(De)Masquerading the Feminine in Nigerian Cinema: A Comparative Analysis of Gender Performance in King of Boys (2018) and Lionheart (2018)
Conference: ISA 22nd Annual International Conference (2025)
Presenter(s): Osinachi Immaculeta Okafor
Presentation Date: May 14, 2025 @ 17:22 PM
Tags: 2025 Houston Osinachi Immaculeta Okafor Rice University Texas USA
Abstract
This paper examines the representation of feminine masquerade in contemporary Nollywood cinema through a comparative analysis of two female-directed and produced influential films: King of Boys and Lion Heart. Drawing on Janice Morton's theory of feminine masquerade, we investigate how these films depict women's strategic navigation of gender expectations in Nigerian society. The methodology adopted combines visual and textual analysis of the movie with a framework derived from feminist international relations theory, mainly focusing on the intersection of gender, power, and cultural representation in a globalizing context. The study reveals how Kemi Adetigba’s King of Boys portrays feminine masquerade as a temporary strategy for gaining political power; while Genevieve Nnaji’s Lion Heart presents it as a more internalized negotiation between tradition and modernity. Both films challenge conventional gender narratives in Nollywood, offering complex female protagonists who strategically perform and subvert femininity. This research contributes to international studies by illuminating the evolving dynamics of gender performance in African cinema and its implications for understanding societal change in Nigeria. It argues that these cinematic representations reflect broader shifts in gender relations and power structures within globalization and cultural exchange. The findings offer insights into how popular culture mediates and shapes international perceptions of gender roles in non-Western contexts, thus enriching our understanding of the interplay between local cultural productions and global gender discourses.
1 views