Cultural Diplomacy and National Development: A Study of the Nigerian Entertainment Industry

Recent scholarship in international relations, particularly foreign policy discourse has focused attention on the increasing interface between cultural diplomacy and national development. This has become necessary in view of the growing level of involvement of individuals and institutions other than traditional diplomats in promoting diplomacy across different societies and sectors. Indeed, unlike formal diplomacy, cultural diplomacy has become a subtle method of engagement in contemporary international relations. It is on this score that this study investigates how cultural exchanges in the Nigerian entertainment industry engender development of that key sector. The study argues that the Nigerian artistes are not just singers or actors but are also representatives of Nigeria who act as pseudo-ambassadors by projecting Nigeria and Africa in their works, thus attracting development to the country and the continent. The study uses both primary and secondary data alongside a detailed historical, analytical and descriptive method to test the impact of the Nigerian entertainment industry on Nigeria‟s national development. Findings indicate that, while cultural diplomacy promotes Nigeria‟s image and international cooperation, it also enhances national development with income gotten from foreign investors and tourists. The study concludes that cultural diplomacy is a valuable, indeed, vital tool for Nigeria to win more friends, get international support, boost its economy and arrive at internal development. It recommends that, cultural values should be taken seriously and regarded as equally important as political and economic structures, as it is a major selling point for many advanced economies. Furthermore, adequate and substantial funding should be channelled to the preservation and development of the Nigerian culture