The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nollywood

  • Nollywood actress, Amanda Ebeye launches hairline

    Nollywood actress, Amanda Ebeye launches hairline

    Nollywood actress, Amanda Ebeye has stormed the fashion world with her own range of human hair called Amanda Hair.

    According to the actress, the new hairline comes with its unique ability to cater for both young and old women.

    “They come in different lengths and sizes and are currently available online on our website. It is also available in Benin City, Lagos and in Canada. Nollywood stars, Mimi Ojiekwe, Regina Daniel and I are the faces of the brand,” she stated.

    Amanda has continued to dazzle her ever teeming fans with her dexterity on the screen. She has become a known face over the years with his roles in many movies, including the popular television series, Clinic Matters, Superstory, and several others.

    The beautiful mother of one is a graduate of International Studies and Diplomacy from Benson Idahosa University.

  • Nollywood celebrates ‘Ladies Calling The Shots’

    Nollywood celebrates ‘Ladies Calling The Shots’

    It was a gathering of industry bigwigs as popular columnist with Sabinews, Niran Adedokun launched his book, ‘Ladies Calling the Shots’ on Monday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos.

    Speaking at the launch, chairman of the occasion, former Governor of the Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, who was represented by Lanre Idowu conveyed best wishes, saying that he is happy about the gender sensitivity of the subject of the book.

    The book reviewer, Toni Kan, who titled his review ‘Celebrating Nollywood’s First Ladies’ said that a few years ago in Nigeria, the movie director was oftentimes male, a big man and sometimes with a big ego and his job was to dictate what happens on the set.

    “But the truth is that before these men were women, creators and mother figures who precede, in many ways, the industry we call Nollywood. They were women at whose feet the nascent Nollywood was nurtured. These were women who validated Margaret Thatcher’s saying that ‘the best man for the job is a woman’,” he said.

    He further stated that the book is at once a tribute to the visionary duo of Lola Fani-Kayode and Amaka Igwe and those who have come after them.

    Also speaking at the event, the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, stated that by recognising a special and important component of Nollywood, the author deserves a big applause.

    Making reference to a last year article he noted that the 10 highest grossing film of 2016 made N10.5bn which he described as an important development, not just because they were shot in Lagos but also because about six of the directors were women.

    Also present at the occasion were Simon Kolawole, Gabriel Akinadewo, Hadiza Bala Usman, Managing Director of The Nigerian Ports Authority, who was represented by Mohammed Bello Koko, Lanre Bello who represented the wife of Kwara State Governor, Bankole Bernard, Nkechi Alli Balogun, Yomi Shodimu, Mahmud Ali-Balogun, Gani Kayode Balogun and a host of others.

  • Return of Nollywood titans

    Return of Nollywood titans

    Although a saying goes that wine generally tastes better with age, however this is only true of a special variety. Like fine special wine, a unique crop of Nollywood actors are defying age. After what seems like a break from the screen, they are back doing what they know how best to do. DUPE AYINLA- OLASUKANMI beams her searchlight on five of these ageless thespians who are giving even younger ones a run.

    Richard Mofe-Damijo

    VETERAN Nollywood actor, popularly known as RMD, was off the screen for a while, but finally made a comeback months back with the movie ‘Three Wise Men’ featuring other Nollywood actors like Zack Orji, Victor Olaotan, Ebele Okaro, Tina Mba, Thelma Nwosu, and Emeka Nwachukwu.

    The movie which got him an award as ‘Best Actor’ category at the just-concluded 2017 Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), for his role in ‘Three Wise Men’, is a boost to the thespian’s skills as a professional.

    The thespian is also not resting on his oars, as he just wrapped up work on a new TV series, ‘The Mr. X Family Show’, which features top names in the industry.

    The actor who had earlier hinted about the new work, saying new ventures are never easy, starting from conception to execution, has finally finished work on the series and is expected to hit the screen soon.

    Iretiola Doyle

    KNOWN to own her fashion and lifestyle show, titled ‘Oge With Iretiola’, which ran for 10 years, also as an anchor for different TV programmes, the now Tinsel actress, who returned to the screen two years ago on the set of Victor Sanchez movie, ‘Dowry’, with the commencement of the second season of the flick, ever since, has been featuring in different movies which has been nominated for several awards.

    Most recently, she has been nominated at the 2016 Africa Movie Academy Awards in the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for her portrayal of Dr. Elizabeth in Ebony Life Films’ blockbuster 2015 hit; ‘Fifty’.

    On her role in the movie in an interview with The Nation in 2015, after the premier of the movie, she stated, “When I was sent the audition script for the movie, I fell in love with the character because she was exciting and a robust character with many different sides to her, and that caught my attention.

    “At this stage of my career, I am interested in characters that are resourceful, that I can have fun with. The character was what grabbed me the most.”

    Her recent work include ‘The Arbitration’, and ‘The Wedding Party’, which according to report at the moment is one of the highest grossing Nigerian films in Nigerian cinema history.

    Both films screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the city-to-city spotlight. On TV some series, she has created memorable characters in series like ‘Fuji House of Commotion’, ‘Dowry’, and ‘Gidi Up’.

    The actress currently stars as the enigmatic Sheila Ade-Williams in the MNET television series Tinsel.  She will also be reprising her role as Dr. Elizabeth in the upcoming Fifty TV series.

    Also known as a stage person, her most recent stage credits include ‘The Vagina Monologues’, ‘Olorounbi the Musical, ‘Hear Word’ and ‘The Wives’.

    Ego Boyo

    AFTER starring in popular TV soaps over two decades ago, the name Ego Boyo, known in the industry as Anne Haastrup, continues to be a household name even after leaving TV.

    Though nothing big is heard yet, until the flag off of ‘The Mr X Family Show’ by RMD, it is believed that the actress-cum producer is working on something that will be a hit again.

    The mother of three, who is gradually gaining a spot back in the industry, left many years ago to do more of corporate works; documentaries and adverts for clients.

    With plans to still do films, she is back as part of the cast of the just-concluded RMD TV series titled ‘The Mr X Family Show’. This is seeing both Nollywood TV stars coming back together 25years after ‘Violated’.

    Both who started their movie journey together 30years back, as revealed by RMD, kicked off in Checkmate, where he starred as Segun Kadiri.

    In the 90’s, Ego Boyo hit the big screen with the movie ‘Violated’, her very first film, which she also produced, and directed by late veteran filmmaker, Amaka Igwe.

    She made her comeback with a pilot for a soap opera in 2011, but has managed to keep tie with a number of people in the industry, which has made her entrance quite easy again.

    Ego is also the president of International Women’s Society.

    Shola Shobowale

    SHE became popular in the soap opera as Toyin Tomato, in Oh Father!Oh Daughter!, the very first in Wale Adenuga’s Super Story drama series. For her fans, it was welcoming news when the actress who left the shores of Nigeria about 15years ago to train her children, now grown-ups, returned to the screen, big and better.

    After leaving, the actress and producer still comes home occasionally to produce movies.

    Known as no-nonsense woman, the actress kept her fans to their seat with her role in the ‘Wedding Party’, released in 2016, where she played the role of Mrs Cooker, mother of the bride, starring alongside Ali Baba, Banky W, Adesua Etomi, Iretiola Doyle, RMD, among other notable actors.

    Her acting prowess is dated back to 40 years ago when she kicked off her career in the series ‘Village Headmaster’, and later ‘Super Story’.

    Other movies that showed her acting skill are ‘Dangerous Twins’, ‘Family on Fire’,  ‘Madam Dearest’, ‘Asewo To Re Mecca’, ‘Diamond Ring’, ‘Emotional Tears’, among many others.

    The actress joined acting as a member of the Awada Kerikeri group under the leadership of Adebayo Salami. Over the years, she has scripted, co-scripted, directed and produced several Nigerian films, which include ‘Ohun Oko Somida’, a 2010 Nigerian film that made waves.

    Shaffy Bello

    SHAFFY Bello, known for her sonorous voice in the song ‘Love me Jeje’, alongside her cousin Seyi Shodimu, is one of the aged actresses that are keeping the younger ones on their feet at the moment.

    Currently gracing the face of Nollywood movies, usually as a swift talking high-class woman, the singer also showed her prowess in ‘Ovy’s Voice’, where she takes on a completely different role, as a full Yoruba personal with an interesting accent to back it up.

    20years after, having spent some time in the United States of America, the mother of two who has decided to return home and pursue her passion is surely performing well and endearing fans.

    She can be described as a hot cake for movie producers now, and also a fashion icon. Shaffy’s, who left in 1987, command of the English language is evident in her interpretation of roles and her ability to bring her characters to life.

    Since her return, she has featured in quite a number of movies that include, ‘Cougar’, ‘Tinsel’, ‘Taste of Love’, ‘When Love Happens’, ‘Gbomo Gbomo Express’, ‘Ovy’s Voice’, among others.

  • Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    Ikpeazu promises N10m for films shot in Abia

    As part of the efforts to develop tourism sites and promote tourism potential in Abia, the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has pledged N10 million as grant for any film shot in the state.

    Ikpeazu made the pledge when he received Dr Chidia Maduekwe, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation ( NFC ), his office in Umuahia.

    A statement signed by Mr Brian Etuk, the Head of Public Affairs, NFC, in Jos on Friday, quoted the governor as saying that the production ‘should be 100 per cent shot in Abia.’

    The statement said that the governor charged film practitioners to improve on the quality of their production so as to compete with the global market.

    It stated that Ikpeazu promised that his administration would participate in the capacity building offered by NFC, saying that Abia played a key role in the revolution of the market and sales of Nollywood movies which has had multiplier effects on the nation economy.

    “We have a policy to open up our market to genuine investors, private and public agencies amongst others through promoting `Make in Abia` instead of Made in Abia, proliferating more industries in the state,’’ the statement quoted Ikpeazu.

    The statement said, Maduekwe had commended the governor for approving office accommodation for the organisation’s South-East Zonal office in the state.

    It noted that Maduekwe said the gesture would create more employment opportunities for the youths, saying that corporation was also working toward establishing two more zonal offices in the North-East and South-South.

    The NFC currently has three zonal offices in Lagos, Kano and Abuja with headquarters in Jos, Plateau State.

    NAN

  • Eniola Ajao grabs endorsement deal

    Eniola Ajao grabs endorsement deal

    FAST-RISING Nollywood actress, Eniola Ajao, is in celebratory mood at the moment, as she just landed a multi-million naira endorsement deal.

    According to information, the pretty actress just secured a mega deal with a sports betting company, Paddy Paddy Bet.

    The actress cum director explained that she is excited about the deal as it is her best at the moment.

    On how she came about the deal, Ajao said that the owner of the company and the management are people she respects a lot, and she believes it is a good and excellent brand. Already she said she is using her social media platform to tell people about the brand.

    The popular actress who is a fan of Manchester United football club said that she would have been a striker if she were a footballer.

    Born in Epe, Lagos State, Eniola is a regular feature in the Yoruba movie scene, and her skill was said to have won her the plum deal that has now positioned her in the elite league of showbiz personalities.

  • Fed Govt to launch N100b free TV distribution network for Nollywood

    Fed Govt to launch N100b free TV distribution network for Nollywood

    THE Federal Government is set to launch a N100 billion per annum free television distribution network for Nollywood, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said.

    Mohammed spoke yesterday at the formal inauguration of Gospell Digital Technology, Ultra-Modern Surface Mount Technology (SMT) set top boxes manufacturing plant at the Free Zone Enterprise in Calabar.

    He said the gesture was intended to grow the economy of the movie industry.

    “Today, if you want to buy a Nollywood film, you either go to the Alaba market or you go and buy from the authorised shops. But with this network, it is now possible for millions of Nigerians to buy on demand. We call it video on demand. It is part of the facilities available on this set top boxes. Which means you can buy online. Imagine if 20 million people order a film in one day, it would grow the economy of Nollywood,” the minister said.

    He described the inauguration as a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards attaining technological self-reliance.

    He said it was impressive that the factory can produce 2.4 million set top boxes annually, adding it that it was a long held dream brought to fruition earlier than expected.

    Mohammed hailed investors for exhibiting confidence in the digital switchover programme of the Federal Government.

    Chairman of the board of Gospell Digital Technology Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa said the factory would assemble set up boxes and  involve in the production of other electronics.

    He thanked the Federal Government and other stakeholders for their support.

    The firm’s Group Managing Director, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa, said: “In addition to DTT and DTH we are witnessing pioneering efforts in local production by commissioning three SMT automatic chip placement lines and four pneumatic assembly lines with the capacity of placing 250, 000 components per hour and production of 200, 00 STB per month and also manufacture 100, 000 printed circuit boards per month.”

    Director General of the Nigeria Broadcast Commission (NBC) Mallam Ishaq Modibo Kawu  congratulated the firm for an  impressive work.

    He said it is the first SMT production line in West Africa and would open up avenues of digital revolution in the country as well as create opportunities for young people.

    Cross River State Governor   Ben Ayade said the state was the right place for business and promised to partner with the company.

    Ayade ordered for 5000 set top boxes at the event.

  • JOKE SILVA: Marriage is not do or die ­

    JOKE SILVA: Marriage is not do or die ­

    She has several movies and awards to her name, yet veteran actress Joke Silva is not resting on her oars. In this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, she speaks on some of the precautions to be taken to prevent domestic violence, among other issues.

    WAS acting what you set out to do?

    Oh yes. I knew from about the age of 10 and my parents supported me from the schools that I went to. After my A levels, I prayed. I asked God for confirmation and He said yes and I spoke to my father and he said, ‘take a gap for a year and see if this industry is yours.’ I’m talking of like late 70s and early 80s which wasn’t common in our time and they allowed me to do it. When they found out that this was what I wanted to do and enjoyed doing, they said ‘okay, go to drama school.’

    Were your parents not bothered then because what most parents wanted for their kids was to be engineers, doctors and accountants?

    I think what bothered them was the concern that would I be able to make a living out of this profession I was going into. They knew the talent was there. They nurtured the talents, they encouraged the talent but I think the idea was to encourage the talent to be a hobby. My mother played the piano as a hobby, so it was something like that for them.

    They wanted to see how stressful the industry could be, how uncertain, in the sense that you don’t always have work all the time but unfortunately for them, in my gap year I was working right through. Sometime, I had like three jobs at the same time. I was working so often and they saw that I loved it.

    You are one of the very few celebrities whose marriage has stood the test of time. But nowadays, we hear a lot of break-up among celebrities. Does that not bother you?

    Not particularly. But I think people should know what their threshold of acceptability is. I think sometimes in this society, we tend to say you must stay in marriage no matter what it does to you. You hear some women who have stayed with their husbands right throughout the difficult times and when their husbands die they are so bitter because it seems that they wasted their life. This is something that the younger generations don’t know. That being said, I think there is need for both sides to see each other as human beings.

    Do you have a pet name for your husband?

    Oh yes, his name is Omoboy.

    Are there moments that it becomes heavy to call him Omoboy because you are angry or you are having issues?

    When Omoboy becomes Olu, that’s wahala (laughs) and same with me, my pet name is Iya but when he says Joke, I know I’m in trouble.

    What are your thoughts on domestic violence?

    I think I’m very happy that more women are coming out and talking about it. The partners must give themselves space once the violence starts. I think it is the most spirit destroying action that one can take. I think it is sad when relationships get to that point.

    Can a woman really provoke a man into beating her?

    I think in relationships, especially when we are angry with each other I think it gets to that point when you understand that you should withdraw. Like sometimes when I counsel young people, I tell them that there is a tone that you recognise that if I push any further I will be in trouble. When you hear that you will hold, you will see it. It’s in the eyes, you can’t hide it.

    There is something I also want to mention that there is a violence that people don’t associate with domestic violence and that is emotional violence. Emotional violence is a violence that is so deadly you don’t see it. It damages the person psychologically and I think the onus is on those who love the

  • Top Nollywood acts storm ‘Girls’ For Sale’auditions

    Top Nollywood acts storm ‘Girls’ For Sale’auditions

    As part of its contribution to the welfare of the girl child, advocacy outfit, Roxanne Care Options, has partnered with Opa Williams Studios for a new movie, Girls’ for Sale.

    Described by the producers as a thriller, the movie focuses on adolescence and the delicate development of a teenager’s emotional, sexual and body images.

    Executive Producer of the movie, Kehinde Omoru, says that the spread and cycle of Cervical Cancer is the bedrock from which all themes spring in the movie.

    Omoru explains that the comedy features, which has been masterfully woven into the script by notable screenwriter Isokoh Edirin, focuses on ways in which girls’ health statuses are being inadvertently compromised.

    Girls’ for Sale is the romantic story of a young lady (Elo) who goes through harrowing experiences before she eventually experienced unconditional love. Elo’s emotions near-fatally got entangled with her violated teenage sweetheart Tega. Rather than reciprocate same, Tega gave her a disputable pregnancy as well as a virus. Both virus and child grew along-side each other until it was time for both to be resolved. It took matured, powerful, & patient Alex to sort things out once and for all.

    “Cultural African thought about the girl child dominates this story and begs that immediate and sustained reorientations start individually, clannishly, tribally, nationally and indeed globally. The beauty of Girls’ For Sale is that it puts faces and voices to what has lived with us & in us for hundreds of years,” Omoru states.

    Girls’ for Sale tells the story of a young lady, Elo, who goes through harrowing experiences before she eventually experienced unconditional love. Elo’s emotions near-fatally got entangled with her violated teenage sweetheart Tega.

    Written by Omoru, the story is developed by Kate Henshaw, Fred Amata, Francis Onwochei, Opa Williams, and Dr. Oghogho Akpoyibo.

    Among those expected to star in the movie are Ashionye Raccah, Sambasa Nzeribe, Kiki Omeili, Paul Utomi, Tony Akposhere and a host of others.

  • Omo Sexy wins Best Actress at Film Festival

    Omo Sexy wins Best Actress at Film Festival

    Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade has been awarded ‘Best actress award’ by the Nollywood Travel Film Festival in Toronto, for her role in the movie, ` Alter Ego.’

    The actress also known as `Omo Sexy,’ shared the news with her fans on her instagram on Monday.

    “Wow! Thank you @Nollywood Travel Film Festival. It’s our first award fam!”

    Alter Ego, produced by Esther Eiyibo and directed by Moses Inwang, is the first movie that Omotola appears in after a three – year hiatus.

    The movie screened alongside 11 other films in the just concluded Nollywood Travel Film Festival held in Toronto.

    In the movie which treats Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the actress played the lead role of ‘Ada’, a successful law attorney who has an unrelenting passion for prosecuting sex offenders.

    Her character however, has an inordinate urge for sex as a weakness; a factor that birthed some of the sex scenes in the movie.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that `Alter Ego’ was trailed with mixed reactions after its release of its first trailer due to the popular sex scene between Omotola and fellow actor, Wale Ojo.

    Other actors in the movie include Jide Kosoko, Kunle Remi, Bobby Obodo, Sexy Steel, Gregory Ojefua and more in ‘Alter Ego’.

    Since her Nollywood debut in 1995, the screen diva has appeared in over 300 films, selling millions of video copies.

    Beyond her show business accomplishments, she is also applauded for her remarkable humanitarian efforts.

    In 2013, she was honoured in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Kate Middleton.
    In early 2013, Omotola made her US television debut in VHI’s scripted series, `Hit the floor.’

    In 2014, she was honoured by the Nigerian government as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to Nigerian Entertainment Industry.

    The actress recently featured in Kunle Afoloyan’s ‘The Tribunal’ and is set to feature in a new movie, ‘Shadow Parties’.

  • Why you should see TATU and other book movies

    Why you should see TATU and other book movies

    I can count on my fingertips the number of films that have been adapted from books in Nollywood. I have always advocated this approach, knowing that Nigeria has more internationally recognised authors than auteurs. So, each time I hear about a movie adaptation of a book, whether or not it is a popular literature, I am enthralled by the enlargement of creative intelligence.

    More so, there is a kind of feel-good sensation, knowing you have read a book on the film you are now seeing or about to see. Sometimes, it tasks your critical mind on how well or otherwise the interpretations are playing out, and while one is seeing their favourite characters come alive, they may choose to compare the director’s creative license to a mental picture earlier created from the writer’s narrative.

    TATU, an epic adventure movie by Don Omope is the latest addition to Nollywood book-movie, authored by Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, the retired Director General of the Debt Management Office.

    It follows efforts like’ Half of a Yellow Sun’, written by Chimamanda Adichie; ‘The Narrow Path’ by Tunde Kelani, adapted from Bayo Adebowale’s ‘The Virgin’; ‘The Concubine’, a  2007 movie adapted from Elechi Amadi’s book of the same title; ‘Maami’  written by Femi Osofisan  and adapted into a movie by Tunde Kelani; ‘The Perfect Church’, produced by Wale Adenuga Productions from a book by Ebi Akpeti; ‘Dazzling Mirage’ by Tunde Kelani, adapted from a book written by Olayinka Egbokhare; ‘Beast of no Nation’, adapted from a book written by Uzodinma Iweala.

    Before now, we’ve had few movie adaptations from plays, including ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ by Wole Soyinka; ‘Bullfrog in the Sun’ made from ‘Things Fall Apart’ and ‘No Longer at Ease’, both written by Chinua Achebe; ‘Bisi Daughter of the River’, adapted from the play of same title by Ladi Ladebo, Jab Adu and Kola Ogunnaike; ‘Aiye’, based on Hubert Ogunde’s play of same title; ‘Ija Ominira’, from Adebayo Faleti’s novel; ‘Koseegbe’, produced by Tunde Kelani based on Akinwumi Isola’s book of same title and ‘Orun Mo Orun’, from a play by Moses Adejumo, aka Baba Sala.

    Running in Nigerian cinemas is TATU, one of the high-budget movies powered by Bank of Industry (BoI) under the NollyFund scheme, and next in release after Jade Osiberu’s success with ‘Isoken’.

    A fast-paced action drama with contemporary take on the classic African story, TATU stars eyeball-gifted actor, Segun Arinze, in a conscious use of the sight organ as shown graphically on promo posters. And with comic moments from the likes of Hafiz Oyetoro, aka Saka, and Frank Dunga, the epic film appeals to me as a potpourri that assuages the different tastes of a film lover like myself.

    For a film that parades some of the best crop of actors from Nollywood, you cannot have enough of the versatile Toyin Abraham, same way that Gabriel Afolayan has always had his way with movie roles. What more can one say about Sambaza Nzeribe, the AMVCA 2017 Best Actor. And with a theme on conflicts arising from a mother’s quest for a child, TATU must have been creatively crafted to educate and entertain. Little wonder it earned its place with heavyweights like Bank of Industry’s NollyFund, Patriarch Technologies, FilmOne Production and FilmOne Distribution.