Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development

This study examined how contemporary African films preserved memory and transmitted indigenous knowledge in a global, digital world. The study used a qualitative method and relied on textual analysis and cultural interpretation. It used two films as case studies: The Figurine by Kunle Afolayan and Taboo directed by Chris Obi Rapu. The paper argued that film was more than entertainment, acting as a repository for collective memory and a reflection of belief systems and moral values. Through story structure, images, sound, and symbols, the films recorded myths, rituals, history, and indigenous worldviews. They also showed the tension between tradition, modern life, and global influence. The analysis showed that The Figurine used Yoruba mythology to explore fate, morality, and human choice in modern Nigeria. Taboo retold childhood memory, folklore, and heroism in an African city shaped by global media. Both films demonstrated that cinema could protect endangered knowledge and showed how this knowledge could be reshaped for today's audience. The paper placed film within the humanities as an alternative archive and highlighted film's role in cultural preservation and knowledge decolonization. It also showed its value for education. Finally, the study added to discussions on the relevance of the humanities in the digital age, and it presented African cinema as an important space for memory, identity, and cultural continuity in the twenty-first century.

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