Nymphoism in Nollywood: Hypersexuality as Cultural Commentary in AnÍkÚlÁpÓ

Student: Ayobami John Akanbi (Project, 2025)
Department of Theatre and Performing Arts
Bayero University, Kano, Kano State

Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of nymphoism—understood here as culturally framed hypersexuality—in Kunle Afolayan’s Nollywood film Aníkúlápó (2022). Using qualitative content analysis and radical feminist theory, the research explores how characters like Saro, Arolake, and Awarun embody hypersexual traits that reflect, challenge, and critique Yoruba societal norms, gender roles, and moral expectations. Saro’s unchecked sexual ambition leads to his rise and fall, while Arolake and Awarun assert female agency in defiance of patriarchal constraints. The film uses sexuality not merely for dramatic tension but as a narrative tool to critique cultural contradictions and gender power dynamics. Mythological elements, particularly the Akala bird and the resurrection gourd, serve as metaphors for power, betrayal, and justice. This study contributes to feminist discourse in African cinema by positioning hypersexuality as a lens for understanding power, agency, and cultural resistance in Nigerian film narratives.

Keywords
nymphoism nollywood hypersexuality cultural commentary
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