Author: The Nation

LILLIAN Okoli’s foray into Nollywood is as interesting as her permanent smiles; a regular feature on her smooth face. Unlike stories of woes that you hear actors talk about when they join the film industry, Okoli’s case is the direct opposite. She had a smooth ride from her first movie in 2011and has continued in such pattern.

Lillian, the most popular of the Okoli sisters in both English and Igbo movies tells SAM ANOKAM in this chat how she had wanted to become a professional footballer until fate had another plan for her also spoke about other interesting issues.

WHAT has been happening to you?

Covid-19. Though we are on set now but I had wanted to produce my movie before the coronavirus pandemic. I was planning to shoot a movie in Germany and Nigeria. The actors in Germany are set to shoot their part and now I am hearing that they want to have their own lockdown. This covid is really affecting our job. I am hoping that this second lockdown will not be like the first. This movie is going to be my second Igbo movie I have produced. I am trying to project the Igbo culture. The story is better interpreted in Igbo. The cast would include Vitalis Ndubuisi, Vincent Opurum, Chinyere Nwabueze, Christy Okonkwo, Kachy Onuoha, Vivian Okoli among others. I assure you that the story is what many movie buffs would love.

What were your early influences while growing up?

Growing up I wanted to be a medical doctor.  First of all, I would have loved to be a footballer. I had to stop when I was in JSS 3 because my father didn’t like it. My father wasn’t pleased with my playing football with boys.  I got admitted to study Cell Biology and Genetics in Unilag unfortunately I didn’t meet up with the cut-off mark for Medicine. I never had intention of acting. It was something I never saw myself doing because I am a shy person. Though I was doing drama in secondary school and church, I never wanted to be an actress.

So, what changed?

The change came when I had my baby and it dawned on me that my relationship isn’t going to work out as in marriage that Genevieve Nnaji came into my head. I got encouraged by her experience as a single mother who against all odds made something wonderful for herself.

I am an independent-minded person who wanted to be somebody in life. I started off when I took the place of somebody who wasn’t available to play a particular role. I was recommended though from somebody in my drama group in church. Before now, I have been approached by top producer Simone to act , I refused. He was surprised when I met him and started acting.

What do you think of feminism?

Whether you like it or not, God has made man head of the family. Feminism is like fighting for a right to be treated equally based on nasty experiences some women go through but in the process some women are abusing that right. They left what they are supposed to be fighting for and are fighting something that doesn’t make sense.  Sometimes, I see them as sadists. They are not happy.  Experiences differ. What I went through may not be what you went through. Sometimes some people give advice based on their own experience which may not be favourable to you but it might be ok for some others.

So far, how many movies have you produced?

When I started producing movies I wasn’t producing with my name. At that time when I started, you might not be getting jobs if it is known that you are producer. So, you use another person’s name to produce though you are the one funding it. The person will also market it with his name.

For now, I have produced six movies.

Can you share any memorable experience in Nollywood?

I didn’t suffer. You know the stress people go through when you come into the industry. I wasn’t stressed. I came in and I was welcomed. I was welcomed from my first job which was ‘Blackberry Season 2 Babes’ till date. Nollywood was like another world entirely different compared from where I was coming from. I was used to a quiet family life. When I joined Nollywood, I met a lot of people from different backgrounds, character etc. at first it was difficult to adapt, later, I got used to the Nollywood life. Honestly, I have sweet memories.

 From when you joined the industry and now, how has it been?

I earn more money now than then but I work more now than when I started.  What makes you more popular is continuity. If you don’t see me in Igbo, you would see me in English movies.

  What are your thoughts about women going into filmmaking, directing, other aspects of moviemaking?

I see it like the way you go to a hair salon and see a guy making hair. Sometimes they make hair better than women. When I see a female DOP or director, it excites me. Some women are tomboys. They like to do some of those things’ guys do. It is a welcome development. I love it.

Apart from acting, what is your other passion?

I still love football. I love dancing.

My late dad who was a die-hard Chelsea fan made me love football. I watched football with him and he used to take me to the national stadium to watch live matches.

What can you make of the ‘Stingy Men Association?’

Stinginess is satanic. Even God is a giver. How can a normal human being be stingy? Stingy people are selfish. When you go out with a bae, there is a limit of money that you can spend. When you present yourself as a big boy and she makes a demand which he cannot meet up with, she concludes that you are stingy. But if you date your level, it will ok. How can you have money and you cannot help people? I can’t even stand them. It irritates me. When you see a stingy guy you will know. If you are stingy and you encounter me your stinginess will go. Anything you see that is trending, there is something attached to it.

 You love tattoo why?

Tatoo for me is fashion. If I am attracted with any design, drawings, quotes etc, I still have space to add more tatoo. For now, I do not have intention of adding more.

What influenced the big one on your back?

That is very precious to me. I have the names of members of my family there. I have to make it look sexy. I have a star and an angel wing protecting my destiny. All my tattoos have meanings.

 How do you get your stuff as popular as you are?

I buy stuff online. Things are easier now. I don’t like going out.

What do you think is the future of Nollywood?

We are getting better. We are getting stronger. There is improvement. We are more organized now than before. Our AGN president is doing a good job. He is reaching out to people. Helping the sick and doing a whole lot of positive things. Before now, people do things on their own. Now we produce better movies.

What is this thing with rituals as theme in many movies?

People write scripts according to what they see around them. If ritual kind of movie is selling, everybody wants to shoot it. That is what is trending. It is just the way bone hair is trending, every lady wants to buy it. When it is gun or love movies, the same thing happens.

People should know that it is just movie just like what we watch on zeeworld, it doesn’t mean that is the way love happens. Even as I agree that the picture you give is what people will see but I cannot be telling them not to produce what is giving them money.

Could you tell us about your love life?

I am in a relationship. I am in love. It is obviously going to lead to the altar but I am not ready for that now. Before I was emotionally unavailable, now I am emotionally available. I don’t want to get married and jump out. I don’t want a failed marriage.

I saw in my guy a friend. A good man. He is not stingy. He knows the real me. Most people don’t know the real me, they only know the lady they see on television.

Honestly, you will fall in love with the real me. Lillian is a happy and lively lady. She is everything you want in a woman.

Any advice to up and coming ones?

I advise them to be humble because I am a humble person. Not that I am trying to praise myself, I have a good heart and I relate well with everybody. There was a secondary school movie I did in the east where I weaved my hair all back. A woman that has been a fan was on that set and she couldn’t believe the way I related with her and others to the extent that she went home telling her family of a supposed different Lillian as against the ‘big chick’ on screen. I was brought up with love. My favourite make-up is smile.

Who is that actor that you have been wanting to act with but have not up to now?

I used to crush on Richard Mofe – Damijo, Ramsey Noah. I would love most to work with Hilda Dokubo. People tell me that I look like her. I grew up having that Hildah tag. I have once spoken to her on phone through the late chico Ejiro but I have not met her. I would love to play Ramsey Nouah’s girlfriend.

What are your future plans?

I pray that God should somehow remove this covid for us.  I want to focus on producing my movies and travel.

By Evelyn Osagie

MUSIC artist and UNICEF Nigeria Ambassador Cobhams Asuquo have called on Nigerians to have confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and ensure children receive their routine immunisations to prevent deadly diseases.

The call was made as the world celebrated World Health Day. Cobhams joined Angelique Kidjo, Calema, Magic System, and Safiath in sensitizing fans and the general public on the need to be vaccinated.

According to Cobhams Asuquo, all hands must be on deck in the fight against COVID-19. “Vaccines have been saving the lives of Nigerians and children for many years – and we have to make sure they continue to. Thanks to vaccines, I know that my children will not have to suffer from polio, measles, or smallpox. Thanks to vaccines, I know that I will not end up in the hospital with COVID-19 – leaving my family on their own. That is because vaccines work. They save lives.

“As Nigerians and as Africans, we have gone through too much to let this virus hold us back and endanger our futures that we are fighting so hard to make better. We need to do whatever we can to safeguard our future,” said Cobhams.

In the same vein, Benin-born singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kidjo, said: “I am here to tell you that vaccines save lives. As a child, I was vaccinated and I will get immunised against COVID-19 when the vaccine becomes available to me”.

The artists united with UNICEF to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines one month after the start of the historic roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in several West and Central African countries. The important call came in response to record levels of vaccine misinformation sweeping the region, risking efforts to control the global pandemic.

By Sampson Unamka

FAST-RISING Ghanaian music artiste, Jackie Acheampong aka Gyakie has listed three things a female artist should have at the front of their mind before going into the music industry.

Gyakie, the daughter of Ghanian Highlife legend, Nana Acheampong, of the Lumba Brothers fame made this known on an Instagram live session recently.

She said: “the first thing you need to be very confident in yourself if you do not believe in yourself you cannot even think of trying to do something. The second thing is you do not need to settle for anything less, if you have a talent it means you are unique and if you’re unique it means literally everybody will want you around them and so you don’t need to settle for anything less. And the last thing is, when you start something and you’re not getting the feedback that you expect you don’t need to give up, you need to keep going until you reach where you want to get to”.

Gyakie’s hit song, Forever, was released in 2020 as one of the songs on the Ghanaian singer’s debut SEED Extended Play (EP). The song also charted on Shazam’s Top 200 and Billboard’s Top Triller Global and debuted on Uk’s official Afrobeat Chart top 20.

The remix video of Gyakie’s Forever was shot recently by Dammy Twitch, and featured Headies award next rated winner; Omah Lay has surpassed 2.3 million views in less than two weeks.

By Adeniyi Adewoyin

NOLLYWOOD actress, Uche Ogbodo has said that the African culture and tradition are not favorable to the female gender. Ogbodo, while speaking against pregnancy abortion, stated that the restrictions against women in society are extreme.

The actress who is currently pregnant with her second child said that she got messages from people who advised her to abort her child but she sees no reason to do so as age is not on her side.

“I am not a candidate for abortion and will never ever support abortion because I’m Catholic. I was 27 when I had my first child and I didn’t abort her, I had her despite all that I went through in the hand of the guy that I was with, now I am pregnant at 34 and you want me to abort it”.

Continuing, she said, “So many women in my shoes within my age range of 30 to 40 are dying to be married to have a family, praying every day doing all sort of rituals, doing of sort of prayers, going to all sort of places to find a man to be their husband so they can have babies because they cannot have babies out of wedlock because the society is going to crucify them saying how dare you to do that, how dare you to bring shame to my family? Their whole family will criticize and destroy their reputation and even disown them.

“So many of them don’t even have the guts to stand on their two feet and do what they have to do. Then you’re 45 years old without a child or husband who is going to take care of you when you’re aged?

“I am not criticizing anyone but I think our culture and tradition did this to us ladies. I think the enclosure and restrictions are too much. Allow women to be themselves. When you get to 40yrs no husband is coming and you get pregnant please have your child.”

BIODUN Stephens will return to cinema with her new feature film, Breaded Life.

The new feature film will be screened to a selected audience on Saturday, April 10 at the Filmhouse cinema, Lekki.

The new film, which is directed by Stephens is a collaboration between Shutterspeed Project and David Wade. It features leading acts like Jide Kosoko, Bimbo Ademoye, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Bolanle Ninalowo, Bisola Aiyeola, Tina Mba, Nkechi Blessing, Funnybone, and MC Lively.

‘Breaded Life’ is the first project from Stephens in 2020 after directing Bisola Aiyeola’s debut film as a producer, The Kujus, in December 2020.

By Adeniyi Adewoyin

HAVING postponed his debut solo album three times, Mr P has finally opened up on why it took so long before the album was finally released.

The former member of the defunct group ‘P’Square,’ released his first-ever solo album, The Prodigal on April 1.

The album was heralded with a virtual concert that had Tiwa Savage, Teni, Wande Coal, Tamar Braxton featuring on it.

During a media tour, Mr P revealed that unforeseen circumstances made him postpone the album release three times.

“I wanted to release the album on my birthday last year but before I could announce, myself and my family caught COVID-19 so we had to stop,” he said.

“The second time I was going to release the album, Endsars came, and not only that but my DJ, who was there with me from day one, DJ Switch, went on exile, and releasing an album in such a situation wouldn’t be nice. I’m not comfortable releasing an album when she’s on the run so I postponed it to January 2021 and all of a sudden I lost my father-in-law again. When that happened I just decided to give enough time.

“One good thing is the wait was worth it. The last time I felt this way was almost twenty years ago.”

Shedding light on the choice of the album title, Mr P said The Prodigal means something entirely different from its regular meaning. He noted that he is only trying to modify the meaning of Prodigal.

“People misquoted me because of the album title. The Prodigal is different from the prodigal son. I am trying to redefine it, it is more like someone independent and successful.”

By Olaitan Ganiu

IT was an evening of glitz, glamour, and fun on Wednesday, March 29, as top Nollywood celebrities led by Lateef Adedimeji and Ayo Mogaji led fans and other dignitaries to the premiere of movie series, Okoto.

Film House Cinema in Ibadan was filled with fans, dignitaries, and celebrities who graced the premiere of the film which was directed by Seun Afolabi and co-produced by the duo of Oluwakemi Irinoye and Amir Wasiudeen.

Also in attendance were Muyideen Oladapo, Yetunde Alabi, Damilola Oni, Bukunmi Adeaga Ilori, Omobolanle Adigun, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Honourable Wasiu Olatubosun, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Honourable Seun Fakorede, a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Seyi Adisa, Mrs. Adefemi Bucknor, Director, American Corner, Ibadan and the Zonal Business Manager of Airtel Nigeria, Mrs. Tolulope Adeniyi.

Addressing the media after premiere, the producer-Oluwakemi Irinoye appreciate guests for honouring her and the production house.

“I am overwhelmed with emotions and joy for the show of love and honour giving to me not only by the special guests but also by my family, friends, and colleagues in the industry, I am also indebted to Olalekan Wasiudeen, the CEO of Libra Multimedia LTD, the crew and cast of Okoto for several months of hard work, God bless and honour us all,” she said.

By Adeniyi Adewoyin

NOLLYWOOD actress and producer, Toyin Abraham, has promised fans acting opportunities in her upcoming series.

The ‘Alakada’ star promised that five of her fans with convincing acting abilities will get the opportunity to feature in her upcoming series.

“Five Toyin Titans that may be interested in acting would have the opportunity to be in my upcoming series,” she made known via her Instagram page.

Abraham also took some time out to advise her followers on the need to avoid success comparison.

The mother of one said that everyone has their time and success should not be compared as it happens at a different pace.

“Listen my darling, a lot of people are better than you and me, and you and I are also better than some other people. So, stop looking at other people’s success to measure your own.

“If your today is better than your yesterday, you’re on the right path and even if it feels like your yesterday is better than today, don’t give up! re-strategize if necessary, work hard, work smart, do more and keep praying. A lot of progress is lost in comparison. So, don’t stop pushing. You’re absolutely doing well,” she said.

In another announcement, ‘The Prophetess’ star announced her empowerment program aimed at giving out saying, “Hello wonderful Toyin Titans, I bring y’all good tidings. In the spirit of giving so, I’m empowering Toyin Titans. This includes; Cash donations (For businesses that may need financial support), Foodstuff donation (Garri, Rice, beans, and other food items), Fashion designing (Sewing machines and other tools would be given after training), Free makeup training for Toyin Titans in Lagos, Ijebu Ode, Abeokuta, and Ibadan.”