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Aki dedicates National Honours Award to Nollywood
By Chux Ohai, raschuxxy@yahoo.com
Popular Nollywood actor and comedian, Chinedu Ikedieze, a.k.a Aki , who was conferred with a
national honours award on Thursday, is still in a joyful mood. In a telephone conversation with Life & Beat on Friday, the diminutive actor, who surprisingly did not appear in company with his alter ego Osita Iheme, a.k.a Pawpaw, confessed that the award touched a soft spot in him. "I am highly elated. But, right now, I think a few things about me have got to change. The award has made me to understand that I have to be more responsible and more focused than I have ever been. I am grateful to God and to all who have made this possible. I dedicate the award to all my colleagues in Nollywood," he said.
Aki, who hails from Iluoma Nzeakoli in Bendee Local Government Area of Abia State, was honoured with the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) award. But he was not the only entertainment personality of the younger generation on the list of awardees. The others were Juju gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele and star actress, Patience Ozokwor, a.k.a Mama G. Both of them, were awarded Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and Member of the Federal Republic respectively.
On a lighter note, Aki was the cynosure of all eyes at the venue of the awards ceremony as he stepped forward to shake hands with President Good luck Jonathan. Even his attempt to wave at the crowd caused laughter to ripple through the hall for a few minutes. Mr. President himself could not help laughing, too.
The awards ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Source: Punch, 24th July 2010.
Greatest compliment I ever received was when I played the role of a Yoruba man – Kalu Ikeagwu
By NKARENYI UKONU
YOU write poems and that is one aspect of you most people don't know about. How did it all start?
I have been writing poems from a young age and it is one of the ways I express my thoughts most. The first time I was aware of what was mostly going on around me was through literature, which was what my dad introduced me to as regards reading. He would always lay emphasis on it, both the one in Igbo and in English. I am a naturally creative and imaginative person, being something of an introvert; I tend to go into my own world. Literature helped fire that up in me. Besides, my studying English Literature at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka sort of reinforced it and I began to take it more seriously. I used to be intimidated by the form of literature, that is, its rigidity, its rhymes, in alliteration but I just chose to do mine, free style. That seemed okay with me as long as I was able to capture imagery in words as best as I could and most importantly, be able to convey to the reader what I was saying. I also try to keep my poem as simple as possible. I like a lot of humour in my poem, not the complexities of the Wole Soyinka kind of poem.
Have you tried publishing any?
No I haven't. I just keep amassing them although I am seriously thinking of doing that as soon as possible, maybe put two of the ones that are very dear to me into short 10-minute films. Its reviews would determine if I would publish.
You also blog; how did that also evolve?
Most recently, I started to keep a blog to sort of guide my readers into my thoughts, experiences and what I think about in the past, present, sometimes on set, social issues I see that I am not very happy with. It is a mix, any and everything. It is with a view to sharing me with everyone else. I started blogging last year April. The feedback has been quite good and I have my adult followers. I am also looking seriously to being more serious as regards screen writing. And maybe also write at least a novel before I kick the bucket.
Are you thinking along the line of directing?
Yes, because screen writing and directing go hand in hand.
How long have you been acting?
About 20 years, but I started off with stage acting.Which is your ultimate preference, stage or pictures?
I like both; they both have their attractions. I wouldn't be what I am today if not for stage. The only difference between the two is that on stage, you do a lot of research to get into the character you want to play. One of the greatest compliments I ever received was when I played the role of a Yoruba man from Ondo State in a stage play. On one of the nights after the play had ended, one of the members of the audience walked up to me and asked if I was truly from Ondo. I told him I was Igbo; he couldn't believe me because I had imbibed the Ondo accent, the spurt on humour and everything about the Ondo. He was very impressed and that was one of the best compliment I got. Even after that, I couldn't get rid of the accent for two weeks and refused to speak in English except in Pidgin to mask the accent. That is the beauty of stage. I remember doing quite a bit of research about the Ondo and the man in question. I rehearsed for the role for about two months. The beauty of film on the other hand is that you don't have to exert yourself as much as you do on stage play. The camera is such a beautiful and intrusive thing; that is, all you need do is just think a thought and the camera looks into your soul and picks it up right away. You only need to understand the character and think what the character is likely to think and the camera will follow you every step of the way. They are both different in their own ways but very exhilarating.
How did you acquire your British accent?
I was born in England, lived in Zambia till I was nine years, did my secondary school and university in Nigeria and went back to England and stayed there for about 12 years before coming back to Nigeria. But today in our family house, we don't speak English as a rule; it is Igbo all the way.
What were you up to when you stayed back for 12 years?
Working; I tried to go to school and was able to get a diploma in computer programming. I became a computer programmer during the day and in the evening, I kept my hand on the pulse of what I loved doing, acting. I joined the local drama group in my church, joined some professional theatres as an amateur for rehearsals. That was why the transition to acting here was quite easy.
What else do you do besides all that you have talked about?
I run a business with my cousin in Port Harcourt. We do contracts for oil companies, fittings, safety equipment and the likes.
What business do you have with the Cross Rivers State Government?
It is on tourism and helping with promoting it. It is still in the works so I can't really talk much about it now.
What was growing up like?
I was a horrendous truant while I was in secondary school. I went through six different secondary schools. What cane did I not receive? There was the fan belt, koboko, name it. Ironically, I was the quietest of my siblings. I always quarrelled with my dad and if I knew I couldn't win, I simply applied the passive aggressive method, like refusing to go to boarding school, which was what he wanted for me. Of course he would insist and I would accept. He would give me my school fees, I would leave home and just run off somewhere rather than to school, travelling all over the place. There was a time I was looked for all over the place by the police for months. I was eventually found and brought home and my dad finally succumbed to what I wanted: to be a day student. It was short lived because he still shipped me off to boarding school. I rebelled again and got kicked out of school and then he finally made me a permanent day student. That was when I started performing well. I didn't like to go to boarding school because at that time a lot of people were being rehabilitated from the Civil War and you could easily find much older people as your classmates. One of my classmates was a 35-year-old man with five children and had his own business. A real baby was like a 15-year-old in Class Two and I was nine. Some of these people had been through rough times and were traumatised by all the things they had been through in the Civil War and they took it out on lesser and younger ones like me in terms of punishment. I have crawled on my knees on very rough grounds for long distances and my knees got peeled. I couldn't take it more so, we had just come back from England and I was used to a certain life style and rights. But there, we had no rights whatsoever: that was why I rebelled, more or less.
How would you describe yourself?
I am a very passionate person; I have a lot of belief in humanity, to use my talent to reach as many people as possible. I am very determined, I do not compromise on what I want to do and I go for perfection. Maybe it is a bad thing but that is just me.
Source: Punch, 25th April 2010.
Ramsey Noah Emerges AMAA Actor of the Year
From Segun James in Yenagoa
Popular Nollywood actor Ramsey Noah on Saturday emerged the Best Actor of the year at the African Movie Academy (AMAA) Award held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The award was for his spectacular performance in the flick, The Figurine, which also emerged the best film of the year.
The sixth AMAA award was witnessed by an array of movie stars from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and the Diaspora. Two American movie stars, Ms C.C.H Pounder and Glynn Turner, also attended the event.
Nollywood acts alone carted away nine of the twenty-four awards handed out including Cinematography and Visual Effects of the year won by the film The Figurine.
Ghanaian, Ugandan and Kenyan movie industries also proved that they had a considerable acting and production talents as they carted away awards in eleven categories including the Best Actress of the year won by the duo of Ashaku Mensa-Doku and Lydia Forson in a movie The Perfect picture.
In his speech, Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa said though the economy of the state and indeed the nation needed all the revenue that could be accruable, his administration is convinced its investment in the AMAA is not wasted as the award has shown to the world that the state and the Niger Delta is safe and ready for tourism, which is the new forte for Bayelsa.
Sylva noted that the continued hosting of the event would encourage the anticipated investors to come to the state to invest and also come into a Public-Private Partnership initiative with the state government.
"This administration places huge importance on arts and culture for the promotion of the African values. We will encourage home grown talents.
"Beyond the glamour of the award, it is expected that the talents discovered would be used to correct the wrong impression about the African continent. I hope they would be used to switch the paradigm from the negative to the positive story of the African people and culture.
Use it to tell the story that Bayelsa State is safe for investors to come," he said.
The Chairman of the state Hosting Committee and Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, Mr. Nathan Egba, said the state shares a mutually benefiting relationship with the AMMA organization, which has helped to promote the fielding tourism industry of the state over the years.
Addressing the huge gathering of movie stars, producers and politicians, the representative of the Group Executive Director, Communications of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), Mr. Charles Aigbe, said the relationship between the bank and AMAA award had hit three years and the partnership was in furtherance of the firm belief of the bank in the promotion of the African culture through the movie industry.
In her comment on the noticeable developments in the African Movie industry, the Chairperson of the Award Jury Committee, Keith Shiri, said though the number of entries for the awards for 2010 increased with over 280 entries received for 24 categories, the harsh economic condition grossly affected the industry with a reduction in film production and exit of professionals from the industry.
Shiri, however, noted that the few movies produced and submitted for entry for the award showed an improvement in technical and production expertise and increased number of the involvement of the women behind the cameras.
Source: This Day, 12th April 2010.
Back
AGN Presidency? No Vacancy, Please
– Segun Arinze
As the controversy over the leadership of Actors Guild of Nigeria lingers on, star actor, Segun Arinze reveals the background of the crisis, resolutions reached by the waring parties and other efforts by the actors leadership to bring actors and actresses under a more united guild. Excerpts:
What's happening in AGN?
A lot of things are happening. But one thing is that when we leave what we are supposed to do as professionals and begin to chase shadows, it doesn't augur well for the guild. All that has happened in the guild in recent times is constant power tussle and crisis. That doesn't augur well for the guild as well. In this business, if we don't take ourselves seriously, nobody will take us seriously. Now, when we came into office, our plans were to stablise the guild in spite of all that had happened.
Unfortunately, people have made us a laughing stock, and it's such a shame. But I believe that this is a new dawn for the guild. We should be thinking of how to take the guild to the next level. Already, we have started putting a lot of things in place to see how we can assist our patrons. There's what we call AGN Enterprise, which aims at discovering young and talented actors by nurturing and training them. We are also planning to establish a film academy. Our overall plans are to put structures in place so that the next administration that will come after us will strive to consolidate on our efforts. Government is a continuum. I don't believe in administrative radicalism, rather, I believe in getting things done the right way.
Photo of Segun Arinze
But in a situation where you have discordant voices, how do you go about achieving all these things that you have enumerated?
We will continue to reach out to people. We have an Acting President of the federation in the absence of Mr. President who has been sick. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has been reaching out to people, including the opposition. One must ensure that he has technocrats who identify with the cause that one is championing.
We will continue to reach out to our aggrieved members. There's nothing wrong with anybody aspiring to occupy the highest office in AGN. I wasn't born to be the president of the guild. I aspired to occupy the position and I succeeded. I don't have any problem with anybody that wants to be president of the guild.
But what I preach is that you should achieve such ambition properly, such that will be devoid of chaos. Personally, everything that has been happening in AGN amounts to childishness, triviality and all that. The whole world has been watching us, especially when we chose to make our working environment hostile. Nobody is going to take us seriously again. We are bound to be treated like people of low caste(pariah).
How are you funding the guild in view of the crisis?
We are putting things in place that will assist us in terms of funding. But one of our pre-occupations at the moment is trying to ascertain the numerical strength of the guild. We have a situation where most people claim to be members of the guild when they are not. They go about carrying the guild's ID cards and parading themselves as our members. We want to flush out such impostors. Also, we are presently embarking on re-validation of our membership to enable us plan ahead of time for the guild. Yes, the challenges are quite numerous but I can't start to mention them one after the other now.
Do you believe there is a serious problem within the AGN leadership?
Yes, I agree with you. There's a problem with the leadership of AGN. And that has to do with discernment. This is a guild that has members with diverse backgrounds and different opinions, characters of all shades. There is bound to be argument, disagreement and misunderstanding.
Meaning there's a crack on the wall!
There are bound to be a crack , but if you don't manage it very well, the crack will expand. It's natural. I'm saying that the crack depends on how you are able to manage it. We must agree to disagree, and we must always learn to come together to move the guild forward as professionals.
For me, cracks are bound to happen but it all depends on how we are able to manage them. That will make the difference. Even friends are not free from having disagreements, but their ability to handle such disagreement maturely will stand them out amongst other friends. What counts here is one's ability to rise above mediocrity.
There are three candidates, including youself, who are laying claims to the AGN presidency?
Of course, I'm aware but what we have done so far is that we have put in place committees that would help address the issues affecting the smooth running of the affairs of the guild. In the next couple of weeks, we will be announcing the different committees that we have set up to restore sanity in the troubled guild.
Some of the committees include the reconciliation committee, re-validation committee and others. I refuse to be distracted and my executives refuse to be distracted too. I have learned how not to join issues with my detractors because when I start joining issues with them, I will be distracted. I have reached out to a lot of people, and everyone believes every member of the AGN has an idea of how to move the guild forward.
You were elected alongside some executives during the guild's general election held last year in Port-Harcourt. How come you have a brand new exco?
Actually, we held an election in Port-Harcourt last year. But when we came back to Lagos after the election, the atmosphere was volatile and hostile. I have never in all my career experienced what I passed through during that period.
It was the height of campaign of calumny, back-bitting, mouth-wagging… All sorts of negative things were said about me on the pages of newspapers, magazines and television stations. I mean, I have gone through series of problems before now but I didn't expect the massive negative reactions.
Being the kind of person that I am, I thought of the way out of the logjam, and concluded to bring all parties concerned to the negotiating table.
There and then, we decided to meet with the Board of Trustees of the guild and I told them the way I feel about the whole thing. Though, peace was not achieved easily, it took us more than a month and two weeks to get to where we are today.
We had arguments, disagreements and late hour meetings. For me, if I had wanted to join issues with anybody, I would have gone to court. But whose time, energy and resources are we going to waste? While the crisis lasted, I had people who were calling me on phone to pray for me. My mother who doesn't know anything about the industry had to ask me to sue for peace.
I had my friends in South Africa, Germany, London and America advising me to sue for peace. But after all these, we unanimously agreed to form a government of National Unity. We managed to assemble about seven of our state chairmen in Lagos to chart the way forward for the guild. Among those that attended the meeting were Emeka Ike, Kanaya O. Kanayo, Emeka Rollas and the five members of the BOT. As we started discussing, there was this poser, whether anybody was interested in forming government of national unity. And I replied in the affirmative. Every other person in attendance didn't object to the formation of government of national unity. And the next question was who would lead the administration? It was there and then that Emeka Rollas suggested that if there were any two people that would be chosen for the position, it would be either myself or Kanayo.O.Kanayo. This is because Segun Arinze won the election in Port-Harcourt, as well as KOK who headed the interim government for six months. But given the situation, KOK was not interested in the position. And I happened to be the one who was bringing his mandate on board.
Emeka Rollas moved to nominate me and I said I should be the one to lead the administration no matter the odds. This was a meeting that took place around 2.30 am. At the end of the whole thing, the BOT came up with a resolution where I was directed to pilot the affairs of the guild for the next two years, after which a fresh election would be conducted to usher in a new administration. In the same vein, Emeka Rollas was appointed the Secretary General, while Emeka Ike was made the vice-president(South-East). I had a lot of arguments and disagreements with them.
I wanted an all inclusive government to move the guild forward. We didn't betray anybody here. Rather, I was allowed to choose my three vice-presidents as well as retain my PRO, Chief Whip and ex-official members. We had to move on after the logjam. I could have gone to court if I had wanted to, but I chose to thread the path of peace. I assembled my former executives to intimate them about the development. As a matter of fact, my former Secretary General, Mr. Chuma Onwudiwe, throughout that trial period, avoided meeting with me. I tried to reach him to avail.
Today, I have come to realise that there is no way I can do the wish of everybody. Sometimes, we need to take some radical decisions, and learn to damn the consequence. If you were in my shoes, my brother, what would you have done? Would you have joined issues that would not lead us anywhere? Sometimes, when we do things, we do them out of wisdom. Two years is not too far from here. If there's anybody that has an ambition to become the president of the guild, that person should wait for the next two years. For now, the post of AGN president is not vacant.
Looking at the whole scenario, what have you lost as the crisis lasted?
My privacy and my business. I lost a lot of things but I don't care because I have a mandate and terms of reference to restore AGN to its lost glory. One of my terms of reference is to expand the Board of Trustees of AGN within the ambit of the constitution. Also, I want to put structures in place that will help our up and coming actors to find their footing.
What's your advice to your members out there?
Every aggrieved member of AG should learn to sheathe his sword and embrace the new dawn. There is need for all hands to be on deck to move AGN forward. Let's work together to take the guild to the next level. Let the past be buried forever. I want to believe that there's a new dawn for the guild, and I'm looking forward to working with everybody, including Emeka Ike. I know he has a great idea concerning how we can move the guild forward. Let him come out and work with us. Two heads, they say, are better than one. I believe that we are not politicians but professionals in our rights. We have no business playing politics with the guild. Let the professionals, which we are, come together to move the guild forward. It will be better for all of us.
Source: Vanguard, 2nd April 2010.
Stephanie Okereke Shines @ US Female Summit
By Azuh Amatus azuhamtus@yahoo.com 08099400130
Nigerian-born international actress/film maker; Stephanie Okereke has returned from the US, where she was among the few women chosen from around the globe to feature in the play, Seven, in New York City.
She also participated in a three-day summit entitled: Women in the World: Stories and Solutions, alongside the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton among other leading female role models and icons. Miss Okereke, was one of the seven acclaimed actors that dramatized the issues highlighted in the play.
Other international female figures that hugged the global stage with Okereke at the event were: Hollywood top actress, Meryl Streep, Marcia Gay Harden, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Archie Panjabi, Julyana Soelistyo and Lauren Vélez. The reading was directed by celebrated Broadway director, Julie Taymor in an evening made possible by HP.
Mrs. Clinton, unarguably one of the most powerful women in the world today, introduced an exclusive one-night reading at the Hudson Theatre of Seven. The documentary play was created for Vital Voices Global Partnership, to honour the courage of brave female activists from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Guatemala, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, and Russia.
According to the sexy actress, who is still basking in the success of the trip: "The play powerfully portrays the transformative ways that seven courageous women have changed their societies for the better – from peace-building, to fighting corruption to combating violence against women. The most powerful thing about Seven, was that it got to the heart of some of the most critical issues facing our world today. It reminded us of the power of the human spirit to rise up when faced with adversity and as we rise...it reminded us that we have a responsibility to bring others along with us".
The three-day Women in the World summit also brought together an extraordinary group of 300 global leaders from government, media, social activism, business, and the arts. Topics that were discussed included: human trafficking and modern slavery, the rise of rape as a tool of war, the ways new technologies can help empower women financially, and how traditions can be toppled in cultures that devalue women.
Summit participants included: Valerie Jarrett, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Fatima Bhutto, Cherie Blair, Luis CdeBaca, Thomas L. Friedman, Edna Adan Ismail, Christine Lagarde, Molly Melching, Somaly Mam, Frances Townsend, and Zainab Salbi. Moderators included: Christiane Amanpour, Mika Brzezinski, Katie Couric and Barbara Walters.
Source: Sun, 26th March 2010.
"STEPHANIE DELIVERS ON STAGE AT THE WOMEN IN THE WORLD SUMMIT IN NEW YORK CITY"
On March 12th, Nollywood A List actress Stephanie Okereke joined Meryl Streep, Marcia Gay Harden, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Archie Panjabi, Julyana Soelistyo and Lauren Vélez for the Daily Beast's Women in the World summit that closed on Sunday March 14 in New York.
It was an extraordinary three-day session in which some of the most powerful women on the planet met to discuss global challenges and propose solutions, in a stirring call to arms. Co-hosted by The Daily Beast, Vital Voices Global Partnership, Diane von Furstenberg, and the UN Foundation and attended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among others, the event took place at The Hudson Theatre, Millennium Broadway Hotel. 145 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. With over 350 global leaders in attendance, the event was a great success.
Stephanie was one of the seven acclaimed actors that dramatized the issues highlighted in the play SEVEN: a documentary play that tells the inspiring personal stories of women from seven countries, created by seven accomplished playwrights and inspired by conversations hosted by Vital Voices.
Stephanie Okereke read the role of Hafsat Abiola, human-rights activist and founder of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy. Meryl Streep read the role of Irish activist Inez McCormack (who, along with the other women whose stories are featured in the play, was at the summit).
The other gifted actresses who be participated in the play were Marcia Gay Harden (Pollack), Lauren Vélez (Dexter), Shohreh Aghdashloo (The House of Sand and Fog), Tony-nominated Julyana Soelistyo (Golden Child) and Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife).
"It was an amazing experience. Seven women living in different countries but having similar experiences of oppression and horrible acts against them, and in the midst of all the oppression, they were able to use their discretion and femininity to bring massive change and voice to women's plights in their regions. It was truly a life changing experience." Stephanie Okereke
The three-day Women in the World summit brought together an extraordinary group of over 350 global leaders from government, media, social activism, business, and the arts. The conference highlighted the issues facing women in different parts of the world like forced marriages, domestic violence, child /sex slavery, Human trafficking rape, illiteracy, cultural prejudice, and many more.
The Women in the World: Stories & Solutions Summit was supported by ExxonMobil, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Women. For more on the Women in the World Summit please log on to www.thedailybeast.com .
Stephanie continues to be a major part of the perception the world has of Nollywood. Her participation in this event was a true representation of her passion to community service around the world. For more information on Stephanie Okereke please visit www.stephanieokereke.net
Source: Vanguard, 26th March 2010.
2010:Taking Nollywood
out of the woods (1)
If what happened last year and the previous years is anything to reckon with, then the motion picture industry, otherwise known as Nollywood, is surely on the right track to redefine the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
However, while the ovation is loud, industry watchers posit that there's need for practitioners to return to base as a way of consolidating on the gains of the previous years and charting a new direction for the industry in this new season.
For the fact that the advent of home video culture in the early 90s, seemed to have quickened the extinction of live theatre as well as the cinema culture in the country, the renewed efforts by some committed industry operators to raise the bar and rescue the industry from the stranglehold of mediocrity by returning to the cinema cannot be ignored.
Before the revolution, the industry was seen as a business venture powered by the Idumota and Onitsha based businessmen, whose interest was to amass profit and never to place value on professionalism, as they threw caution to the wind, doing everything possible to submerge the growth of the industry.
Then, the purposeful standard raised by the early movie producers and thespians like Hubert Ogunde disappeared on our screen.
What became the bargain of movie bluffs was a replacement of a display of violence, inordinate storylines and over-advertised and unrealistic ritual practices that portrayed the nation as a haven of witches for the greater part of 90s and early 2000.
Nollywood, apart from being made on shoestring budgets ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 a piece, spanning seven to ten days, were devoid of showing firstly in the cinemas ever before going to the public domain.
Produced and filmed straight on VHS cassettes, and later on VCD, without premiers, the movies were released and consequently distributed for sale to the public randomly and without proper regulatory system in place.
Though, recent movies indicate a slight shift from the videos of obscenity to family and societal cherished films, the fact still remains that there is a sharp contrast between what obtained during the days of Hubert Ogunde and the present day movie culture.
Industry watchers believe that for the practitioners to consolidate on the gains of the previous years, efforts need to be made to establish a link between the past and the present, by taking the movies back to the cinema as it was the case.
It was recorded that for about 40 years after the play 'King Eiejigbo', written by D. O. Oyedele (in 1904), there was no notable development, in the Nigerian Theatre/ home video culture, until Hubert Ogunde came to the scene in 1944.
Ogunde, who wrote both in English and in Yoruba, more than any one else, created the awareness of the modem theatre tradition in Nigeria, operating a travelling theatre company, and taking his plays to various parts of the country, via cinemas and also to other West African countries, particularly Ghana and Sierra Leone, for about 40 years. We need to return to this tradition.
Already, some practitioners are bracing up to return to the old tradition. Stephanie Okereke's award winning movie, "Through the Glass", which gross N10m in two weeks after it premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos, in September, is a case in point.
The movie, still in the cinema, also premiered in America, where it was shot and parades Hollywood stars, and others from Ghana and Kenya. Having gained international acclamation, it has turned out to become the monster hit that put Nigeria on the world map of movies, followed by Vivian Ejike's 'Silent Scandals" which premiered recently in Nigeria, and Silverbird cinemas in Ghana.
Other recent movies which identified with this tradition included, Emem Isong's Guilty Pleasures and Nollywood Hustlers, which premiered the same day, at Silverbird cinemas and jointly produced with the duo of Desmond Elliot and Uche Jombo. Mahmood Ali-Balogun's big budget movie "Tango with Me" raised the bar last year in Nollywood.
Most Nigerian movies are screened at international film festivals and are winning laurels.For the first time, Irapada, a Nigerian movie, was accepted at the British film festival.
However, before the coming of these movies, the likes of Kingsley Ogoro, veteran producer Zeb Ejiro and many others had blazed the trail producing monster hit, which made waves in the box office before hitting the market.
Ogoro's "Across the Niger" movie, which many described as blockbuster grossed not less than over $1m in the box office. Today, many actors and actresses are becoming producers, which many described as a welcome development but however expressed reservation that too many hands are likely to spoil the soup.
According to recent reports, "Nigeria is losing estimated $50 m yearly because of international piracy of Nigerian movies and films in America, Canada and other African countries as well as Europe, meaning that Nigerian movies are in high demand outside the shores of the nation.
Given the strides the motion picture industry has made in recent times, especially since last year, experts are of the opinion that there's need for the nation to explore the gains of the industry as well as work out modalities to use these new resources to improve the nation's economy.
With the high emphasis intellectual property skills is attracting in terms of recognition worldwide of Nigeria skills in Arts, Music and Film, experts have argued the obvious, insisting that the nation should brace up to the challenges of turning things around for the better by earning high income "like other knowledge, brain based economies like Japan, India, Korea, Israel, Malaysia, Brazil amongst others."
In this new season, practitioners in the movie industry should strive to consolidate on the gains of the previous years, as submitted by Ugo Harris Ukandu two years ago. There is the imperative need for the industry operators to learn to reach out in a highly organized form to engage the government, corporate entities and international organizations to seek grants, loans from banks to support and encourage the film industry. In as much as this effort is being made, effort should also be placed on high quality of the Nigerian movies, good story to tell about Nigeria and Africa, less emphasis on negative portrayal of our national and traditional lives.
The positive story about our villages, our culture, our towns, our elders, our youths, our schools, our government, democracy, respect of rule of law and decency should be encouraged and emphasized.
Also, while commending the steps taken by industry operators to work out plans to work with Film makers of Nigerian based in USA(FAN USA), to organize their marketing and distribution strategy internationally in USA and Europe to cut out piracy and to repatriate their money and efforts back in the Nigerian economy. This is commendable but more need to be done.
Examples are the dubious contracts each individual film makers, marketers, actors, actress and producers are undertaking individually with dubious individuals, internationally and within Nigeria for their personal marketing and distribution rights.
And these contracts are not biding or enforceable in the international copyright laws or anywhere in the world . Such hasty contract to produce and distribute Nigeria arts and Films internationally with no money coming to them or into Nigeria, is a win-win situation for the pirates and copyright violators.
The time is now for the movie and music industry in Nigeria to come together and have a conference, workshop for days or weeks for a way forward for our new impressive industry, so that Nigeria can earn money from the sweat of her people and not to let this industry become a curse like oil, cocoa, coal and palm produce which has exposed Nigeria as a nation that does not value its people or its God given resources and talent.
Also Nollywood producers must learn to toe the line of Bollywood in terms of quality production, storyline, sustainable distribution network and exploring themes that recapture personal life.
Bollywood Model
Indian ace-producer and broadcaster, Deepak Jain, said while many film industries across the world largely depend on the government support to survive, Indian film industry thrives on private sector initiatives. This means that the level of government involvement in the running of the industry is rather minimal and not holistic. This model is recommendable for the Nigerian movie industry.
Deepak Jain believes that the impact Bollywood has made in recent times on the international scene is traceable to the distinct way the industry is fashioned to operate in India.
Jain, however, argues that while Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood, Nollywood, unlike Bollywood, has a lot of grounds to cover, in terms of storyline, good acting and quality production. "Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood.
But what makes Nollywood different from Bollywood is because of the fact that Bollywood thrives on emotions, relationships and other thrilling themes. We do action movies, documentary, emotional as well as sport movies," he said during a recent encounter with HVP.
Jain oversees Mauritius based Zee Network offices across the countries of Africa. As a major stakeholder in Bollywood, Jain 's Zee Network brings Bollywood closer to people of different races and origins, including the South Asians and mainland Africans.
Outlining various ways in which Nollywood can toe the line of Bollywood in terms of improved production quality, storyline, distribution and sustenance of the industry, Jain stressed how every movie as done in Bollywood explores one's personal life.
"There are varieties of religions in India, cultures which are reflected in our movies. We also do movies exploring the themes of how women climb the ladder of success in their various professional endeavours. Every Bollywood movie you watch gives you enough relaxation, connects you to one's emotion, and that's why Bollywood is breaking grounds across the universe," he added.
"Talking of production quality, Bollywood movies have improved over the years. We have invested a lot of time and money into assembling production facilities. Today, when you watch Bollywood films, you will notice that the production quality has appreciated a lot, " he added.
For Nollywood, it's time to go international and improve on the production quality. Bollywood has not only shot many movies in Bombay, or India but also, we have gone outside the shores of India to shoot our movies. We have gone to places like USA, UK and other European countries to shoot our movies.
"The same thing could happen to Nollywood. They can come to India to shoot their movies, while we come to Nigeria for our movies. We have featured a few foreign actors in Bollywood movies, just as Hollywood has also featured a few of Bollywood actors in their movies. Growth is exceptional in this regard, and we have to pull our forces together to work in relationship with each other."
On the need to engage in exchange of production technique with Nollywood producers, the Zee Network African head said, "it's always better to learn from other people's mistake or their breakthroughs. The storyline should be such that people have moved out of Nigeria to experience a different kind of life outside their locality.
"Let's learn to educate the populace by means of the screen. Nollywood, coming new on the block, can learn from Bollywood's production technique. And because we have some similarities in our cultures and lifestyle, there's a lot that we can learn from each other."
However, according to Jain, Bollywood is private sector driven, and does not enjoy the government's participation. Hear him: "Bollywood is a business venture. People invest their money to run the industry. The success Bollywood has recorded in recent times is not because of political infusion of funds into the industry but the fact that the government create enabling environment for the industry to thrive.
"They support every project embarked upon by Indian film makers. For instance, if Indian film makers are coming to Nigeria to shoot a film, our government will write to the Nigerian government, officially soliciting the Nigerian government to give the film makers every assistance they would require to make their mission a success. My government does not fund the film industry, but they only do the ground work for us."
Distribution of films in Bollywood
"Everything is commercially oriented in Bollywood. Distributors carry out a kind of feasibility study about a particular movie- what the budget will be like, the cast, and the storyline as well as the duration of the movie. As a result, some of the funds needed to make a film in India are provided by the distributors. Every distributor invests his or her money in the making of a particular movie, hoping to partake in the sharing of the profits equally when the movie becomes a hit.
"In terms of distribution network, if the government is allowed to get involved in it, then, there 's a problem. We have a regulatory body like the censors' board as well.
But it's not involved in the distribution of films in India. What the body does is to ensure that a film maker conforms to the rules of the game, determine the age bracket in terms of watching a particular movie. Movies must be devoid of sentiments or religious bias. The board does not control the distribution channel. This is because the distributors finance the making of the movies and therefore, detect how the movie will be distributed."
Source: Vanguard, 10th January 2010.
2010: Taking Nollywood
out of the woods (2)
By Benjamin NJOKU
This year, practitioners in the movie industry should strive to consolidate on the gains of the previous years. As Ugo Harris Ukandu submitted two years ago, there is the imperative need for the industry operators to learn to reach out, in a highly organised form, to engage the government, corporate entities and international organizations for grants and loans from banks to support and encourage the film industry.
In as much as this effort is being made, effort should also be placed on high quality Nigerian movies, good stories to tell about Nigeria and Africa and less emphasis on negative portrayal of our national and traditional lives.
The positive story about our villages, our cultures, our towns, our elders, our youths, our schools, our government, democracy, rule of law and decency, should be encouraged and emphasised.
Also, while commending the steps taken by industry operators to work with Nigerian film makers based in USA(FAN USA), for marketing and distribution in USA and Europe, anti-piracy, repatriation of their money and efforts back to Nigeria. This is commendable but more efforts need to be done. For examples, the dubious contracts individual film makers, marketers, actors and producers undertake with crooks internationally and locally for their personal marketing and distribution rights should be checked.
And these contracts are not biding or enforceable in the international copyright laws or anywhere in the world. Such hasty contract to produce and distribute Nigerian arts and films internationally with no money coming to them or into Nigeria, is a win-win situation for the pirates and copyright violators.
The time is now for the movie and music industry in Nigeria to come together and have a conference, workshop for days or weeks for a way forward for our new industry so that Nigeria can earn money from the sweat of her artistes, and not to let this industry become a curse like oil.
Also, Nollywood producers must learn to toe the line of Bollywood in terms of quality production, storyline, sustainable distribution network and exploration of themes that capture family life and society. The experience acquired during the ION International film festival, which held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, last month, is still valid.
Nollywood practitioners need to network and interact with their counterparts across the world to be able to be meet with global standards.
Bollywood Model
Indian ace-producer and broadcaster, Deepak Jain, said while many film industries across the world largely depend on government support to survive, Indian film industry is driven by private sector initiatives. This means that the level of government involvement in the running of the industry is rather minimal. This model is recommendable for the Nigerian movie industry.
Jain believed that the impact Bollywood made in recent times on the international scene was traceable to the distinct way the industry was fashioned to operate in India.
He argued that while Nollywood was on the way to Bollywood, Nollywood, unlike Bollywood, had a lot of grounds to cover, in terms of storyline, good acting and quality production. "Nollywood is on the way to Bollywood. But what makes Nollywood different from Bollywood is because of the fact that Bollywood thrives on emotions, relationships and other thrilling themes. We do action movies, documentary, emotional as well as sport movies," he said during a recent encounter with HVP.
Jain oversees Mauritius based Zee Network offices across the countries of Africa. As a major stakeholder in Bollywood, Jain's Zee Network brings Bollywood closer to people of different races and origins, including the South Asians and mainland Africans.
Outlining various ways in which Nollywood can toe the line of Bollywood in terms of improved production quality, storyline, distribution and sustenance of the industry, Jain stressed how every movie as done in Bollywood explores one's personal life.
"There are varieties of religions in India, cultures which are reflected in our movies. We also do movies exploring the themes of how women climb the ladder of success in their various professional endeavours. Every Bollywood movie you watch gives you enough relaxation, connects you to one's emotion, and that's why Bollywood is breaking grounds across the universe," he added.
"Talking of production quality, Bollywood movies have improved over the years. We have invested a lot of time and money into assembling production facilities. Today, when you watch Bollywood films, you will notice that the production quality has appreciated a lot," he added.
For Nollywood, it's time to go international and improve on the production quality. Bollywood has not only shot many movies in Bombay, or India but also, we have gone outside the shores of India to shoot our movies. We have gone to places like USA, UK and other European countries to shoot our movies.
"The same thing could happen to Nollywood. They can come to India to shoot their movies, while we come to Nigeria for our movies. We have featured a few foreign actors in Bollywood movies, just as Hollywood has also featured a few of Bollywood actors in their movies. Growth is exceptional in this regard, and we have to pull our forces together to work in relationship with each other."
On the need to engage in exchange of production technique with Nollywood producers, the Zee Network African head said, "it's always better to learn from other people's mistake or their breakthroughs. The storyline should be such that people have moved out of Nigeria to experience a different kind of life outside their locality.
"Let's learn to educate the populace by means of the screen. Nollywood, coming new on the block, can learn from Bollywood's production technique. And because we have some similarities in our cultures and lifestyle, there's a lot that we can learn from each other."
However, according to Jain, Bollywood is private sector driven, and does not enjoy the government's participation. Hear him: "Bollywood is a business venture. People invest their money to run the industry. The success Bollywood has recorded in recent times is not because of political infusion of funds into the industry but the fact that the government create enabling environment for the industry to thrive.
"They support every project embarked upon by Indian film makers. For instance, if Indian film makers are coming to Nigeria to shoot a film, our government will write to the Nigerian government, officially soliciting the Nigerian government to give the film makers every assistance they would require to make their mission a success. My government does not fund the film industry, but they only do the ground work for us."
Distribution of films in Bollywood
"Everything is commercially oriented in Bollywood. Distributors carry out a kind of feasibility study about a particular movie- what the budget will be like, the cast, and the storyline as well as the duration of the movie. As a result, some of the funds needed to make a film in India are provided by the distributors. Every distributor invests his or her money in the making of a particular movie, hoping to partake in the sharing of the profits equally when the movie becomes a hit.
"In terms of distribution network, if the government is allowed to get involved in it, then, there 's a problem. We have a regulatory body like the censors' board as well. But it's not involved in the distribution of films in India. What the body does is to ensure that a film maker conforms to the rules of the game, determine the age bracket in terms of watching a particular movie.
Movies must be devoid of sentiments or religious bias. The board does not control the distribution channel. This is because the distributors finance the making of the movies and therefore, detect how the movie will be distributed."
Source: Vanguard, 10th January 2010.
My world came crashing when
my father died
By SAMUEL OLATUNJI
Sunday Sun, December 27, 2009
Mike Ezuruonye has seen it all…or so we think. The vibrant actor was born into a wealthy family and he had everything a child could want. But then everything came to zero with the sudden death of his father. His uncles usurped all Mike, his mother and siblings could lay claims to as inheritance.
They were undaunted. His mother particularly took the bull by the horns . She trained Mike and his siblings and today they are all high flyers in their callings. Read all about Mike's challenges and how he overcame them . Excerpts:
You've been on a roller coaster this year. You were one of Globacom ambassadors and you signed up as face of Malta Guinness. What is responsible for all these blessings?
Passion for what I do and how I do it. First of all God has blessed me with the kind of scripts I get. I've gotten scripts that showcased my versatility. Sometimes you see me as the good looking guy, the village boy, or the dejected boy. I've been able to bring different characters to life. I am not going to be one actor that is boxed to one corner.
If you have to count your blessing from January to December, how many have they been?
A lot. I can't deny the fact that I've been very lucky this year. Mike Ezunronye is by the grace of God a plane that does not know how to stop. I am also very prayerful.
Where is this train coming from?
I grew up in Lagos State, but while growing up I was always involved in TV. I had an headmistress and a proprietress then, who was so involved in the NTA and that made me an NTA child and exposed me to variety shows . So that was where it all started and I started the stage at a tender age. I had one or two things with the Amata family. We were doing things together with Rukky Amata and Fred. Finally, after school, one of the leads I had from work, I actually bombed into Rukky Amata, who is still a director in Nollywood.
Which series?
I got involved in the series by Zeb Ejiro called Ultimate Heroes then but it never saw the light of day. Somehow I don't know why. It was directed by Andy Amenechi and Rukky Amata and on the same day. That was why I said destiny has a part to play, because on the same day we finished, I was having a drink somewhere and I was mimicking someone, and by my side was Aquila Njama. He asked me whether I did movies, but I lied saying no. He continued, "I like the way you talk, what's your name"; so we just got talking and we became friends. In the same vein I went to do two movies with Aquila. They were titled Dinosaurs and Men of rage. My big break came when I went to pick a friend and he asked me to give a friend of his a lift. While I was on phone I started mimicking an uncle and the other dude whom I did not know was a director took interest in me. He asked if I did movies and that was it. That director was Dickson Iruegbu. After that, a big script came courtesy Emem Isong. She wanted to use the male lead character to prove a point. The other characters that surrounded him were RMD, Genevieve, and Stephanie Okereke. He wanted a new person and she said it while Dickson was around somewhere. That is the reason I said that I am a child of destiny. People were vying for that particular character, but Dickson took her to the studio to see one of the jobs we had done and Emem said this is my guy. He convinced the marketer and the movie came out. The title was Critical Decision.That was the movie that gave me a commercial break-through, but the movie that brought me to the fore was Dickson's film, Broken Marriage. Mine is a kind of Cinderella story.
You started acting in 2005 and here you are today as one of the big boys of the industry within a short time. How did you achieve that, I believe it is more than the passion?
Yeah, I know that with God on your side results would come . I will not deny the fact that I have been fortunate, but there is no other magic to it other than God. I am just a Cinderella story. God brought me to this industry at the right time.
Cinderella went through all forms of hardship, but you were born with a silver spoon so how can your story be that of Cinderella?
Believe me, it is. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but when my father died my whole world came down crashing. I was born in Lagos, raised in Lagos but didn't know Lagos. Everything was taken away from us. We went back to point zero. Reality just dawned on us that we were on our own. That is why I still respect my mum till tomorrow. She took control and did a whole lot to get us to where we are today. She went to take a job in the banking sector after my father's death. My father didn't want my mum to work while he was alive. It was after his death that I entered public bus for the first time in my life. All of a sudden everything just went to ground zero. There was no driver, cars and other luxuries anymore. I've seen the best and worst of both worlds, nothing surprises me anymore.
What was your experience like the first time you boarded a Molue?
The first time I was in Molue I fell. I was about to get down and the bus started moving, so I jumped out with my two legs touching ground… I just fell. I had bruises all over my body. This is the first time I am saying it to anybody.
What were the other things you went through?
My mum also did some businesses while she was in the bank. She would buy a container full of goods from Nestle and I think and there was no warehouse. Our house became the warehouse. We would come back from school and carry the cartoons upstairs. We are not talking about 200 or 300 cartoons here. That was how hard we worked even after school. The aje-butter thing cleared off our eyes.
What do you feel about widowhood now?
You can see that I want to cry now. I have passion for widows. My advice is this: every woman should have something doing. I am not supportive of full time housewives. You better have something doing. It is worse when a woman becomes widowed and everything is taken away from her.
Do you remember when everything was taken?
I remember. Everything was just going systematically. I was too little to do anything about it. I was so confident that my uncles meant well for us, but I was wrong. My father invested a lot in the east and that gave them the opportunity to take over everything. But now, they have bankrupted the companies. I thank God that He is with us, some of them want to get attached to me now but it's never going to happen. I've forgiven them but I can't get attached to them anymore. We are now on our own and we are so closely knitted.
How many children are in your family and where are your siblings?
I am the first out of five. The one after me is a successful banker, the next is an electronic engineer with Shell, and the fourth is a medical doctor in the UK, while the fifth is with Chevron. God has guided us real good.
What did you learn?
I learnt how to take life as it comes. I never get surprised. All those things have humbled me. You could be up there today and tomorrow you are down. I've seen it happen, it happened to me. It has made me humble. I have seen it all. That is why I relate with everybody. And I try to give something out to people everyday.
What do you think of the tradition that impoverishes the widow immediately after her husband's death?
It is evil. It is a silly complex. These things are not yours; why not let his family benefit from his labour? Where were you when the woman was contributing her own quota to the upkeep of the family?
Will you forgive those people?
I have forgiven them, because if I don't I wont move on. I don't keep malice.
How did you feel about the Globacom deal?
The first time I was called I thought it was from a 419. I was in the states when the text came in. When I got to Ghana; I got a call from them again so I started taking them seriously. Glo is one company that has given my industry a handshake. I owe Glo a huge gratitude. I am very grateful. Glo has opened the door for other companies to follow through. I have a lot of respect for Mike Adenuga.
Why did you sign up with Mildred Okwo?
She is dynamic. She understands the business. She knows how to manage a brand. If you are going to work with anybody, work with people who see you as a brand. She is it.
When will you marry?
Real soon.
What is your woman doing?
She doesn't want her face out in the media. We don't want to put our relationship in the press. She is a nice girl sent to me by God.
What is happening between you and Tonto Dike, I read that you guys have something going?
Tonto is a sister. She is the least person I will in my silly mind think I want to sleep with and God is my witness. She is like a sister. Don't believe everything you read.
If Tonto is the least person you will sleep with, what qualifies the kind of person you sleep with?
Sam, I don't know where you are going with this o (laughs). I don't sleep around. Stardom is a very thin line you walk on, if you don't manage it well, you will crash.
Sometimes I'm sure you stray with women...?
No
You are not a saint Mike... are you?
I didn't tell you I'm a saint. I am not a saint
(Interruption) It is only a saint that won't stray.
Are you trying to get into my closet?
I am trying to be at the peripheral of the closet
Then you are not invited
(Laughs.)
Would you date an actress?
Will I? I am dating now, but not an actress ... there is nothing wrong with dating an actress. What people don't understand is that they are also human beings too. That is why it's sad when people write negative things about them. You don't know how many marriages you must have destroyed or would- be marriages you would have destroyed because of some silly lies you wrote. They are human beings with emotions too, they are human beings with families too and they are answerable too. Sometimes when certain things are written about them and it breaks their hearts, they break down on set and this is very sad. They are human beings like any other person; the only unfortunate thing is that they are in- the -know of people. We are in- the- know of people as actors but we are human beings. That is what I want people to understand and for your question about dating an actress, I am not dating an actress.
But sometimes on set, in location, I have had somebody say emotions flow?
In every industry emotions flow, but I don't know about that. I wouldn't say that happens in my industry. I am sure in your company you've had relationships or people must have been interested to have one, but why ours is special is because we are known people.
Well we are just bloody journalists?
I think it used to be before but right now actors don't date actresses now.
I'm not even talking about dating. May be something just happened and you said meet me in my room now?
Nothing like that happens; we are just friends nothing like that happens.
Okay where will you spend your Christmas?
In Lagos, because in the last three years I've not spent Christmas in Lagos.
Your girl, what part of the country is she from, North, East or South?
She is a human being from this earth
Will she be spending the Christmas with you?
She is a human being from this earth
(laughs..).
What should we expect from you in 2010?
Bigger things, bigger charities. Though we have been able to do some little charity but right now, I'm coming out with some charity that is different that. I hope you are not going to ask me Mike what is wrong with you... Why? The question will be why, a big why, and it is not the norm, you know like what you have with HIV or the press people.It's not the norm... I am not disclosing anything now, but some sort of merchandising are coming out, bigger thing are coming out next year. My manager and I have a fore plan, we have a game plan, but we will be doing a lot of charities and within my own fold I made a promise to God. I told God from January I am going to take up somebody I'm going to train, a needy I'm going to train from primary to university. I pray God sees me through.
You are not like ok I'm going into music or I'm going to start a business?
That's not for me, but it could come up.
Tell us the top ten in Nollywood?
Oh! You want to put me in trouble?
No. It does not have to be your view completely
Ok. They include Olu Jacobs, and Odiobi. I don't want to include myself, Ini Edo, and Tonto. She is becoming a force to be reckoned with. Mercy Johnson, Oge have a lot of presence too as well as Ali (Nuhu), Ramsey Noah, Patience Ozonkwo, Rita Dominic and Emeka Ike.
(Interruption) what do you think about the AGM crisis?
I just pray they settle the house because we need a settled home to work.
So who will you vote for?
I'm not eligible to vote. I'm not a delegate, so I cannot vote
Which chapter do you belong ?
Lagos chapter.
Who is your chapter supporting?
I don't want to involve myself in all that politics... all I know is the chairman of my chapter is Ernest Obi.
You know who Ernest Obi is supporting?
I don't know, I don't really know. All I'm just saying is that whatever they do they should try as much as possible to involve known actors in what they do . But they need to settle their house , because if they involve actors who are known they can expand the coast of AGM. They can carry this people along and we can go to different places.
I am suspecting you are supporting Emeka?
Look, I am blank on this issue. I'm not a politician, but I think they should just make sure they carry people along. Whatever they do, let them carry us along.
Drama as Emeka Ike emerges new AGN president
A mild drama ensued on Monday at the secretariat of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, in Surulere area of Lagos, when embattled Segun Arinze's attempt to halt the care-taker-committee of the guild from conducting a counter-election that produced actor Emeka Ike as the new president of the guild hit a brick wall.
Arinze last month was appointed to head the alleged government of national unity set up by the Ifeanyi Dike- led Board of Trustees of the guild, with Emeka Ike as his vice as a way of moving the troubled guild forward.
He allegedly stormed the guild's secretariat with a team of policemen from Area D, Mushin, with an intention of stopping the election. However, he failed as the Kanayo O. Kanayo led- interim government, armed with a court order, refused to be intimidated as they went ahead to conduct the election.
In a court order dated 13th of June, 2009, and which was shown to the policemen that came with Arinze, the caretaker committee exercised the power confined on it to conduct a general election for the guild.
It would be recalled however that Mr. Arinze recently emerged president of the guild in a controversial election conducted by the erstwhile president of the guild, Ejike Asiegbu in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
He was disowned by the Lagos State chapter of the body, which described his election as a "sham", labelling him a non-registered member of the chapter. Ike's election is bound to trigger off another round of crisis within the guild.
Before the election, which was endorsed by all state chairmen and delegates of the guild, Emeka Ike had described Segun Arinze as a 'joker', adding that, "Segun is not AGN president and he cannot be one. Constitutionally, he is not eligible to be a president because I learnt he is not a degree holder and not even a card carrying member.
"You can ask him to present his certificate the same way I'm ready to present mine any time. What he is doing is just a waste of time because the real election is what we have just conducted today."
The spokesperson of the guild's interim national government, Charles Okafor, once noted that "the priority of this interim leadership headed by Kanayo O. Kanayo has a mandate to conduct a credible election that would usher in a new president and executives of AGN, and nothing will change it.
The election will definitely hold."
He added that with the support of AGN members in the country, all hands have been on deck to conduct a free and fair elections.
Elected alongside Ike were Mr. Femi Durojiaye, (National Secretary), Mohammed Odoko, (vice-president, North Central), Sanni Mohammed(vice-president, North east)Yusuf Bako Mohammed, (vice-president, South-South), Nkiru Sylvanus(vice-presidet, South-East) and Victor Edogun(vice-president, South-West).
Others were, Benita Nzeribe(PRO), Ngozi Onoka(D.G.S), Azi Oliver Akalugu(Finance Secretary), St. Maradona N. Johnson(Treasurer) and Amniu Abdaulla Tafia, who clinched the position of Assistant secretary.
Source: Vanguard, 14th December 2009.
Oprah Winfrey celebrates Nollywood
Nollywood, the African most popular movie industry that has become an international hit, got by far its greatest endorsement yet, when the queen of day time talk show, Oprah Winfrey, celebrated the industry in her programme which aired on Monday, September 28, tagged "Meet the Most Famous People in the World" which had featured top stars in sports and entertainment all over the world.
 
Africa's place was represented by Nollywood and one of its biggest stars, the popular actress, Genevieve Nnaji was featured lavishly.
Nollywood, according to Oprah, is ranked the second largest in the world and grosses over $2 b annually.
The highlight of the show was when Oprah played a montage of movies featuring the popular actress Genevieve Nnaji whom she called "the Julia Roberts of Africa."
We at The Diasporan Star are very proud of the mainstream recognition that Nollywood has finally gotten in the U.S.
"If the number of calls we have received so far from people all over the entertainment world is an indication of what is to come, then I can make bold to predict that sooner than later, our Nollywood stars are going to strut their stuff at a larger world stage.
The mention of Nollywood on Oprah and the amount the industry grosses a year finally appeared to have jolted a lot of people to the earning potentials that exists in Nollywood.
'We feel vindicated by what this publication has been doing for the past one and half years: celebrating our pop culture and pushing its frontiers across race, creed and boundaries.
We believe if Bollywood, which was also featured on the programme, gave the world last year's hit movie "Slumdog Millionaire" which won numerous awards including the Oscars, that Nollywood, given the rich selections of talents could replicate the same, and we think the time is near.
" We also commend the efforts of Frank Okeyere_the owner of West African Movies located on 1692 Webster Avenue, Bronx, New York, a regular client of this newspaper, for the role he played in putting together the logistics and other materials that the Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey's production arm had requested.
"We feel very excited to have assisted Oprah Winfrey in showcasing Nollywood.
All the movies that were shown on Oprah's program were supplied by us. We feel it is a great day for Nollywood," Frank had told me soon after the programme aired."
Source: Vanguard, 2nd October 2009.
Is Ini Edo-Ehiagwina still married?
By Atim Ikpeme
Many times people have asked what is happening with this pretty Akwa Ibom actress who is married to US-based Phillip Ehiagwina.
Many times people have asked what is happening with this pretty Akwa Ibom actress who is married to US-based Phillip Ehiagwina. Many have even insinuated that the marriage is over even as she returned to Nigeria immediately after the wedding in America. However, she has had occasion to answer these many stories in this way "I am still married to Phillip, we love each other so much, people should keep saying what they want." But a little bird whispered that this actress has been seen hanging out in night clubs as she used to before she was married.
Well one can't totally blame her if what is being whispered is true that Phillip on their wedding night was off having the fun of his life with one of his many alliances and Ini discovered it, made so much noise but was calmed down by friends of Phillip.
Whatever is the true situation we hope this will not result in another Monalisa Chinda and Dejo Richards divorce story.
Source: Daily Champion, 25th September 2009.
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