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Physically-challenged, Orphans and Street Psychopaths in Gospel Video Films
Media and Communication Review   |   Vol: 6 ,   No: 1
. . Yinka Alawode, Omolade Sanni & Stephen Fatonji
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  • First Published (print): Mar 01, 2021

  • Submitted : Nov 16, 2023


Abstract

Usually considered as less-privileged in the society, abandoned, rejected and dejected, the physically challenged, orphans, and street psychopaths are looked down upon, deprived of basic rights and, often without means to attain the ladder of accomplishments seemingly available to the average persons in the society. Cultural inhibitions, absence of technological aids and facilities (ramps), non-existence of special care funds/policies, non-availability of healthcare facilities and welfare as well as religion and intolerance are just some of the societal inhibitions denying these categories of individuals referred to as the minority groups (including albinos, the helpless sick, all beggars and widows amongst others) access to basic things of life such as food, clothing and shelter and, forcing them to the streets as urchins, beggars, hangs-on, dependants looked down upon as never-do-wells, threats to life, security risk and dregs of the society. These minority groups are individuals in society but socially speaking, their humanity has been denigrated or reduced to second-class citizenry; their basic human rights denied without redress while the truths about them have been largely swept under the carpet with large majority in the society looking in the other direction. This study using the gospel video film platform, examines the reflections of these categories of individuals in Nollywood, the celebrated Nigerian cultural art and successful film industry with a view to ascertain their placement or displacement in the religious offering of popular cultural entertainment. Content analysis of 30 gospel video films from Mount Zion Films Productions (2010 - 2018) is used for the study while availability sampling is adopted to select the tapes because of their short life span. Date of film, duration, context, location, appearance, family relationships, language, work, issue at stake, home, marriage, dressing, lives (normal or abnormal), situation, violence, resolution, among others, constitute the content categories of the study while appearance of any of the three groups constitutes the unit of analysis. Results indicate that majority of the minority groups in the movies were portrayed in less dignified manners, pity and inadequate care. The portrayal of the minority groups in the gospel movies is a reflection of the true situation in Nigeria and most underdeveloped nations with little or no social welfare for the sick, orphans and street psychopaths. The results of this study have promise for both policy and social action in all societies of the world concerning dealings and focus on the minority groups highlighted in the study, with critical implications for marital and socioeconomic conditions of families.

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  • Published Online: Mar 1, 2021

  • First Published (print): Mar 01, 2021