The Nigerian film industry, aka Nollywood, is the second-largest movie biz in the world, with 500 to 1,000 films going straight-to-video and a nearly $250 million yearly gross. Film production in the African nation, which also boasts a lively music scene, trails India’s Bollywood yet exceeds America’s Hollywood. South African photographer Pieter Hugo recently turned his lens on its actors, portraying typical but haunting Nollywood characters in the Southern Nigerian film production centers of Enugu and Asaba.
The striking results, which are on exhibit in a shows at New York’s Yossi Milo Gallery through April 17 and LA’s Shoshana Wayne Gallery from April 10 though May 29, as well as viewable in a new monograph, published by Prestel, capture demons, vampires, zombies, and murdering midgets on parade.
View a selection of our favorite images here.
Pieter Hugo, Rose Njoku, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008, from the series Nollywood. Digital C-Print, © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Escort Kama, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Obechukwu Nwoye, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Azuka Adindu, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Junior Ofokansi, Chetachi Ofokansi, Mpompo Ofokansi, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Emeka Onu, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Emeka Uzzi, Enugu, Nigeria, 2009 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Gabazzini Zuo, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo John Dollar Emeka, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Pieter Hugo Omo Omeonu, Enugu, Nigeria, 2008 From the series Nollywood Digital C-Print © Pieter Hugo, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York