ISABEL, the beautiful daughter of the former Super Eagles player, Julius Aghahowa, is on a path to stardom. The young girl has joined Nollywood.
Her first appearance is in Uche Jombo’s movie. Eleven-year-old Isabel stars alongside other famous faces in Nollywood.
Julius Aghahowa’s name might have faded off the lips of Nigerians but his daughter is set to lift the name high.
NOLLYWOOD screen diva, Nse Ikpe-Etim, narrates her shocking true life experience about jungle justice in Nigeria.
She shared the chilling story on Twitter recently.
According to her, “I took a night bus to Aba some years ago from Abuja to the fabric market. After I had walked around and seen for myself, I went back to the park and decided to have a beer. I brought out my laptop and started writing, trying to blend in so I won’t look out of place. I was scared, but I knew that in a few hours, I would be back home. As I took a sip from my bottle and turned to my laptop, someone had lifted the bottle in pursuit of a young man. I heard screams of ‘Onye oshi!’ ‘Thief!’ That was when I realized that the woman screaming had been robbed of her purse.
“The woman claimed she had only N200 and an umbrella in the purse. They pursued him, caught him and put a tire on his neck. They poured fuel on him and all I could do was beg the officers there to help him. They looked at me and struck the match. My journey to the nation’s capital was no longer the adventure I hoped it would be. It was my worst nightmare. This isn’t a movie. I’m talking about Jungle Justice in Nigeria. I think it’s sickening and sad. We cannot lose our humanity. If a man does wrong, please seek the hands of the law. Taking the law into your hands is barbaric and that’s not what we should be.”
THAT beautiful actress cum entrepreneur, Monalisa Chinda, is one of the shining stars in the nation’s movie industry, otherwise called Nollywood, is to state the obvious.
What is news, however, is that the mother of one, in a recent interview with a national newspaper, was quoted to have said that popular socialite, Lanre Nzeribe, is only a friend to her.
When asked to describe her relationship with Nzeribe, she said, “That is a personal decision. Some things are private-they are not meant to be discussed on the pages of newspapers. Lanre Nzeribe is only a friend and I won’t say more than that.”
Perhaps, the actress was trying to dispel the rumour of any amorous relationship with Nzeribe, who has allegedly been linked with some other female celebrities in the country.
Monalisa further revealed her plans for 2014, saying, “There is so much more to Monalisa than meets the eye. There is actually more to everyone than anyone could ever know because we all have what it takes to exceed our wildest dreams. We only limit ourselves in our minds.”
KATE Henshaw, a top Nollywood actress and entrepreneur, was part of the panelists on the Social Media Week, which was rounded off on Friday at the Volkswagen Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Social Media Week is a media platform and event held across five continents, including Africa, North America, South America, Europe and Asia. It explores the socio-cultural and economic impact of social media.
The week-long conference and festival is held twice a year (February and September) in multiple cities across the globe simultaneously.
In February, 2013, Lagos, Nigeria joined the Social Media Week community as the first African city to host the event alongside 10 other cities, including Hamburg, Milan, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.
Kate Henshaw, who hails from Cross River State, Nigeria, is the oldest of four children. After completing her primary and secondary school in Lagos and Calabar, she spent one year at the University of Calabar, where she did remedial studies and later majored in Medical Microbiology at the School of Medical Lab Science, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos.
NOLLYWOOD actor, Osita Iheme, famously called Pawpaw, marked his 34th birthday on Thursday, at his home town, Obeagu in Nkanu East, Enugu State.
With palpable joy, he said, “I feel great and honoured to be with these people. I’m also fulfilled with the presence of my colleagues who are here to celebrate with me. I’m so glad with the love they share with me. Though this is just a mini-celebration to mark the day, the bigger one will come up later.”
PRETTY but controversial Nollywood actress, Uche Ogbodo, seems to enjoy pulling the strings, especially about her private affairs.
Only last year, she sprang a fast one on her fans, when she secretly wedded her lover, a Norway-based football agent, Apo Arthur.
The images from the traditional ceremony, which took place at her family compound in Nkanu, Enugu State, are still being anticipated. Again, in her characteristic style, the actress has reportedly been cooking another surprise on her numerous fans.
Reports have it that she might be visiting the labour room any time from now.
•To train 21 Niger Delta youths in filmmaking
Having swelled his fame with the production of Black November, a film that chronicles the turmoil of an unending oil spill in the Niger Delta, young filmmaker, Jeta Amata, will be partnering the United States government in a reality show on the same subject.
Amata, who flew into the country from Los Angeles, United States, for a press conference at the US Consulate in Lagos, said on Monday that the project becomes necessary to find lasting peace in the Niger Delta region, by distracting the youths from restive tendencies and engaging them to tell positive stories about the region as filmmakers.
“I tell you one reason why I want to do this… It’s the first time I’m coming home with my daughter. She is five. What kind of Niger Delta do we want to leave for our kids? Do I want to bring her home in another 10 years and hope that it’s going to be safe? The responsibility now rests with us. It’s no longer time to play the blame game. If tomorrow it goes bad, it is us; our children will blame us. So, I’m doing this so that we can have a better Niger Delta and a better people for my daughter. I welcome all of you to do the same for your children too, even if you don’t have kids yet,” he said, flanked by Jeffrey J. Hawkins, Jr. U.S. Consul General, Lagos, Nigeria.
Although Black November followed a local community’s struggle against its own government and multi-national oil corporations to repair the lives, land and environment that is being plundered by oil spillage, the reality show underway will showcase stories of non-violent transformation in some of the Niger Delta communities.
Tagged Dawn in the creeks: A Niger Delta Legacy, he said the reality TV series will follow teams of Niger Delta youths as they embark on a journey to create films in the Nollywood style, showcasing stories of non-violent transformation in their communities.
He said the effort is being guided by a board composed of distinguished Nigerian thought leaders, with support from the U.S. State Department, adding that Dawn in the Creeks is the centerpiece of the wider Niger Delta Legacy engagement aimed at forging a legacy of peace and transformation.
U.S. Consulate General Lagos and the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) in September 2013, launched a conflict mitigation initiative in the Niger Delta. Hawkins, Jr. said the U.S had a strong interest in supporting the country’s peace, prosperity, and security, especially by stabilizing “the resource-rich Niger Delta – an economic engine of the country, but a region historically prone to violence.”
He noted that the Niger Delta is still vulnerable to renewed conflict and that “reducing that vulnerability is in the interests of both the U.S. and Nigeria.” He said the U.S is delighted to support Nigeria, knowing Nigeria also plays a critical role in Africa, “as an economic and cultural giant with a growing and dynamic population.”
Speaking on the modalities of the reality show, Amata said: “We will choose people from here whom I will take to a school called Nollywood Academy. There, we will teach them how to make films the Nollywood style. It sounds crazy but I have just a couple of weeks to teach them how to make these films. If I could do it years ago, and see other people who learnt the way I did, that means these people can do it.
“In Ozoro (headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area in Delta State), we will pick seven people to do this, then we will move to Nimbe in Bayelsa State, where we are taking another seven people. From there, we will go to Rivers State, where we will also take seven people. We will fly the 21 people to Lagos and put them in an academy where we will be teaching them how to do these films. After that, we are giving N1million to each group of seven, and also give them state-of-the-art equipment which they will take back to their communities and make these films.
“Now the ‘reality’ part of it is from the moment we start talking about it, like now, till when we arrive in Ozoro. The coverage continues, as we pick the people and teach them up to the point that we see them making these films. This way, Nigerian can see the process of bringing people up from the creeks and transforming them into filmmakers in a couple of weeks.”
Asked how he will be able to achieve success with the project within a short period of time, Amata smiled, recalling that the Americans were awed by the same thought. “They keep telling me are you sure? And I told them, yes! I know my people and I’ve done it before. We are even going to do more, premiere their films in cinemas and get them to attend film festivals around the world. They will transform from just local people into celebrities. That was how Nollywood grew and that is how these people will grow,” he assured.
FOLLOWING the successful hosting of the second Golden Icon Africa Movie Awards (GIAMA) in Houston last October, the African Muzic Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) has now berthed.
It is designed to cater to the music genre of the creative industry.
GIAMA, which was hosted by Nollywood star, Ramsey Nouah, had the patronage of the like of Richard Mofe-Damijo.
Consequently, it is believed that there is now a conscious effort by Nigerians in the Diaspora to lead a continental initiative to reward excellence through classic shows in the creative sector.
According to the organizers, the event is being positioned as “The sole award ceremony in the Diaspora that caters to all musical genres, including but not limited to Afrobeats, Assiko, Bongo, Decale, Funana, Genge, Highlife, Hiplife, Kwaito, Lingala and Soukous.
“African music is currently gaining global recognition at a rapid pace following this trend; AFRIMMA will create a platform that promotes the diversity of African music by bringing influential artists from different African countries for a night of celebration,” said the organizers.
An offshoot of the magazine published by Anderson Obiagwu, the company has been in the forefront of show promotions in the United States.
Their next project is the official Valentine show on February 15, in Dallas, United States, featuring Limpopo crooner, Kcee and his ally, Harrysong.
Anderson, as he is fondly called, is the Founder/CEO of Big A Entertainment, the show promotion platform of the company.
According to him, “AFRIMMA’s vision is endorsed by some of the biggest African artistes such as Fuse ODG (UK), Lira (South Africa), Tuface Idibia (Nigeria), Flavour Nabania (Nigeria), Miriam Chemmoss (Tanzania) , Avril (Kenya), Afro Mask (Ghana/ United Kingdom) , Nonini (Kenya), Chub Heightz (Botswana) and many more.”
In an exclusive chat with The Nation, Anderson, who said he had been residing in the United States for the past 15 years, noted that he grew up listening to Nigerian music. “I will comfortably say that African music is the best music in the world,” he added.
According to him, the company has proudly hosted talent shows across the United States, since its inception and the shows had been well attended.
Some of their past shows featured top African artistes like P-Square, Timaya, Flavour Nabania, Bracket, Tuface Idibia, Awilo Longomba and Michael Blackson, among others.
For the AFRIMMA, Anderson said the maiden edition will come up on July 26th, at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas.
Eisemann Center has been recognized by clients, patrons and the media as one of the leading performing arts facilities serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Music categories to be covered by the award include Best Male West Africa; Best Female West Africa; Best Male East Africa; Best Female East Africa; Best Male Central Africa; Best Female Central Africa; Best Male Southern Africa; Best Female Southern Africa; Best African Group; Best Male Diaspora; Best Female Diaspora; Best Gospel Artist; Best Male Traditional; Best Female Traditional; Best Newcomer; Best Video Director; Best DJ Africa; Best DJ Diaspora; Leadership in Muzik Award; Legendary Award; Best Video of the Year; Music producer of the year; Best Dance Group; Best Rap Act and Best Collabo.
The show, according to organisers, will be hosted by notable Africa’s standup comedian, Basketmouth and sexy Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim.
It appears a new wind of ‘rebranding’ is sweeping through the Yoruba movie sector of Nollywood. First, it was actress Fathia Balogun, who reverted to her maiden name, Fathia Williams, after years of marital problems with her estranged husband Saidi Balogun.
Surprisingly, just as fans of the Delta State-born actress were trying to come to terms with the name change, another top Yoruba actress, Iyabo Ojo, last Wednesday, shocked her fans and loved ones with her post on the Facebook.
For many of her fans, it is as if the mother of two has also caught the bug of name change, which has crept into the Yoruba movie sector.
The sexy actress, who opened a salon, FEPRIS World, on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, last year, announced that she would no longer use the name of her production outfit, Iya Ojo Production, for her subsequent works. Her words: “I will not be using Iyabo Ojo Production as my movie production name. FESPRIS is my new production name henceforth, as I will be dropping the name soon.”
The star of Agogo Ide added that her forthcoming movies, Tenbelu and Silence, would be produced under the stable of FEPRIS Production.
There have been speculations that she might remarry. So, against the backdrop of her disclosure, particularly on the fact that she would soon drop the name, Ojo, the question on the lips of many is: What is in a name?
AS part of their social responsibility programme, a group of Yoruba Nollywood actors called N17, on Thursday in Lagos, took to the streets to campaign against domestic violence and rape.
Tagged Walk against Domestic Violence and Rape, the pressure group,which was launched late last year on the platform of G10 and recently rechristened N17, converged on the LTV 8, Ikeja, Lagos very early in the morning.
The group, which comprises Nollywood stars like Foluke Daramola-Salako, Iyabo Ojo, Ronse Ojo, Eniola Badmus, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, Moji Olaiya, Yomi Fash-lanso, Ayo Adesanya, among others, walked from Agidingbin through Allen Roundabout, Ikeja, where they stopped to address the overwhelming crowd that followed them out of curiosity.
The group addressed the crowd on the evil of rape and domestic violence with emphasis on the need to speak out.
The celebrities had a long time, taking pictures with their fans.
In an interview with The Nation newspaper, Daramola-Salako said N17 is not just about domestic violence and rape, but it is also a pressure group formed specifically to be a voice for the voiceless in the society.
“Our next project is going to be a walk for health, especially as it affects Nollywood veterans. So, people should expect more of this walk.
“What you are seeing today is in conjunction with Change Agent of Nigeria (CAN) and Bosworth College International. The students of Bosworth came out in large number for the walk.
“The national coordinator, Change Agent of Nigeria, Mr. Kayode Salako, also honoured us with his presence. Part of the walk was my foundation, Action Against Rape in Africa (AARA) group.”
Explaining why the name of the group was rechristened, the actress said, “N17 is actually November 17. That was the day we conceived the idea. Initially, the idea was 10 great minds coming together and that was why we called it G10. But it had to change so that we do not streamline the amount of people that can join. There are others with like minds, who definitely would like to join. That is why we opened it up.”
Speaking on the impact of the walk, she said, “We are in a position to influence a change and we are poised to take up that task. There is hardly anytime you open a paper and you don’t read about rape. We believe as celebrities that when we make noise about these things, the right authority should do something about it”.