As part of our International Women’s Month programming, What Kept Me Up partnered with The Nolly Guide for the March edition of Nolly Trivia, a monthly Nollywood-themed trivia night held every first Saturday in Lagos. The event brings together film lovers, and industry stakeholders for a competitive evening of questions and conversations around Nigerian cinema.
For this edition on March 7, What Kept Me Up curated a special trivia round spotlighting overlooked women who have shaped Nollywood across different eras. Alongside the programming, attendees were invited to participate in a short audience survey exploring perceptions of female representation in Nollywood films.
The goal was to gather a small but meaningful snapshot of how engaged Nollywood audiences think about female characters and storytelling.
The survey received 15 responses from attendees, representing roughly half of the audience present that evening, who are mostly female (73%).
Participants were asked a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions covering:
- satisfaction with female representation in Nollywood
- perceptions of who handles female-centred stories best
- what audiences want to see more of in female characters
- memorable female characters in Nollywood films and series
While the sample size is limited, the responses offer insight into the perspectives of a highly engaged Nollywood audience community, with most respondents (73%) noting that they watch Nollywood films weekly.
Key Findings
Audience sentiment on female representation is cautiously positive
Nearly half of respondents (47%) said they are satisfied with the way female characters are portrayed in Nollywood today. However, one-third described their views as neutral, while 20% expressed dissatisfaction.
It suggests a degree of progress, but also indicates that audiences still see room for improvement.
Most respondents believe female directors handle female-centred stories better
Two-thirds of respondents (67%) said female directors are better at telling female-centred stories in Nollywood. A smaller portion (20%) believed male and female directors handle such stories equally well.
The responses suggest audiences perceive a stronger authenticity when women are behind the camera shaping narratives about women’s experiences.
What are the common stereotypes?
When asked which stereotypes of female characters are most common in Nollywood, respondents overwhelmingly pointed to the trope of the “long-suffering wife who accepts an abusive partner,” selected by a majority of respondents (11 out of 15). The second most common response was the “career woman who must choose between love and success,” suggesting that audiences still see Nollywood framing female ambition as incompatible with romance. Other frequently cited stereotypes included the morally questionable “runs girl” and the overly submissive “good wife,” reflecting the moral binaries that continue to shape general characterization in Nigerian films.
Audiences want female characters with greater agency and complexity
When asked what they would like to see more of in female characters and storylines, several themes emerged repeatedly.
Respondents expressed interest in:
- Female characters with greater independence and agency, whose motivations extend beyond romantic relationships. For example, “More agency that doesn’t revolve around men,” “Stories with a lot more focus on how much women can achieve even by themselves without having to beg for love.”
- More nuanced and multidimensional portrayals, rather than archetypes or simplified roles. E.g. “More nuance to female characters,” “Strong dynamic female leads with multiple sides to her.”
- Women occupying narrative spaces Nollywood rarely gives them, including action roles, villains, and dominant protagonists. E.g. “Women villains that don’t end up as a cautionary tale”
- Stories rooted in the lived experiences of Nigerian women, including health issues, friendships, and family relationships. E.g. “Real stories about Nigerian women and how they navigate life,” “Stories about rape victims and women’s health,” “Friendship and mother–daughter relationships,” “Women in their thirties and forties still figuring things out,” etc
Together, these responses point to an appetite for female characters who feel more complex, grounded, and narratively central.
A few characters stand out, but memorable female protagonists remain limited
When asked to name the most memorable well-developed female characters in Nollywood, responses varied widely.
Characters played by Funke Akindele, including Jenifa and her role in A Tribe Called Judah, appeared multiple times. Some respondents also cited more recent television characters such as Wura Adeleke from Wura, the titular Isoken, Kehinde Bankole in Sista, Bimbo Ademoye’s character in Breaded Life, Clara (Rita Dominic) from The Meeting, and Zainab in With Difficulty Comes Ease.
Notably, a few respondents said they struggled to think of a strong example at all, hinting at a continuing gap in widely recognised female protagonists within Nollywood storytelling.
What It Suggests for Nollywood
The responses suggest that audiences are eager for more ambitious storytelling around female characters.
There is clear interest in narratives that move beyond romantic arcs toward stories about ambition, friendship, power, and the complexities of women’s lives. Respondents also showed openness to seeing women occupy genres and roles traditionally dominated by male characters.
While the survey reflects a small sample of engaged viewers, it highlights an ongoing shift in audience expectations, one that filmmakers and studios may increasingly need to consider as Nollywood continues to evolve.
Methodology Note
The survey received 15 responses from attendees at the Women’s Month edition of Nolly Trivia in Lagos, representing roughly half of the audience present that evening. Responses were collected through a voluntary QR-code survey conducted during the event.
Become a patron: To support our in-depth and critical coverage—become a Patron today!
Join the conversation: Share your thoughts in the comments section or on our social media accounts.
