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Tag: Norbert Young

  • Theatre mania Africa Festival: Norbert Young to head awards jury

    Theatre mania Africa Festival: Norbert Young to head awards jury

    Veteran Nigerian actor, Norbert Young has been announced the head of Jury for the 2025 Theatremania Africa Festival awards.

    Young, it was gathered, will lead a five member jury team as the chairman. Other members of the jury are Lydia Gifty Hagan from Ghana, who will serve as the secretary; Kehny Obafemi from Canada, who will serve as the publicist; Mamela J. Aisha J. Rafahlema from South Africa; and

    Jacinta MacJob from Nigeria.

    In his acceptance remarks, the theatre practitioner, who spoke on behalf of the members of the jury said, “we are extremely grateful for the call to serve the industry especially from the Theatre space which is very dear to my heart, we promise to do our best to be unbiased, just and credible in discharging our duties. Every award strives for credibility and fairness in its adjudication process of picking the eventual winners, hence, we shall uphold this thrust. So, let the submission begin.”

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    Young and other members of the jury will be adjudicating and choosing the eventual winners of the 20 categories of the festival awards.

    For the festival scheduled for October 2025, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder TAF, Alayande Stephen, in his remarks, appreciated all the stakeholders and promised that no stone will be left unturned to ensure a successful festival in Lagos, Nigeria.

    In his words, “we are working assiduously to bring Theatre Players/Practitioners within and outside Africa to be fully involved in this project and to celebrate and appreciate stakeholders in this unique form of arts. The Festival will be a Pot-Pourri of activities ranging from Thespian Nite, Street Theatre, Generation Next Theatre for Secondary Schools, Stakeholders Roundtable, Africa Rise Against Malaria (ARAM) Advocacy, Peace Walk, Theatre + Fashion (The METALIC), Command Performance and Awards Nite.”

  • Actors Norbert Young, Gloria open up about seven-year battle with childlessness 

    Actors Norbert Young, Gloria open up about seven-year battle with childlessness 

    Veteran actors Norbert Young and Gloria have shared their experience of struggling with childlessness for seven years. 

    Speaking in an interview on Love Notes with Tope, Gloria opened up about the emotional toll it took on her, while Norbert revealed that he never saw it as a challenge. 

    Norbert recalled how his sister faced a similar situation, waiting 16 years for a child, and praised her husband for standing by her. He emphasized that their struggle with childlessness never threatened their marriage. 

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    When asked about the challenges in their relationship, Gloria simply responded, *“I was childless for seven years, Norbert.”

    Norbert said: “I didn’t see it as a challenge, you see, because I kept telling her, ‘What are you worried about? What is it? Be calming down.

    “How can I see it as a challenge? I had a sister who was married for 16 years without a child, and on the 17th year, she had a child.

    “Her husband never told her to leave. That child today is a medical doctor—a big man too. So what’s the big deal? It didn’t threaten our union at all.”

    Gloria said: “He never did. But I was the one feeling it, and I was the one seeing things. And he was the one telling me, ‘What is it? Stop worrying about such things.’”

    Norbert confirmed her anxiety, saying, “She was anxious about it—being childless for that long. Like I said, it wasn’t a challenge for me, but it was for her. As a couple, it was challenging, but personally, I didn’t see it that way.”

    Gloria, however, shared her anxiety and the societal pressure she faced, particularly from relatives who would stare at her stomach during family gatherings, silently inquiring about her childlessness.

    “I would go to my own family gatherings, and not asking per se, but imagine you’re walking into the room, and one aunty looks at you—makes sure that you know she’s looking at you—then her eyes go down to your stomach.

    “And as you walk away, her eyes are still there. What is she telling you? Like, ‘How far na? E don tey oh! E don pass one, two, three…’ Without saying a word. Oh, I had that kind of auntie.”

  • Why women earn more in Nollywood – Norbert Young

    Why women earn more in Nollywood – Norbert Young

    Veteran actor Norbert Young has argued women in the film industry make more money than men.

    The 63-year-old Warri-born movie star stated this in an interview with The Cable. 

    He spoke on different topics including the evolution of Nollywood, pension plans for veteran actors and how the government can contribute to the development of the film industry.

    According to him, women have more bargaining power than men, and women attract more money, adding that it does not make them wayward.

    “People love women, they love what they do and women attract more money. It does not make them wayward or anything like that, women get gifts more than men do. Also, every actor has their own bargaining power and maybe the women are bargaining better,” he stated.

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    “But I do not go asking how much you are paid, and you do not come asking me how much I am paid. Better is relative, I think it depends on priorities and what is better for you might not be better for me,” he added.

    Speaking about a trend of ailing actors who are constantly seen on social media pleading for funds to get medical help, Young said because it is Nollywood, it is amplified and blown out of proportion.

    “If you are on social media you will see many people doing this but everybody thinks it is only in Nollywood. It happens all over the world,” he said.