IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 19, Issue 1, Ver. X (Feb. 2014), PP 01-08 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 1 | Page Home Video Films and Grassroots’ Relevance in Nigerian Political Process 1 Alawode, Sunday Olayinka (Ph.D), 2 Sunday, Uduakobong 1,2 AdebolaAdegunwaSchool of Communication, Lagos State University, 21 Olufemi Street, Off Nathan St, Surulere - Lagos Abstract: The Nigerian home video films have been used to address a myriad of existing and emergent problems because of its distinctiveness and popularity;as a popular art in Nigeria, this study was undertaken to investigate the consideration of the grassroots in the Nigerian political process from the eye of the home videos. The theoretical framework employed was agenda setting with content analysis as the method of research. The results reveal that the grassroots are not given credence as a key factor in the films except as means to justify the ends of the political class and players in the political process. The roles of the grassroots in the political arena are mostly depicted significantly as thugs, assassins, villains, prostitutes and others who are involved in different kinds of undesirable practices and vicious acts. Such portrayals could be contributory to politics often being described as ‘a dirty game’ with the grassroots increasingly having apathy to political processes and creating the divide of ‘them’ and ‘us’; where ‘them’is the political class and ‘us’ being the grassroots. Key Words: Grassroots, Home Video, Political Process I. Introduction The home video is a narrowcast medium through which a desired audience can be reached by means of television and drama (acting); it is a thriving medium (undertaken by the Nigerian film industry popularly called (Nollywood) which seem to be overtaking celluloid through its offerings (ibid).The home video has become a popular information and entertainment medium all over the world (Alawode, 2010). Popular opinion based on UNESCO (2007) report holds that the Nigerian film industry, which is dominated by home videos is currently rated second in production of films after Bollywood (India) and over Hollywood (America). By implication, Nigerian films (home videos) are widely watched. The home video is a medium of communication which many individuals, people and organizations can utilize for different purposes, advantages and disadvantages (Alawode & Sunday (2013). The films are produced in different languages including English and Yoruba – sometimes subtitled in English (which seems to rank as high as the English productions in terms of volume) and into the market. The home video phenomenon in Nigeria is widely accepted because of its indigenous contents and ability to address issues relevant to a mass audience. Through the amalgam of Nigerian (African storylines) and western technology, the films depict and recreate socio- political and cultural events that occur within and beyond the country‟s borders. The prices of the films range from 100 Naira to 400 Naira (less than $1.00 to about $2.50) depending on the age of the film. This is affordable to most people including children and the not- so- rich. Being affordable to all and sundry in the Nigerian society, its offerings should expectedly reach and meet the needs of every person as well as answer salient questions as they provide information to enable the populace take political decisions as they get involved in the political processes. The Problem According to Jorum (2003), the media can be defined as including all aspects of the transmission of cultural, social and political values. Mass communication include: radio and television, which home video is identified with. Most people are not closely involved with politics so communication of ideas and information has to be taken by other means; the media is essential for effective function of society. Nwosu (1991:94) on his part adds that all the functions of any political system such as – Nigeria‟s political socialization and recruitment, interest articulation, interest aggregation, rulemaking, rule application and rule adjudication – are performed by means of communications. He further asserts that the mass media have been found to be especially useful in performing the political socialization and mobilization functions in Nigeria and other countries. Prior to the prominence of widespread television (media) coverage of political processes and activities in Nigeria, only the elites, the enlightened and the sophisticated were privileged to have diverse media exposure through which they obtained information, especially on political issues and subsequently relayed same to others. Political information was not as widespread as in today‟s age of technology; wherever people are on the face of the earth, they can be effectively informed on every kind of issue as they may desire. Knowledge of political processes and activities are no longer restrictive to any particular group of people due to barrier in communication. The