Nollywood is the colloquial name for Nigeria’s booming commercial film industry. A cross-cultural phenomenon, with thousands of films produced each year and billions of dollars circulated, Nollywood films have made a big impact on film history and on African contemporary visual culture.

The industry’s continent-wide cultural influence is precisely what is explored throughout the exhibition. While limited budgets, poorly rendered fake blood, and bizarre manifestations of the classic ‘boy meets girl’ plot are the trademark trifecta of Nollywood films, the audience for these productions is continuously growing. The success of this industry and the release of sequels that extend far beyond the standard 1, 2, & 3 illustrate that there is not only a demand, but also an aff inity, and perhaps even a contribution to the globalisation of aesthetics, particularly those of West Africa.

The title of the exhibition is a tribute to traditional Nollywood titles, at times completely ambiguous and dramatic. Tear My Bra will present photographers who are presently dealing with and working through more conceptual aspects of the Nollywood film industry and culture. The exhibition addresses the Nollywood film phenomenon by analysing and exhibiting the nature of the production and promotion of the fi lms, while delving into their influence and cultural impact.