THE POWER OF VISUAL STORYTELLING IN PRESERVING AFRICAN CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH SEVEN DOORS BY FEMI ADEBAYO

This study examines the role of visual storytelling in the Nigerian film Seven Doors as a means of preserving African cultural identity in a rapidly modernising world. It investigates how cinema serves as a vehicle for transmitting traditional values, beliefs, and practices to contemporary audiences, particularly the younger generation who face the risk of cultural disconnection. The research employs visual analysis to identify and interpret key cultural representations within the film, focusing on elements such as traditional costumes, rituals, ceremonies, spiritual practices, and sacred objects. The findings reveal that Seven Doors powerfully showcases traditional African leadership structures, portraying the role of oracles, kingmakers, and coronation rituals in legitimising rulers while preserving collective wisdom in governance. The film also presents detailed depictions of African cosmology through ritual sacrifices, consultations with oracles, and the worship of multiple deities, thereby affirming the relevance of traditional religion in modern contexts. Sacred objects such as the Opa Ase staff are highlighted as symbols of concentrated spiritual authority, while traditional healing practices are represented as holistic systems addressing both physical and spiritual ailments. Through the strategic use of costumes, ceremonial objects, and symbolic imagery, the film conveys complex cultural meanings to both older audiences familiar with the traditions and younger viewers encountering them for the first time. This study concludes that visual storytelling in cinema is an effective medium for cultural preservation, offering immersive experiences that transcend verbal and written forms of transmission. Seven Doors stands as a striking example of how film can function as a cultural repository, ensuring continuity of ancestral wisdom while engaging contemporary audiences with authenticity and creative power. Keywords: Visual storytelling, African cultural identity, traditional values, cultural preservation, rituals, African cosmology, cultural heritage.