Yoruba-English Bilingualism and Cultural Identity in Nollywood Movies: A Sociolinguistic Exploration

Abstract

Traditionally, Nollywood production involved using indigenous languages with English subtitles. However, current trends reflect a shift toward a bilingual and bicultural structure that mirrors Nigeria's multilingual society. This evolution moves beyond simple subtitles to include diverse linguistic strategies, lending a global dimension to urban Nollywood narratives. While scholars have long noted the use of code-switching and code-mixing in indigenous films, there is a distinct rise in productions—particularly in the Yoruba sector—that are strictly bilingual. By deploying English alongside Yoruba, these films capture the socio-economic realities of contemporary urban existence and the challenges of modernity. Consequently, this bilingualism provides insight into the complex sociocultural dynamics of a bicultural society and the unique identities formed within it. Ultimately, this trend reflects the producers' interpretation of modern sociolinguistic realities and introduces new dimensions to the discourse on language ideology within the film industry.