The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nollywood

  • ‘We are the kindest people on earth’

    ‘We are the kindest people on earth’

    Foremost actor and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Prince Ifeanyi Dike speaks with Gboyega Alaka on his travail and recovery from a life-threatening kidney illness, Nollywood, the Ibinabo Fiberesima/Clarion Chukwura rift and the values that make Nigeria a unique country.

    IT’S good to see you looking so hale and hearty, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt coming out of your illness?

    Actually nobody is above sickness and I thank God that I have a very wonderful wife who took care of me while I was down. I tell you, it was not easy. Of course you know the Nigerian mentality, where when celebrities are sick, they don’t want people to know. But it got to a stage when my wife said, “No, you can’t keep quiet anymore.”  The truth is that you will eventually get poor if you have loads of money and have to spend a minimum of N250,000 every week on dialysis, because you don’t even have the strength to make more money. So I struggled with my situation for about one year until my wife picked up her phone one day and started calling people. She could not understand why I, who had always been caring and ever ready to help others, would now choose to suffer and die in silence. The news got to Segun Arinze, a former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, who immediately rallied round and got the support of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, the action governor of Lagos State. In fact, his reaction time was so quick that before I knew it, the cheque was in my hand, and written in my name! I must say that even the president also responded at some point. But again, that might be because I am an actor, and popular; and my heart goes to other people who are suffering from the same ailment and have to go through dialysis without the help I got.

    We hear you’re planning a foundation in that regard.

    Yes. I’m working on establishing the Ifeanyi Dike Kidney Foundation to assist people suffering from kidney failure. The problem is not just about the money or even the kidney transplant. People are scared of organ donation. And you need another human being, whose organ matches yours to agree to willingly donate his kidney. Some people look at me today and wonder if I really went through a kidney transplant. But the truth is that I went through kidney transplant twice. The first one failed. Yes. But I didn’t want to make any noise about it and had to go about the second transplant quietly. That was why I was away for one year. Besides I was wary of Nigerians, who might easily conclude that I was using it to raise money.

    People might even say that you got careless with your health

    Yeah. But let me tell you, it is not only smoking or drinking. These may be factors that contribute to it, but one thing that causes it especially in Nigeria is too much self medication to suppress pain. Too much use of analgesics.  I think that was what knocked my kidneys down, because I used to work very hard; and every time I came back home, I’d just swallow two tablets to quell the pains, without giving my body the chance to rest and reinvigorates itself.

    So how are you adhering to the regiment that comes with such transplant?

    After the transplant, the doctors in India would tell you to go back to your normal life. But the reality is that they’re probably assuming that we eat the same kind of food as they do. So when we come back here, we start swallowing wraps of pounded yam, eating loads of meat and all those heavy food. Would you believe that eating animal skin is dangerous to our health? And this includes cow legs, where unfortunately the illnesses in the animals settle. So I eat right, and that is probably why people say that I’m looking finer than even they who hadn’t been ill.

    Now to Nollywood; you’ve been reacting to the Clarion Chukwura /Ibinabo Fiberesima imbroglio. What exactly do you think is the way out?

    But for the fact that I am also a journalist, that is a question I would ordinarily not respond to. You see, you don’t poke your nose into what you are not a part of. I keep telling people, it’s not all actors and actresses that are part of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, irrespective of how popular they are. It’s like the Guild of Editors. You have editors of publications who don’t belong there. Can somebody in such publication come and be saying that Femi Adeshina is not qualified to be president? So I think she made a big mistake in taking her on in such a manner. It is possible that some people might have been inciting her to go after the lady based on her popularity, but as a senior person in the industry, I think the right approach would have been to call her and register her displeasure. Do you know this whole quarrel began when the young lady took some actors to meet the president?

    Part of her grouse was that she is not qualified for the position and that she is an ex-convict.

    The issue of ex-convict does not arise. And regarding her qualification, Ibinabo has been the chairman of Rivers State Actors’ Guild. And that was after participating as a member and as an executive. Tell me the chapter Clarion Chukwura has headed. It was after this that she decided to go for the presidency of the national body. So she graduated. In fact her election was held twice. Rachael Oniga was the chairman of the commission that brought her in. I was not even around then.

    We hear that it has been near impossible to access the fund the president promised the industry.

    If the bank says it is going to give you money and at the end of the day, you are not able to fulfill the requirement, do you blame the bank? Jonathan is not going to give anybody free money. The truth is that people have been accessing the money. The trip to Abuja was to make the president understand the problem the industry was facing; and also make him our grand patron. Do you know that the Nigerian Actors Guild is a member of the International Film Federation? And that foreign visitors come to meet us in Nigeria and we receive them in our little flat office in Surulere? Ibinabo presented this problem to the president during that visit and he immediately promised us a plot of land in Abuja and also promised to build it for the association. This young lady also struggle to raise money to assist industry member who fall sick or are in need of help. How many members pay their dues? I think it is time we stopped the PHD (Pull Him Down) syndrome.

    Some people still think that Nollywood is a bit behind.

    The area I think the government should assist Nollywood is in the area of props. Like you see a police uniform in a movie, and you immediately know that it is not real. At times, we use stick guns and plastic guns in our movies, and this does not make it look real. These are the things we need in our movies. The airports should not charge us money, because these are movies promoting Nigeria! People are willing to produce epic stories to promote Nigeria, like ‘Madam Tinubu, Aba Women Riot;’ like ECOMOG and how Nigeria liberated West African during their conflicts. Do you know that the American dollars became popular through the movies? So if you want Nigeria to become as respected as the United Kingdom or America, all you need to do is project it positively in our movies. There are ghettos worse than Ajegunle in the US, but they’ll never project that. People sleep on the streets in London. Do you know that we are the kindest people in the world? Here if you go to a party where you’re not invited, and you get food to eat, because we have compassion. You don’t have that in Europe or America..

    Let’s talk about your television programme Sunday Delight.

    At the moment, I have developed about 15 TV shows, but Sunday Delight is the one currently on air on NTA 10. It is a talk show/business programme where we advertise a lot of people, promote businesses, bring some clips from the Youtube that will interest Nigerians; entertainment generally. I also conceptualised the Traders’ Cup. It is coming back bigger and better this year as the Centenary Traders’ Cup, with a big company coming sponsoring. I am also working on a television sitcom to be called Mazi and family.

  • I admire celebrities who are able to keep their marriages

    I admire celebrities who are able to keep their marriages

    Until she relocated to the U.S. in 2007 after she got married, Georgina Onuah was a delight in Nollywood. She was one of the much-sought-after actresses by movie producers. Having been away for some years, many of her fans now think she has called it quits with acting, which gave her fame. But the mother of two, who now works as a health worker in the U.S., insists she is not done yet with the thespian world. In this telephone interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUNKANMI, she talks about her marriage, family as well as plans to organise a health programme in Nigeria 

    YOU recently celebrated the America Independence Day with some of your colleagues.  So, what was it like spending time with old friends?

    The truth of the matter is having them over here is not a big deal. Also, knowing that America is so big, most of them stay in East Coast, California when they come. But we had a good time together.

    Career-wise, what are you doing at the moment?

    That aspect of my life is still alive and strong. Actually, I took a break along the line. Now, I hear people say that I have quit Nollywood, but I haven’t. I decided to grow up and raise a family. But right now, I am well prepared to come back. I did my first production here this month and there are other projects I am doing. Hopefully, next month, I should be home because I want to do one or two projects.

    You were one of the top actresses back then; so, don’t you foresee some challenges gaining relevance as you want to stage a comeback now?

    I don’t think anything is a challenge. As I always say, acting is what you are born with. There will never be another me, just like there will never be another Genevieve (Nnaji), Stephanie (Okereke-Linus) and others because we are unique in our own way. We might not be able to play some roles that we used to play back then. But what I will say is that the older you become, you should try to re-invent and repackage yourself. So, I don’t think anything will be a challenge, except you don’t have a vision of who you are and where you are heading for.

    Is there any marked difference between home and abroad, where you are now?

    I would say I am one of the luckiest people. Life here is beautiful. There is nothing like having a family that you wake up every morning to see the beauty that God has blessed you with. When I was back home, I had a wonderful family as well, so I won’t trade that for this and vice-versa. Nigeria is my home, the land of my birth.

    How often do you come home?

    I was home some few months back. But I try to be home once or twice every year.

    Why did you go into a medical-related course?

    (Laughs) For those who know me very well, I am a lover of education. I believe knowledge is wealth. The more you learn, the more you empower yourself. Before I came to America, I knew Hollywood is not far reached, once you are in California. But I wanted to explore other aspects of life. Even when I was in Nigeria, I was in school. I am a graduate of History and International Relations from the Lagos State University.  I also bagged a doctorate degree in International Law and Diplomacy.

    So, I was not that actress that everybody wanted to see. After I got married to a doctor, I started seeing life differently. You can’t live in a society and not learn what the place is all about. I came into the United States and found it intriguing and challenging.  It also happened that my husband is a doctor, so I went back to school to get trained in a post-graduate university. I did Health Care Administration and got a proper job. Most of us in showbiz in Nigeria are our own employers. But it is a different ball game here. You have to wake up every morning and get to work like every normal citizen on a salary. And as a worker, more is expected of you, which makes you more disciplined. So, I will say I find medicine interesting in America. I will say it is always good to explore outside your comfort zone.

    How have you been able to manage the home front with the challenges of living in a foreign land?

    As I said earlier, every man or woman is unique in her own way. What work for me might not work for you. And it doesn’t mean that you are better than I am or that I am better than you are. So, it is just the individual. What you want in your relationship is love and understanding. I admire celebrities who are married and are still able to juggle their works and their families. I am lucky and so are they.

    When I took a break to raise a family, I wanted it and made it a priority. I told myself I was going to raise a family, go back to school to get my Master’s and Ph.D and then come back to my career. For some who are married, they can’t pursue education while also acting. So, in their way, they are unlucky. But I’m not going to compare myself with anybody because my relationship is unique. But I have respect for everybody, irrespective of how you choose to run your home, pursue your career and achieve your goal. So, I am not going to compare my relationship with that of anybody.

    There was a time it was reported that your marriage had crashed…

    (Cuts in) That was some years back and that is showbiz. I am a very private person and my relationship is very dear to me. I don’t like putting my private life in the public, regardless of what they say out there. So, for myself, my family and extended family, I don’t like talking about that aspect of me. I think that is one aspect of me that I guard so jealously. But I think people tend to believe that everything in everybody’s relationship should be perfect. No! If it is rosy, then, there is a problem.

    You should disagree to agree in every relationship, whether it is between a brother and a sister or a couple. If there are issues in a relationship, it does not mean that it is broken. There is a notion among Nigerians that when a couple is having a problem in their marriage, it means they are going to their separate ways.  It is just like when you have an issue with your sibling(s), you will try to address it and settle it. That is the same way it is in a relationship. So, I think it is a pattern. When you have issues with people you love in your life, it makes you grow stronger. It is not an act of failure or weakness, but that of true love, sincerity and challenges that we all have to face in our lives or relationships.

    So, I am not going to discuss my private life because that is the only thing that is very dear to me. But I think people should begin to have a re-think that if you are married, you are doomed and if you are not married, you are cursed. I think it is a notion that needs to be addressed. So, people who want to blow over other people’s misfortunes should go ahead.

    What is it like being a wife, mother and career lady?

    It is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. Waking up every morning to see my beautiful daughters and asking myself, ‘Did I make these or did they actually come out from me?’ makes me happy. So, I always say, ‘Lord I can’t thank you enough’. Nothing gives you more joy. I think it is a blessing from God.

    Do you have plans to come back to Nollywood?

    (Laughs) Whether I choose to live all my life here in America, home is home. The good thing is I have the leisure to come home anytime I want to. I can decide to bring my kids, which are part of the plans, so that they can get used to being Nigerians and meet their cousins, aunts and uncles. It is a long-time goal of mine to bring them into our society. Nigeria will always be my home and America, my other home.

    Do your kids speak the local dialect?

    They can pick certain words like greeting. They understand, with the help of my parents here with me. With friends, their dad and me, they try to speak it, once in a while in their own ‘funky’ way (laughs).

    You look like a model now, what happened?

    I will take that as a compliment. But I have not been that of the plus-size before. Yes, I didn’t really do anything extra-ordinary. It is just my normal regular exercises in the morning. Yes, I have grown slimmer; I am just a believer of living healthy.

    Do you still keep in touch with your colleagues here in Nigeria?

    Yes, I do. I was home three months ago and I was able to meet with Oge Okoye, Sophia and Chioma Chukwuka; I spoke with Stephanie Okereke-Linus about four days ago ( She is here in the U.S.). Once in a while, I keep in touch with them and thank God for the social media, which enable us to interact more.

    Apart from being a health worker, what else do you do?

    Apart from being a health consultant, I do research and I am an auditor. I have a project I am working on, which bothers on humanitarian level. I also have a production I am working on. So, living in America has given me a whole new perspective about life. It is so sad that a whole lot of Nigerians are dying over things that are not worth dying for, health-wise. So, I am doing a project at the moment that will address health issues, whereby you don’t wait until you are dying before seeing a doctor.

    You can empower through the social media; it should not only be for loading pictures. It should also be an avenue where you can learn about your human anatomy and physiology; learn when things are not right and when to visit your doctor and learn to ask questions and not just going to the doctor to complain and you are told you have malaria. So, we are trying to create an avenue whereby an average Nigerian can always ask questions.  Aside being a mother and health worker, these are other things we are trying to put together to empower people concerning their health. Instead of buying somebody a bag of rice, you can get a bag of beans to save life. It is a training programme to start challenging ourselves and start asking questions.

    Having gained all these experiences, isn’t it time for you to come home and help people here with the information and training?

    I will be coming back home next home, but I also have projects here that I have to balance. It is easier when I don’t have anything doing. But I have a family; your kids become your world and priority. So, you have to work around their schedule too. But I am also presently working on the set of Ninja Junction, a Chike Nwaoffia Production.

    You said being in California was a chance to get to Hollywood. Have you had the opportunity to work in any Hollywood movies?

    Not really… I’ve been busy pursuing academics, most of the time since I relocated. But I am seriously working on coming now. I’m done with my major studies for now.

  • Georgina Onuah plans health programme

    Georgina Onuah plans health programme

    When popular Nollywood actress, Georgina Onuah, relocated to the U.S. shortly after she got married in 2006, many of her fans thought that she might have bidden bye to acting, a profession that had given her fame.

    Although her face has literally become a rarity in most Nollywood movies for some time, Onuah, who is also a health worker in the U.S., said she had not quit acting.

    As proof that the star of Ejima 1& 2, is still very much in love with acting, she revealed in a telephone interview with The Nation, that she just finished a production in the U.S.

    But beyond re-affirming her interest in acting, the mother of two also disclosed that she would be coming home in a couple of months to organise an awareness programme on health.

    “Living in America has given me a whole new perspective about life. It is so sad that a lot of Nigerians are dying of things that should ordinarily not kill them, health-wise. So, I am doing a project at the moment that will address health issues, whereby you don’t wait until you are dying before seeing a doctor. You can empower through the social media. It will also be an avenue where you can learn about your human anatomy and physiology; learn when things are not right and when to visit your doctor and learn to ask questions. It is not just going to the doctor to complain and you are told you have malaria and then you go home. So, we are trying to create an avenue whereby an average Nigerian can always ask questions. Aside being a mother and health worker, these are other things we are trying to put together to empower people concerning their health. Instead of buying somebody a bag of rice, you can get a bag of beans to safe life. It is a training programme to start challenging ourselves and start asking questions about our health.”

     

     

    Having been away for a while, the thinking in some quarters is that she may have lost her fans base as well as relevance in the movie industry. She appeared, however, not to be bothered a bit and even expressed her readiness to win back the confidence of her numerous fans. She said: “I don’t think anything is a challenge. As I always say, acting is what you are born with. There will never be another me, just like there will never be another Genevieve (Nnaji), Stephanie (Okereke-Linus) and others because we are unique in our own way. We might not be able to play some roles that we used to play back then. But what I will say is that, as you grow older, you should try to re-invent and repackage yourself. So, I don’t think anything will be a challenge, except you don’t have a vision of who you are and where you are heading for.”

     

  • What my Mother Did When I Was Pregnant at 17—Nollywood star Toyin Alausa

    What my Mother Did When I Was Pregnant at 17—Nollywood star Toyin Alausa

    Her story, without doubt, is unputdownable. It is one of a seriocomic tale. It will tug at your heartstrings. It is not only didactic, but also inspiring. Except she voluntarily knits her memoirs, you may never know that beautiful Toyin Alausa, a popular Nollywood actress, is also a good counsellor. Interestingly, in this interview with BABATUNDE SULAIMAN, the single mother of one opens up her bitter-sweet experience in life. 

    You started out as a kid actor; so, how did that early exposure impact on your childhood and even growing up?

    There are two sides to every coin in life. With regard to my own life, I would say I have tasted both the positive and the negative sides of life. As a kid actor, I was exposed to life very early. I could call myself a smart kid, so I understood everything around me. One single incident that still lingers in my head often is my experience with the late Enebeli Enebuwa.

    In Portakabin Nine, when we were doing Tales by Moonlight, he said: “Why are you around?” and I said: “I am on holidays.” He then said: “Have you resumed?” and I said: “We haven’t resumed.” So, he said: “Immediately you resume, you go back to school because education is the ultimate. I know you are a fantastic actress, but you still have to go back to school.” So, that was the kind of exposure I had as early as 12 to 15 years of age. I would say it also helped me because it made me a wiser person. As a kid actor, I made some mistakes, but I had my mum and others who used to correct me, apart from school. I didn’t take things for granted.

    So, will you also say it has really prepared you for what you are doing now?

    Yes, it has because you already know that wherever you go to, people are starring at you; that whatever you do, there are people out there waiting to run you down or applaud you. Of course, as a human being, you make mistakes. Also, that you are a celebrity doesn’t mean your star can’t fall or that you won’t make mistakes in your choices in life. But people are there to pat you in the back and say you have made the mistake, but you have to move on.

    If your mum wasn’t an actress, would you have been an actress?

    I would say yes because before my mum started to take me to NTA and I was given a role in Drama Showcase, I was alone in the house. I am my mum’s only child and I can recall imitating my teachers, headmistress, friends and others. I did that a lot, but I didn’t know what it was called until I got that opportunity to act. Well, I think the rest is history today. I still would have been an actor, though I used to tell my mum I wanted to be a newscaster. There is no other preparation I would have had, even if I had studied Theatre Arts or Mass Communication.

    You said you are the only child of your mum, so are you also the only child of your dad?

    What happened then?

    Nothing happened? I am a Yoruba woman and I come from a polygamous family. My father is a Muslim, but I practise Christianity now.

    How is it like coming from a polygamous family, considering that many people say awful tales about it?

    In Yoruba, they say, “Ile olorogun, eta’nu ma wa ni ibe”. But I think it has to do with individuals. I enjoy my childhood and I am proud of my parents. They had their own mistakes and they made their own choices. I also had my own mistakes and I have my own choices to make.  So, I will not come out and say anything awful about my family because I have my own stepsisters and stepbrothers. If my father didn’t have them with their mum, I probably would not have brothers and sisters to call my own. So, I will say it is a blessing to me. Though I am not propagating polygamy, it is part of Africa.

    You attended a college of education. But was it by choice or circumstance?

    There is no big deal because I tried to acquire education the little way I could. I would say financial constraint at that time and some other situations that I wouldn’t want to go into the details now. I am always in the line of training and learning. I guess anyone can go to the university or polytechnic at any time, as long as you are focused, determined and ready for it.

    But I know that wasn’t your dream?

    It wasn’t my dream. You see, if it was about dreams, many people would not be where they are now. It was about what life had thrown to me and I was ready to accept.

    Did you attempt to go further?

    I have been a working mum, so to say. From time to time, I have been doing one thing or another, which has contributed to my life positively. Yes, I missed the aspect of me not going to the university, but it is not a lost dream because at the set time, that is one of the things I will love to face.

    You mentioned financial constraint as part of the reasons you attended a college of education. But one would have thought that you were from a privileged home.

    I am from a humble home and my father could afford what he could for us all until there had to be a separation; and, at that point, things became shaky. I was neither here nor there. Eventually, I had to be somewhere in-between. Those were the times I struggled to maintain a balance in my life and determined that this is who I want to be.

    Psychologically, how did you pull through?

    It wasn’t really easy. The Bible says: “When the foundation is faulty, what can the righteous do?” When the unit you break out from is faulty, either by mistakes or choices that your parents or your forefathers have made, it has a vital role to play in the person you become in the society. At that point when I was neither here nor there, I was just lingering in life.

    Those were my vulnerable years; those were the years I made a whole lot of mistakes and I had to learn the hard ways. I also have to thank God for that part of my life because it is not a period of time so short that I can just waive away. All the while, I was also acting, even if it was two or three scenes. In-between struggling to make it in life, I met a lot of people who could make you forget your destiny and those who actually wanted to see you up there because my formative years were neither here nor there.

    The second force that will battle your foundation that is faulty is actually your person. I knew I had potentials and I knew what I loved to, so I turned them all to work for my benefits. I wasn’t thinking of the fact that I come from a wealthy background. Even till date, I don’t think anything is actually my problem. What I just need to do is to go to the right people and ask; or better still, I pray to God to provide it for me. It is not about what life has thrown at you, but it is about what you can do with what life has thrown at you. In my formative years, strangers were my friends and family. So, as an individual, I see myself as somebody who has a large family.

    When did you start leaving independently of your parents?

    When I say I was alone that time, I mean that everybody was going about his or her business and nobody wanted to really understand how you were feeling psychologically. It was just me in my world, so one could do some naughty things through peer group influence. I won’t advise parents to leave their children alone. They should try and understand how they feel, even in their decision-making because you might not know where you have left them alone.

    Did that also result in your dropping out of school?

    Yes. You know, you can just stray away without looking back, if you refuse to listen to what people are saying. My mother was extremely strict and she shaped me with proverbs. The proverbs were enough strokes of the cane that will last you a lifetime.  I missed with friends who didn’t think of the future but the present and you could just play away your lectures, exam dates, tests and assignments. That is it why I still maintain that it is you as an individual.

    I guess that was also the period you got pregnant?

    Yes, that was the period. I had my baby; and like I said, you now have to start correcting the mistake you have made. All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I can never trade away today. I thank God I had him then, though early. As I said earlier, my youth really got me prepared for what lies ahead of me. As an individual, I already knew what I wanted and how I wanted it, so I would just say it is a blessing that it happened then.

    How old were you then?

    I was 17.

    You mum must have been very disappointed in you, knowing that she was always cautioning you.

    She took me in, washed me, cleaned me up and put my feet firmly on ground such that I had to start and do it right. I would say ever since then, our bond got tighter as mother and child. She is a mother any human being will ever wish for. A lot of people gave her all sorts of advice.

    Did she feel she didn’t do enough to caution you?

    She just attributed it to destiny. I am the only child; so, if I had to be at home, I would be locked up in the house. But as a mischievous child, I devised a means of still going out to play with my friends. Of course, it wasn’t anything naughty. But a child needs people around him or her. So, it is not really nice when a child is alone in a massive compound because he or she might get naughty. And at times, you get tired of being alone.

    So, you wanted to explore?

    Yes, you are right.

    And then, you abused the freedom in the process?

    When the people who are supposed to shape you are not around, you tend to miss your ways. I guess that was what happened and I made my mistakes in time and corrected them in time.

    Did you attempt to abort the pregnancy?

    Yes, I did. But it didn’t work for me.

    How?

    I was asked to use some pills; but you know, destiny is destiny. He was meant to come and he came. He couldn’t even be aborted. There are children out there whose parents did everything humanly possible to terminate them, but they still came. There are reasons why the abortion would fail and it is only God who knows the reason. And if you are lucky not to get it terminated, you will see the reason. Honestly, I don’t think it is a good option, but it is as old as prostitution.

    Why did you consider abortion when you knew the man who was responsible for the pregnancy?

    I was a teenager, so I probably would not have made any good decision on my own. I couldn’t even allow my mum to know in time. In fact, I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I was way gone, so that is why I said he is a destiny child.

    Like how many months?

    I was about five months gone! By the time I knew and thought of abortion, nobody would want to do that for me.

    What advice will you give teenagers who are pregnant now?

    I am worried about teenagers nowadays. I have seen and heard all sorts. I don’t know what to do, but I just believe that God, the government, the NGOs, parents, teachers, guardians and good citizens of Nigeria should help to shape the young ones coming behind us. They have lost it. The mistake I have made, I have been able to correct them by myself. But I have seen and heard of other cases where people could not correct themselves and their lives went in shambles. That you are not a graduate is not an excuse.

    Also, ignorance is not an excuse. If you don’t learn a trade or do anything to improve your life and you expect manna to come from Heavens, you will either steal or prostitute; and if you do either of these, you will end up destroying your destiny. But if you know you have a good plan for yourself, you should try and stay under your parents and obey the laws. I am not saying you can’t come across one or two misfortunes in life, but you can avoid it when you stay on the right tracks.

    Was it a case of infatuation or love?

    It was infatuation. It couldn’t have been real love because I didn’t know what real love was then.

    How do you relate to your son now?

    I relate to him very well. I call him my correction. Everything I did wrong, he is doing it right. He is 19 years old now and he is a wonderful young chap. Every mother will say that about her child. But when outsiders say that about your child, then, you know you are not trying to massage your ego. I thank God I have a good product in the society. I am not trying to praise him overboard, but he knows his boundaries; so, I thank God for everything.

    What is it like being a single parent?

    It is not a child’s play at all. There was a time he lived with his dad because I have to fulfill all righteousness. He wanted him and we discussed it, so I allowed him to go. But circumstances still warranted me to be in the custody of the child now. So, raising him alone is a blessing to me. It has made me strong. Whatever decision I make, I make sure I put him into consideration. I thank God I am not lazy; at least, I have been able to feed him well, clothe him well and give him good education. It has not been easy, but being a single parent has made me who I am today.

    You are the only child of your mum and you have so far had only him, so aren’t you bothered?

    I don’t see it as something bizarre. I have loads of cousins and I have stepbrothers and stepsisters.

    But I am particular about your own?

    I am going to get married and I am going to have more children. But for now, it is just my career and me. My son is a grown-up; so, I am not nursing anymore.

    You have never been married, so you are considering getting married now?

    But what are the qualities you want in your-would-be man?

    From experience, I want a real man, an African man. Well, not a tyrant. But then, he should be in charge. I want a father figure and I want my own husband.

    Why has it been hard for you to get a man who has all the qualities?

    I won’t say hard because I sure have suitors. I am, however, waiting for the God-ordained one. I don’t want to make any mistake. There are so many factors that lead to separation in marriage. If you marry outside the will of God, there will be a crack or separation along the line. It is a sacred thing.

    So, it should not be because you have come of age or because you desire it or because you are searching. If you rush into it, you will rush out of it. These are the things we should learn and accept in life. Some people are not meant to get married! So, I won’t say because I have suitors, I will rush into marriage. A lot of them will tell you they will marry you, but iro ni won pa( they are lying). They probably just want to use you to ‘pose’ as their wife, given that you an actress. After three months, one year or so, it will pack up.  I have pressure from my mum and others to get married. They say they will buy gele and aso.

    But I might shock them because I might only pick gele. I don’t want any elaborate ceremony.  So, it depends on what God has designed for me. I am not finding it hard to get a husband. At the set time, the right person will come my way.

    But some believe you don’t want to get married because you have all that a man may want to give you?

    I tell a lot of guys that I can’t have anything to do with them, but we can be friends because, at the end of the day, nothing good will come out of it. I can’t allow myself to be used as a display thing. Some of them even have fiancés tucked abroad and they date you for months and years. But before you know what it is happening, they are gone.

  • Amstel arranges date for Genevieve, fan

    Amstel arranges date for Genevieve, fan

    A sensational dinner has been planned around Nollywood screen diva, Genevieve Nnaji and a lucky fan, who will emerge through an online movie competition for the VIP treat.

    The deal comes as activation for the Amstel Malta brand, which the actress has been contracted to promote.

    After resting the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO), the movie reality show sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc, the company has evolved similar projects of engagement for the malt drink, hence this new initiative called “Act The Part”.

    To take part in the online competition, fans are expected to act any role from a selected movie of their choice in just 2 minutes and upload on the Amstel Malta website. The lucky winner, who will emerge via popular votes, will also be entitled to an exquisite makeover, courtesy of Amstel Malta.

    Genevieve Nnaji, who was announced as a brand ambassador alongside Nigerian Chelsea mid-fielder, Mikel Obi at the 2ndedition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) in February, has promised a very splendid experience for the lucky winner.

    The Amstel Malta brand ambassador and award-winning actress, is inviting fans to join the exciting online competition “Act The Part”, and showcase exceptional acting skills with the golden opportunity of a fantastic experience with her.

     

  • Stars absent at Foluke Daramola’s Cobweb premiere

    Stars absent at Foluke Daramola’s Cobweb premiere

    As a prelude to the Saturday, June 28 premiere of top Nollywood actress Foluke Daramola’s latest flick, Cobweb, there was a lot of buzz, which generated enthusiasms among numerous movie buffs.

    So, the turnout of passionate movie lovers at the Silverbird Cinemas, City Mall, Ikeja, Lagos was not unexpected on the memorable day.

    However, not a few of the audience were greatly shocked to find out that most of the ‘advertised’ lead characters in the movie and even her notable colleagues in the industry were missing in action at the premiere.

    It was surprising that the likes of Funso Adeolu, Saheed Balogun, Uti Nwachukwu and a few others, whose fans had looked forward to meeting, could not attend the premiere, thereby raising questions in some quarters. .

    Explaining his absence at the premiere, actor Funsho Adeolu said: “I was on a set at Ijebu, Ogun State and that was the reason I could not attend the event. There is no other motive behind my absence. She sent a broadcast message, but it went to my wife’s phone. That was a day to the premiere.

    “Foluke said she thought she had my BB pin. I really felt bad not being part of the event. And there was no way I could leave the set for the premiere,” he said.

    However, worried by the reports that have now gone viral on the Internet, the mother of two has come out to reveal the reason her colleagues did not grace the event.

    In an interview with The Nation, she said: “The notice I gave to my colleagues was too short and that was because I myself was given a short notice by my corporate sponsors.  I had until the end of June to do the premiere. However, the launch, which we usually do in the Yoruba sector of the movie industry, will come up in August. So, all my colleagues will be in attendance because there will be enough time to send out invitations for them to participate fully.”

    Directed by Toka Mcbaror, Cobweb stars the likes of Uti Nwachukwu, Funsho Adeolu, Dele Odule, Saidi Balogun and Tamara Eteimo. It tells the story of a young boy, Sam, who is gifted with a good voice. His father, however, wants him to become a scientist. The twists and turns of events lead to the separation of the family. Sam grows to become a popular singer cum actor.

    It was not, however, a totally bad day for the producer, as the likes of actresses Ayo Adesanya, Toyin Aimakhu-Johnson and her husband graced the occasion.

  • Oscars extends chance to Nigeria

    Oscars extends chance to Nigeria

    Following the inauguration of the Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC), the opportunity for Nollywood filmmakers to contest the Academy prize for Foreign Language Film, has been opened, with the committee, already calling for movie entries.

    In a statement released on Monday, NOSC, whose mission is to scout and submit Nigerian films at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards, said it is now accepting submissions for its inaugural edition.

    The period of submission which began yesterday, the statement said, will terminate on July 16.

    According to NOSC, special attention must be paid to productions in languages other than English, but which much bear accurate translations in English language: “NOSC accepts motion pictures from Nigerian filmmakers living in Nigeria and Diaspora whose films relate to Nigeria. The recording of the original dialogue track as well as the completed picture must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English. Please note that Pidgin English is also considered as a foreign language. Accurate English subtitles are required.

    The entry requirement also stipulates that the film must have been released between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014.

    In a seven-point guidelines, the committee said “films that have previously screened publicly in Nigeria, aired on television prior to the selection, are available for purchase on DVD in Nigeria, or are available for continuous online viewing in their entirety are not eligible.

    “Films must be submitted on DVD and must be clearly watermarked ‘Preview Copy’. Do not send film prints, master tapes, or other originals.

    Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry into the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

    “Entrant will allow usage of clips from the film for promotional use on television, radio, in print, and at live Festival events.

    “Works in Progress: While entrants are permitted to submit films that are not fully complete (i.e., without final colour correction and sound mixing), please note that the programming committee will only consider the version submitted; subsequent cuts or replacement copies will only be accepted at the request of the programming committee.

    “Only complete entries (including entry form, and preview DVD screener) will be processed.

    “Please submit a typed or clearly printed entry form or a copy of the online form receipt along with the submission. The Nigerian Oscar Selection Committee is not responsible for incorrect wording in publications or on awards if the entry form is incorrect or illegible.”

    Interestingly, the Academy, unlike the Federation of Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO), accepts entries in digital video formats.

    Eligible participants are expected to send their productions in 35mm, DCP, HDCAM, DigiBeta, and Blu-ray Disc, to House 2, Block 101, Plot 8, Furo Ezimora Street, Lekki Residential Scheme, Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.

    NOSC said eligible submissions will be reviewed and selected based on the quality of the film’s narrative and its production values.

    The committee noted that it will only get across to anyone whose film meets the criteria, adding that the Nigeria’s officially selected film will be announced on a gala event to be announced later.

     

  • Managing stardom IS tougher than being a star

    Managing stardom IS tougher than being a star

    Nkem Owoh, famously called Osuofia, is one of the top Nollywood comic actors. He has been described by many as one of the highest paid actors in the industry. In this no-holds-barred interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the actor cum producer speaks on stardom, challenges, marriage and more.

    HOW do you always handle the crowd that follows you whenever you appear in the public?

    It’s not something that started today. So, I am used to such encomiums and such crowds. But I’m this sort of person who doesn’t like a crowd around him when I am doing my private business. When I am doing the crowd thing, then, I can come and entertain the crowd. But honestly, I still feel so shy when I am in the crowd. At times, because of the management of my stardom, I hold myself back from betraying emotions. This is because at times, they do certain things as if we are not human too.

    As one of the biggest in comedy movies, how does it really feel?

    It feels somehow, if you agree or if a realisation comes to you that you are the biggest. I feel just like you, so you find out that that psychology will not put pressure on me. My own reaction to the public perception is diagonal. From the professor to the labourer, from the general to the cook, from the highest in the religious body to the lowest, I relate to everybody the same way.

    People acclaim you for what they think you are. But I just see myself as that actor. It is when the crowds begin to come that I begin to look for security. I now begin to go out with some of these policemen. Not because it affects me psychologically, but because of my physical security. I don’t have much; I am not endowed so much with ‘meat’ in my body, so any little person can just fling me off. So, I take care of myself by getting some security.

    What took you out of Lagos?

    I was in Lagos for 20 years. What started bringing me down to the east was, if I need something that has a Calabar touch, I will come down to Calabar and shoot it. If I need something that has an Igbo touch, I will come to the east and shoot it. But when you try to create Calabar or Efiv in Lagos, to me, it’s Jollof, adulterated and inorganic. But I want those organic ones. I have fought some little wars in the cause of our production; but now, I feel very comfortable.

    What kind of person is Nkem Owoh outside the Osuofia we know on TV?

    I’m just like every other person. I’m somebody who likes to learn from everybody. I like to learn from the smallest and I like to learn from the biggest. If you come to the production ground, I am more in tune with the PAs than with the bourgeois in the industry. It’s not as if I do not have my closeness or things that bring us together, but I feel freer talking to people who are free. If I cannot come to you and talk to you freely, then you are in prison and I am not. If they need a very long protocol to talk to you, you are in prison. I like to talk to people who are free.

    Having come this far, what sort of challenges do you face?

    I have (and still am) facing a lot of challenges. Well, there are two challenges now: challenges as an individual and challenges of the industry. As an individual, the challenges people place on you and the length of stardom are always greater than the length of your purse in our own case. People think because you are Osuofia in London, you must be stinking rich and they over-assess you. That’s why at times, they feel so surprised when you begin to commune with the ‘raw sticks’. It is not as if your name is commensurate to your bank account; it doesn’t work like that. I appreciate the fact that my name has a lot in its account than my bank account because this one can open doors and influence minds. Yes, you need money to get things going and all of that, but the name can do a lot more.

    Stardom too has it challenges. Now, personally, because I act comedy, everybody thinks I am what I act on television. If you are moving around, you will see some people would say, ‘Hey! Osuofia, come, let me give you a drink.’ Probably you are acting a poor man and you are drunk, they assume you are like that. They now say come and drink. If you look at the person, if you want to manage your stardom properly, you don’t rebuff the person and you don’t embrace the person, you just politely walk away. Again, should I talk about my phone? It’s another thing. My phone is supposed to be a very big advert to me, but it’s turning into a nuisance.

    You know, I can’t rest, I can’t eat and I can’t drink because everybody wants you to make them light. But nobody is asking whether this guy is happy or not. That is it. You will be in themiddle of a fracas probably with your workers or in your family and somebody, a small boy, will just come and say, ‘Make me happy.’ Or all these apprentices in the market place would say, “Osuofia, there is bad market o; please, put us on a lighter mood.” If you cannot manage it, you will explode and politely for those people who say, ‘Come, come and greet me,’ you politely wave and continue.  I tell my friends that I don’t answer calls.  I rarely answer calls. But if you write me a message, I can call you back, if I see the subject of your message.

    You are reported to earn over N2m per movie. So, naturally, it is expected that you are a millionaire, especially because you appear in almost every comedy movie.

    What is N2m? Why I say N2m is nothing is, when people hear that you are rich, everybody from the village (if you are somebody who goes close to your home people, the church where you attend) will be tugging at your sleeves and you find out that that N2m will not last one week. But if there is no this hullabaloo about your purse, there are certain things people will not come to you for. But once they hear that amount, they over-assess you, so they come. That’s why I say N2m is small. In fact, I need a house full of money to solve my problems.

    I have some people under my scholarship and it is because of all these things. They say you have this kind of money, but you are not training anybody. So, you have to. I have people on scholarship. But instead of having international foundation, I decided to have foundation for my own people. If you go to my village and ask them, they will tell you. I started from my people. Those people on my scholarship are not mainly my brothers.

    Do you have a foundation?

    I don’t have a foundation because I find out that running a foundation, at times, is playing to the gallery. You have a foundation and you write to some foreign countries to support you. I don’t want to exhibit it. What I do, I do with my personal funds. Scandal will begin to come in when you go and borrow money to do these things. Instead of borrowing money to do that, then I would rather do the ones I can do with my money.

    Aside acting, what else do you?

    I used to have a school. I decided to close it because my workers started playing games. I have a movie studio; I have camera chains that shoot both our movies and those they use in weddings, though the branch is in Enugu. Besides, I have video clubs.

    Have you produced your own movie?

    I’ve been producing and I’ve been marketing my films. My production outfit is called NONKS Production. Even if you look at some of the films or television programmes, you will see post production by NONKS Studio. I don’t have to come out and begin to use microphone to shout about it. It’s my company. Once I am reaping from it, my own name is enough. It is getting too much for me too.

    How do you cope with female advances?

    I cope very, very well.

    How do you go about it?

    Well, it depends on the angle you are coming from. If you don’t understand women, you won’t cope with them. If you think women are chattels and they should come to you because you are a star, you can’t cope with them. You have to understand a woman is a human being like you. If I want to talk to a person I appreciate, I will talk to you as if I’m nothing. I don’t like to see myself as a ‘big star’. That is why I cope so well. If you relate to someone on an individual basis, they know. But if you come to impose yourself on me, I get afraid. I’m sorry, but that’s me. Because of security, I used to have male PAs. But now, I’ve laced them with female PAs.

    By having female PAs, is it a strategy to rebuff those who try to impose themselves on you?

    No, my strategy is just by being polite, by trying to draw a line. Because I am a star and women are coming, I have to allow them to come? You will kill yourself. In any case, I became a man before I became a star. There are people who hit stardom at a very young age. So, they get confused because they are not mature to manage that stardom. I tell you, to manage stardom is harder than being a star.

    Do you have any regrets?

    No, if I come at another time and the opportunity presents itself to be an actor, I will jump at it. Yes, I will, if it is like this.

    Was there something else you wanted to do before acting came along?

    I read electrical engineering, but I am not practising it. The only tango I had with engineering was when I worked with one company, Waco Engineering. Even before I entered school, acting had been tugging at the sleeve of my mind.

    So, why did you study engineering?

    When did acting explode? I had already finished studying what I wanted to study. You find out that when people think that you are an average student and you want to impress your parents, you have to study those things that are big. I was good at sciences, so I went for engineering and I was taking the accolades for studying engineering. But what is feeding me today is not engineering. I’m an engineer by certificate, but I am a show businessman by profession.

    Are your kids taking after you in acting?

    Yes, I have seen the pigments in some of them, but I don’t want to pressure my kids. The only thing I try to do is to encourage them. In fact, one of my daughters is very good at singing. I used to sing. It runs in my family. What I did was to buy her a recorder; so, each time the inspiration comes like that, I gave her the recorder to record whatever comes to her at that time.

    So, you have a musician in the making?

    I don’t have a musician in the making. I am only encouraging her. But if she wants to be a musician, fine!

    You also had a stint with music. What happened?

    The marriage among the branches of arts is so strong and you can’t do one without the other. In Hollywood, you see those who sing act. An Indian film is just all about acting and singing. Some of the big time musicians we know in the U.S. are actors. Some of the actors play music. So, these things are interrelated. I don’t think I am going outside the box if I go into music. I will just have to pick one and do the other one as an associate.

    You are one of the busiest in the industry. Do you have time for family?

    When you have such a thing, it’s just like you in your office. In my office, I travel a lot, but I try to have an understanding with my workers, my manager and my accountant. So also if you appeal to your wife and she appreciates that this is the place where the pocket bulges, I don’t think she will lose her cool. But you don’t have to overdo it. What I do is that I let my children and my wife to understand what I am doing. I tell them that if I don’t do what I am doing, I will not make this money. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. So, it is a question of understanding. The only thing that causes trouble is if your wife or your family wants to query you that you are not always around and you begin to hala. But when you put them in the picture, they will understand.

    Does your wife sometimes feel insecure because of your stardom and women getting attracted to you?

    Those who are not stars are even worse. Those who are not stars are bigger risks to their wives. If you are a star, anything I do here now is news. But somebody who is not known can come, perpetrate any kind of atrocity here and go out without anybody noticing. So, you have to be cautious of that. Whatever you do, there are eyes watching you.

  • Tonto Dikeh joins D’banj’s DB Records

    Tonto Dikeh joins D’banj’s DB Records

    NOLLYWOOD actress and singer, Tonto Dikeh, has officially joined D’banj’s DB Records label. This makes her the first female act to join the label.

    Banger Lee, as D’banj is fondly called, made the announcement on his Instagram page on Tuesday, when he posted a picture of both of them with the caption: “To my birthday mate and the duchess of DB Records, welcome to the Lee temple. I can’t wait for the world to see what we’ve been up to. I’m proud of you my daughter.”

    The two stars, who are birthday mates, received eye-popping cakes on their birthday from Jeremiah Ogbodo of Swanky’s Signatures, the outfit that styles Tonto Dikeh and a few other celebrities. The cakes represented each letter of their names.

    It will be recalled that Tonto Dikeh’s music career came under serious criticisms when she released her first single titled Hi.

    However, as she has now signed to DB Records, time will tell if she will find favour in the minds of Nigeria music buffs who think she has nothing to offer musically.

  • Nollywood Movies Award: Organisers call for entries

    ENTRIES are now open for the 2014 edition of the Nollywood Movies Awards, which is scheduled to come up on October 18, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    According to the organisers, deadline for all submission of films closes on July 15, while nominees will be announced in August.

    “Only movies in English and Nigerian indigenous languages, which were produced, released or premiered between February 1, 2013 and April 31, 2014, are eligible for consideration. “Submitted movies should not exceed 180 minutes and/or should be in a maximum of four parts. Short movies should not exceed 40 minutes,” said the statement.