How Naija Movies Offer Kenyan Housemaids Meaning and Hope

In many Kenyan households, domestic workers often remain unseen and overlooked, with few opportunities for personal growth. 

However, Nigerian Nollywood films have become an important source of comfort and inspiration for these women, offering emotional support, moral lessons, and a vision of better futures. A recent study conducted in Eldoret, western Kenya, highlights the significant role Nollywood cinema plays in empowering domestic workers, providing them with a sense of identity and community.

Nollywood first gained popularity in East Africa around the year 2000, quickly building a loyal audience among lower-income communities. Initially shown in informal video halls, these films soon became a staple on Kenyan television, broadcast under the "Afrocinema" banner. Despite modest production budgets, Nollywood films connect deeply with viewers by portraying relatable stories that explore social issues such as poverty, betrayal, and redemption.

The Eldoret study, which is part of a wider investigation into media habits in the region, involved interviews and observations of twelve women, mostly current or former housemaids. These workers often lack formal contracts and job security, and are frequently marginalised within the households they serve, their identities reduced to their labour and largely invisible to society.

Nollywood films offer these women a unique emotional outlet within the homes where they work. The storylines, often reflecting a Cinderella-like narrative, encourage viewers to imagine alternative, more hopeful futures. Tales of orphaned girls who rise from hardship to royalty serve as powerful symbols of hope and resilience. 

One participant, Dina, describes a film in which a young woman rejected by her family discovers her royal heritage. While melodramatic, these stories provide psychological relief. Beyond fantasy, the films also reflect the difficult realities of domestic life. Participants identified storylines involving marital problems, family betrayals, and spiritual renewal as especially relevant and instructive. 

One woman recalls how a film about a prayerful wife helped her through a personal crisis, eventually leading to marriage and renewed purpose. “God had used Nollywood to prepare me for my portion,” she says.