Documenting Nigerian history through the documentary genre: Jide Olanrewaju’s Naij: A history of Nigeria as paradigm

This study examined the role of documentary films, particularly their functions as means of historical documentation. It delved into the concept and characteristics of documentary films and how they document history; through the lens of Jide Olanrewaju’s Naij: A Historyof Nigeria. This study primarily aimed at exploring the potentialities that documentary films possess in documenting national histories, Nigeria’s in particular. The study contributes to the discourse on national identity and unity by reflecting on shared histories and diverse experiences within Nigeria, thus promoting social cohesion. Plotted within qualitative research parameters, content analysis, a research tool used to determine the presence of certain words or concepts within texts or sets of texts was deployed alongside Use of Documents and Visual Media research tool. This study was anchored in the Genre Theory (GT), a framework used to analyse and categorize films based on shared conventions, themes, and stylistic elements, helping to understand the expectations and cultural significance of different film genres. Findings showed that, documentary films are remarkable tools for documenting history, however, the genre has been significantly underutilized in historical documentation in Nigeria. Consequently, this study critically addressed these issues and proffered recommendations. The conclusion reached is that efforts should be made towards the production and screening of relevant documentary films on Nigeria’s history in primary and secondary schools to provide students with a vivid understanding of their country's true historical background; as this will foster patriotism and the willingness to contribute to nation-building among young Nigerians.