa. Yeah naija dudes run a lot of bad stuff over there but believe me its not up to half of what those SA dudes are capable of… The hate Naija dudes up there with passion… and not because of our image or whatever… but for no reason. I’ve been there, so I know!! But about district 9, its been happening and its going to continue to unless nigerians either protest this or change. Check out lost, tears in the sun and a shit load of other movies… same stereotype!
I think this the representation of nigerians is very true and realistic. Its a country full of scammers, cheats, liars and lazy africans dabbling in voodoo and which doctery. Well done sony!
you are not even educated and you dare to comment. what on earth is witch doctery? honey you’ve been watching too many movies….sicko
You certainly must be a mad person. I am convinced beyond doubt that you’re not a Nigerian and i wonder what you’re fucking doing here. If by any chance you’re a Nigerian,you must be a bastard.Much as we know these things happen in our country,does that indicate that it’s every one in the country that are gangsters,fraudsters,armed robbers? To hell with you for stereotyping Nigeria and Nigerians.
@ mat… u’re a sick bastard, your Mother must have banged an alien (or at least something less than human) to have given birth to a hopeless creature like disgusting yourself) its obvious u’re suffering from extreme complex, there was absolutely nothing artistic (or true) about the portrayal of Nigerians in that movie, it was just obviously racist…
Do we think Nigerians don’t make life difficult for other nationales even in their own countries? So what are we talking about? All these are tactics by the developed world are to save their people from Nigerians’ fraudulent moves. Come to think of it, is Sony not a profit- making organisation, always wanting to maximize their profit? Despite the market oppurtunity in Nigeria, they stake their profit -making potential because of NIgerian fraudsters. This perhaps means the damage Nigerians (will ) do to their biz is more than the huge profit they(will) make in Nigeria. I don’t blame this people. It is just natural to want to protect ones country/biz from criminals ,especially when they are foreigners – people you have given the opportunity to leave a better life.
all this nigerian guys pushing an holier than thou attitude, the fact is that we have our issues, but they are still ours to solve, not for fools to start dissing us about it. do you think you will get special preference when out of the country cos you support out haters? no, you are still frking nigerian..so come off that attitude and offer reasonable help to your country in your own capacity, see you talking as if you were half-cast or a foreigner..long hisss.
I definitely agree with you. I saw d movie wiv my husband and we were extremely offended. I think my husband took it more 2 heart than I did and d craziest part is dat he’s not even Nigerian. He’s Puerto Rican. I know our country is f***ked up but dat doesn’t give anybody especially a non-Nigerian d rite 2 slander us. It is definitely unaccpetable. Let’s not 4get dat it’s d resources 4rm our country dat has helped our countries grow. Our leaders are crooks, and yes, we kno dat. Does dat mean d rest of d country folks are crooks as well? Alien prostitution? R u freakin’ kiddin me? How ridiculous is dat? And 4 those of u who think it is ok 4 an outsider 2 talk mad junk about u, damn! Wat a freakin’ shame! It’s cuz o’ silly comments like dat dat gives ammo 2 outsiders 2 talk crap about us. Where is d togertherness? Is it cuz America is gud @ hiding their crap? I live in d States and it ain’t gud like they make it out 2 be when I was kid growin up in 9ja. U c all dat shit in music videos and u think it’s all gud….Nah! It ain’t! Don’t be fooled. @ d end of d day, even if my husband is not Nigeria and I don’t reside in Nigeria @ d moment, I will 4eva be proud 2 be a Nigerian. Take it or leave it. I don’t give 2 f**ks!