Map the Business of Kannywood: Economics of Northern Nigeria's Film Industry

Kannywood produces hundreds of films a year and has a devoted audience of tens of millions across northern Nigeria, Niger, and parts of Ghana and Sudan. It has its own stars, censorship board, distribution networks, and cultural politics. And yet it is almost entirely absent from the conversations about African film that happen in Lagos, London, and Los Angeles. The economics of Kannywood are poorly documented. Physical DVD sales, which collapsed in most markets, still matter here. YouTube distribution has created some new revenue but also some new piracy. Live events, music tie-ins, and brand partnerships follow different patterns than the southern Nigerian industry. Nobody has published a clear picture of where money enters and exits this system. Your task is to produce a research report that maps the Kannywood business model: primary revenue sources, cost structures for a typical production, distribution channels and their relative value, and the main financial pressures the industry faces. This requires desk research, but it also requires speaking to at least three people with direct knowledge, whether filmmakers, distributors, journalists covering the industry, or viewers who buy and watch the content. Deliver a written report of 2,000 to 3,500 words, supported by a one-page visual map of the value chain (a simple diagram is fine). The report does not need to be exhaustive, but it must be honest about what is known, what is estimated, and what remains unclear. Good work will surface at least one non-obvious finding that challenges the conventional wisdom about this industry.