Jonathan Haynes

Jonathan Haynes is a Professor of English at Long Island University, specializing in African studies, film, and postcolonial literature. He has been a pivotal figure in analyzing Nollywood cinema and its socio-cultural implications since the 1990s, with affiliations spanning institutions like the University of Nigeria-Nsukka and the University of Cologne.

• B.A., McGill University
• M.A., Yale University
• Ph.D., Yale University

Haynes' research bridges English Renaissance literature with contemporary African cinema, focusing on themes like neoliberalism, transnational capitalism, and cultural globalization. His work explores how Nollywood films reflect and reshape Nigerian urban life, economic structures, and diasporic identities.

His publications highlight the evolution of African screen media, emphasizing the interplay between informal economies and global trends. Articles span from 1994 to 2019, documenting the transformation of Nollywood and its influence on African cinematic narratives.

• Guggenheim Fellowship
• Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowships
• Lagos Studies Association Distinguished Scholar Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Nigerian Film Corporation
• Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency

Haynes has taught at multiple universities, served as founding director of the West African Center of LIU Global, and contributed extensively to African cinema scholarship through editorships, conferences, and collaborative research with scholars like Onookome Okome.