Every coin has two sides and so does acting. For every ounce of success or near misses achieved by celebrities, there is always a price to pay. It is either they are celebrated for the right or wrong reasons. Here are those who made headlines in 2007.
Those Who Won Awards
IT was Chioma Akpotha's turn to be recognised as one of Nollywood's and indeed Africa's leading actresses in 2007. Chioma who is better known as Chioma Chukwuka and who recently put to bed was voted Best Actress of the Year at the 2007 edition of the African Movies Academy Award (AMAA), which held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
It was also the year of the deep and veteran actor Olu Jacob who recently returned from an acting run in Dubai. He was crowned Africa 's Best Actor at the AMAA. Ali Nuhu was voted the Best Promising African Actor at the AMAA for his role in the award- winning flick 'Sitanda', while Carol Ekanem who recently put to bed received the best actress crest at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Movies Award (NIGMA) which held in Calabar, Cross Rivers State.
It was also in 2007 that the veteran actor Bruno Iwouha received the AMAA crest for Best Supporting actor while the Chief Executive Officer of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam-Fiberisima gave Nigeria and indeed Africa something to cheer about. She received a UNESCO award in far away Paris, France for her contribution to the development of the film industry in Africa .
Also during the year delectable Bhaira Mcwizu, a Philosophy graduate of the Lagos State University Ojo, Lagos was named winner of the 2007 edition of the Amstel Malta Box Office (AMBO) reality show programme. For emerging tops, Mcwizu who hails from Anambra State went home with a cash prize of N100,000 and a brand new car. Also Mcwizu would be expected to feature in a Nollywood movie to be sponsored by the promoters of the AMBO reality show.
The gangling top Nollywood director Theodore Anyaji and the busy Nollywood director turned singer Tchidi Chikere aka Total Chidi were also recognised during the year. The Creative Designers Guild named Tchidi as the best director of the year 2007 while Anyaji got a crest for knitting the two part movie 'Erak and Eran' together. Emeka Ike received the actor of the year crest while Patience Ozokwo aka Mama Gee and Mercy Johnson were voted Best actress and best up coming actress respectively at the award ceremony which held in Enugu in November.
Those Whose Relationship Kissed The Canvass
The sultry actress Shan George, Ayo Binta Mogaji, Eucharia Anunobi, Stephanie Okereke and the duo of Saidi and Fathia Balogun led the pack of celebrities who had a sour tale to tell about their relationships last year.The gossip press was replete with tales of how Ekwu, Eucharia's celebrated husband of seven years disappeared into thin air leaving her all alone to cater for their little son. Same fate befell the Cross River State-born actress Shan George. The London-based Tony Nwosisi, at a time, the love of George's life also left without announcing his separation from her, a mother of two kids, products of her very first marriage. It's not clear now whether the couple, who were engaged traditionally, are formally divorced. But George's recent interviews suggest that she may have also called it quits as far as her celebrated wedlock to the gangling Nwosisi is concerned. She has since dropped Nwosisi as her last name.
And so has the Ibadan-based cross-over actress Ayo Binta Mogaji, whose brief but eventful marriage to the grey-bearded veteran actor Prince Jibola Dabo took a different turn last year. They both decided to be separated. Ayo would not volunteer a word on what led to their separation, neither would Prince Jibola who is already married with children.Well, Ayo Mogaji has since moved on. She remarried recently. But the delectable actress Fathia Balogun is still single even though she has been separated from Saidi Balogun, the father of her two kids for a while now. Although they kept the news of their separation secret for a while, the burble bust when Fathia finally moved from her matrimonial home. They have even stopped starring in same movies since their separation.
The actress Stephanie Okereke and the gangling actor and of recent, director, Ernest Obi would rank as the last of the celebrities whose marriages kissed the canvass in 2007. While Obi confirmed his separation from his Europe-based wife, Okereke returned to Nigeria last year and announced her separation from Nigeria 's ex-international Iloanusi. She has sworn never to return to that marriage as their differences according to the actress of many credits 'will forever remain irreconcilable'.
Those Who Were Romantically Linked
While some were at daggers drawn with their spouses, others were busy building bridges they hope will translate into a permanent nest for them. It is no longer news that the versatile actress Dakore Egbuson and Olumide son of the business mogul Harry Akande are in love. Their love life peaked during the year under review. Friends of the actress say it will not be long before Dakore and Olumide walk down the aisle 'for real'.
Former beauty queen Ibinabo Fiberisima who was romantically linked with the busy actor Fred Amata declared during the year that she was indeed dating the once married actor. The love birds showed how close they were when they engaged the red carpet together at the 2007 edition of the AMAA award. It is not clear now how both of them stand since they are scarcely seen together, but friends of the former beauty queen who doubles as an actress say 'nothing has changed' between them.
It was also in 2007 that top Nollywood actress Ini Edo made headlines for the wrong reasons. The actress who at a time was romantically linked with fellow actor Mike Ezurounye was in 2007 romantically linked with the two album pop star D'Banj. Although Ini denied having any affair with the hip hop rave of the moment, it took their decision not to be seen together in public for tongues to stop wagging. But it is quite obvious now that Ini has moved on.
Those Who Said 'I Do'
But it was not all about separation in 2007. Quite a number of the major actors/actresses took matrimonial vows. First was the top Yoruba actress Opeyemi Aiyeola. 'Ope' as the accountancy graduate of the Lagos State University is fondly called, exchanged matrimonial vows with her London-based fiancZ in a well attended ceremony held in Lagos.
It was also in 2007 that the Nollywood top actress Oge Okoye quit spinsterhood. She joined her industry mates like Chioma Chukwuka and Georgina Onuoha who are already carrying the first fruits of their marriages.
Also two of the top Yoruba actresses Laide Bakare and Moji Olaiya, daughter of the legendary Victor Olaiya exchanged marital vows with the love of their lives during the year. It was also in 2007 that the versatile actor and one of Nollywood's best Obinna Nwafor aka Saint Obi found the 'bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh'. Though a quiet affair, that quick dash that he took got ample mention in the entertainment press.
Some observers have, however, predicted that this may well be the year of the following Nollywood celebrities who are single but insist they are not searching: Grace Amah, Ini Edo, Queen Nwokoye, Bisi Ibidapo Obe, Segun Arinze, Ebube Nwagbo, Mercy Johnson, Oby Edozie, Tricia Esiegbe, Rita Dominic, Benita Nzeribe, Ernest Obi, Genevieve Nnaji, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chidi Mokeme, Uche Jombo, Lilian Bach, Empress Njamah, Emeka Enyiocha, Mike Ezurounye, Nonso Diobi, Sam Anyamele, Jim Iyke and Ofiafuluagu Mbaka.
Those Who Were Docked
It was in 2007 that the popular Nigerian film and television actress who specializes in Yoruba movies Hassanat Akinwande Taiwo was found guilty of drug trafficking, convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of fine by a Lagos Chief Magistrate Court. Hassanat a.k.a Wunmi Yetunde was arrested by men of the National Drug Law Agency (NDLEA) at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja in possession of substance suspected to be cocaine, on her way to London. Hassanat who has had leading roles in over 50 films have since joined her colleagues on the turf having paid the fine. She recently completed work on a movie about the dangers of drug trafficking. The NDLEA had earlier turned down her request for collaboration on the movie.
But Uche Odoputa, a notable Nollywood actor was not as lucky as Hassanat. He served out his jail term having been convicted for a similar offence. Both Hassanat and Uche are yet to get their groove back.
Those Who Were In The News For The Wrong Reasons
Nollywood actress Anita Hogan was in the news for the wrong reasons in 2007. Some repulsive, obscene and very personal photographs of the actress and her fiancZe (whom she later married) were conspicuously published in some Lagos-based publication. The photographs revealed very private and highly sensitive parts of her body and those of her fiancZe. The pictures and accompanying stories appeared as though Anita posed nude for money. It was indeed a very trying moment for the upcoming actress who claimed to have lost a three-month pregnancy she was carrying for her fiancZe then because of the shock of being exposed to the publication. Anita later addressed a press conference where she claimed that the publications were made after some persons attempted to blackmail and extort money from her. She then called on the authorities to arrest, prosecute and jail all those who invaded her privacy 'if found wanting and irrespective of their status in the society'.
If the Anita saga gained ample space in the entertainment press, the media war between ace movie director Zeb Ejiro, OON aka Movie Sheik and the Beauty Queen Ibinabo Fiberisima over copyright infringement also did. Fiberisima petitioned against the Movie Sheik for infringing on her rights. She claimed that she funded the two-part movie 'A Night in the Philippines' but that the movie sheik has not only refused to release the movie to her but that Ejiro has gone ahead to enter into a broadcast agreement with a pay cable channel without her consent.
Ejiro denied the allegation. Though the matter has since eased out of the pages of the entertainment press, there are indications that both parties may have opted for an 'out of media settlement'.
Those Who Quit The Stage
Death, dealt a big blow on the motion picture industry as it snatched four of the industry's valuable actors and directors- Joe Layode, Francis Agu, Ebere Onwu and the gangling Tse Agbe ra Gba, Konshisha Local Council of Benue State-born dancer and actor Joseph Terhemba Adekwagh during the year. Joe Layode who was popular as 'Teacher Garuba' gave up early in the year and was buried in Lagos. Francis Agu who became popular for the role he played delightfully in the long rested television soap 'Checkmate' died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) after a protracted illness. The Maverick artistes, playwright, poet and director Ebere Onwu died in a ghastly motor accident around the Alaka, Surulere, Lagos while Joseph Adekwagh or 'P,J' for short, slumped while serving as compere in a show to mark the 40th-year-on-stage of the veteran actor Lari Williams. The remains of the late Adekwagh who will be remembered for living delightfully the role of Tanko Daruje in the long rested television soap Wind of Destiny' were later committed to mother earth in his home town.
She’s cute.She’s sexy with an aura that is exceptional.Bernadette Lambi Balogun’s name may not ring a million bells due to the fact that her face has not been as visible as you may think.But to some renowned producers and directors,Bena,as she’s fondly called is one name that cannot be joked with.Her maiden appearance in the make-believe industry was in a movie entitled Heart of Gold in 1997 followed by Bridesmaid by the prolific director/producer, Charles Novia in 2003.
After she had dazzled with her mesmerizing performances in these two movies, Tchidi Chikere launched her out again as she featured in an award movie Cry Like a River. When asked why she is in this sector of entertainment,the beautiful mother of two explains “I am into movies because of the passion I have for it.Nollywood is doing very well and they are far ahead other African countries.How did you start?I was on a set with Stella Damasus and there was a space for someone to play a role of a nurse, after auditioning three people without any result, I was called upon to try my best and eventually, I performed more than expectation.The Ivorian multi-linguist who speaks French, English, Ewe, and Ashanti and a little bit of German languages concluded.
Bena left the screen for sometime before she re-appeared in the celebrated movie,Widow by Kingsley Ogoro,this movie; she perfectly delivered her lines as an air hostess. “After Widow, she settled down to take care of my family, as she has two beautiful children.But, now,she is set to take the industry by storm again as her children are growing and they can be left in the care of a nanny.
Bena is married to the entertainment icon,Ruscoe Philip Balogun,the first cousin of the late entertainment giant, Jaiyejeje Aboderin.She was with the Synergy Band as a singer before the demise of Jaiye.With a good script to be shot in Togo with full support of Togo government,Bernadette Balogun sure has an ace up her sleeve.
She runs a catering outfit called Asanka and a fashion house which is noted for African designs and arts called Runadine in Lagos as a supplement of her movie career.
EFFORTS by Nigerians to tell their stories through the video medium have reverberated in the United States where the Nigerian film industry, popularly called Nollywood, has been picked by JWT, US largest advertising agency, as one of the 80 things to watch in 2008.
Nollywood is number 49 on the list, a few notches above Mobile Technology explosion which stands at 44. Some others on the list include: Africa — foreign investment and development, Antibiotic backlash, Assisted marriage, Brain exercises, Higher education online, and French President Nicholas Nicolas Sarkozy, just to name a few.
“These people, products, places, services and shifts will help define 2008,” according to Ann Mack, director of Trendspotting at JWT.“By examining what will resonate with people or drive their thinking and behaviour, we can identify larger patterns that will shape all of our lives in the years to come. Love it or hate it, technology continues to be a common trend on our list. It drives the serendipitous randomness that throws up chance connections, ground breaking discoveries and great business ideas,” Mack added.
Since the cult film, Living in Bondage, in 1992, the country’s movie industry has steadily risen to become the third largest in the world after America’s Hollywood and Bollywood of India. But while the latter rely on heavy budget and cinematic technology,the Nigerian producers work on shoe-string budget,sometimes about N1 million although some have recently hit about N5 million,using the handheld video recorder to knock out films within 10 days.
Technology has not been on the side of the industry.The advent of the digital video and high definition (HD) cameras has impacted heavily on the industry making it possible for the teeming producers to churn out high quality products, defying time and cost.The films just go straight to DVD and VCD.At least 50 new titles are delivered to Nigerian shops and market stalls every week,where an average film sells 50,000 copies.A hit may sell several hundred thousand.Disks sell for around N200 each,making them affordable for most Nigerians and providing astounding returns for the producers.
However, this report is coming at a time the Nigerian government remains undecided on what to do with the film industry.While most voices have suggested that no film industry anywhere in the world,including Hollywood,Bollywood and the UK film industry grows without government intervention,the Nigerian government has refused to do anything in the nature of endowment or a fund that could impact on the sector.
In the past decade,Nigerians films have become major hits in international film festival across the world including Europe and the Americas.Last year they staged a major entry into the famous Cannes Film Festival in France.The films have also remained the major thrust of most of the festivals focussing on the African film industry.
Nollywood films are proving popular in all English-speaking Africa and have become a staple on M-NET, the South African-based satellite television network. Nigeria satellite equivalent of M-NET, Hi-TV has followed suit.Nigerian stars have become household names from Ghana to Zambia and beyond.The last few years have seen the growing popularity of Nollywood films among African Diaspora in both Europe and America.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silver are husband and wife, the highly talented and skillful couple have contributed immensely to the growth to the growth of the movie industry both Nigeria and abroad, today they are still making waves in the make-belief industry.
Olu Jacob has featured in countless movies internationally and locally. His contributions in the movie industry earned him membership of the British national Theatre.
Some of his notable movies include. ‘Dogs of War’, written by the famous British Author, Frederick Forsythe and ‘cry freedom’ produced by Ola Balogun with appearances in a couple of Television series such as ‘C-15’, “The professionals’ and “Second chance”. He has also featured in various Nigerian home videos so numerous to list here.
The stone faced and stockily built living legend of the movie industry runs the Lufodo productions outfit with his wife joke. Apart from acting Olu Jacobs has also modeled in both Gillette and Ribena adverts. He remains a house hold name in the Entertainment World.
His wife Joke Silver-Jacobs is a popular actress who was trained in England. She had her break playing the lead role in Edith Enem’s, ‘The Ransome’ at the National Theatre Lagos in 1980.
The star actress has also featured in many other home videos as well as many stage and TV productions among which are ‘minor in the sun’, ‘second chance’, “the king must die naked”, ‘Tight Rope’ – and ‘The Trial of Bother Jero’, on the set of which she met her husband.
Dark and Lovely joke, who boasts of a good carriage and diction, has been a role model to many actors and actresses in the country she has also participated in movie production such as ‘Owuro Lojo’ and “The King maker’, produced by Lufodo, a production outfit she runs with her husband.
The couple enjoy a blissful marriage which is the envy of every couple, the couple have also won the prestigious African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) as Best actress – (2006) and Best actor (2007) respectively, but their individual achievements and fame have nothing to do with the love they have for each other as they continue to discover new grounds
The year 2007 has been a very eventful year.It has been full of Nollywood 2007:The Good, The Bad And The Ugly as far as the movie industry is concerned.
Early in the year,a top Yoruba movie actress was caught in the web of drug trafficking. Hassanat Akinwande, the one popularly known as Wunmi, was trying to travel outside the country when security agents stopped her. In her defence of the act, she said she fell into hard times and there was nobody to help her. She was not ready to disclose the identity of the man she was working for either, as she only identified him simply as 'Alhaji'.After some months of trial, she got away with a fine which many considered too lenient. However, she learnt her lessons and decided to put her experience on movie by going on location. She is said to have completed work on the movie which she titled Egbogi Oloro. The movie is yet to be released.
In between the making of the movie, she was said to have sought the help of the NDLEA for a few things but she was turned down. The NDLEA replied that the reason behind that was that she did not cooperate with the drug-fighting officials during her ordeal.As the dust over the case of Wunmi was settling, another actor,Tochi James Uche,was arrested for the same offence. However, he was not as lucky as Wunmi, as he got a jail term.
It was also during the year that one of the veterans of Nollywood, Emma Agu, died. Another artiste, Ebereonwu, also died,among others that included Joe Adekwagh and Danjuma Mohammed.Broadcaster, producer and presenter of Nnkan mbe,a Yoruba real life issues programme on television and Iriri Aye on radio,Kola Olawuyi,also died during a protracted illness.Some other Nollywood artistes who also died during the year include J T Tom-West and Laide Adewale.
However,it was not all bad news from Nollywood.There was good news too.Bad boy actor,Segun Arinze,joined fellow artistes at Lekki who have become landlords in the area.Another landlord in Lekki is Cossy Ojiakor.
Wedding bells rang in the course of the year.Opeyemi Ayeola got married and so did Kunle Afolayan who also launched his new movie Irapada and also went into collaboration with foreign partners to do a movie on Nigeria.Sola Omoniyi popularly known as Lepa Shandy settled down into marriage.As some artistes were getting married,others were breaking up.Popular Yoruba movie couple, Fathia and Saheed Balogun,formally separated after a series of on-and-off marital squabbles.Saheed had survived a fatal accident earlier.
Nollywood actor,Fred Amatha,and his Talk Show host wife,Agatha,also broke up after a series of in-fighting.Fred later teamed up with Ibinabo Fiberesima who had a case hanging on her neck until recently when she was acquitted by the court for the murder of a top Lagos University Teaching Hospital medical doctor.
Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu also broke up with her husband who abandoned her and her kid and took off to the United States.He was said to have returned recently but has not got in touch with his wife or tried to reunite with her.
Popular midget actor, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki),was engaged to a lady called Nkechi. She was said to have backed out of the arrangement later.However, Aki explained that he was not engaged to Nkechi in the first place and that the purported engagement party was a birthday get-together.
During the year,an actress and daughter of late Prof. Peller,popular magician, Nike Peller,went on holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
Trouble brewed for multiple award-winning actress, Toyin Adegbola, whose boyfriend used her jeep to harrass the family of a top politician. The vehicle was later traced to Toyin Ayegbola's house and she was arrested and detained. She was later released when her boyfriend, who had earlier been on the run, was finally apprehended.
Only very few artistes were sanctioned by their associations during the year. However, a very notable one was Ini Edo, who was banned but later pardoned by the AGN for misconduct. She was said to have held a producer to ransome by leaving the location of a movie without notice, thereby putting the shooting of the movie in jeopardy.
A former notable Nollywood actress,Cossy Ojiakor,who said she was going to bounce back in the course of the year,did not go beyond the mention of her intention to do so with the launch of an album.Having been banned,the dancer-cum-actress who hardly made any reputable mark as an actress,had since gone into oblivion.
In the northern part of the country, a little problem brewed.An actress ran foul of the code of decency when a recording of her and her boyfriend making love was widely circulated.The recording,which apparently was without her knowledge,was probably later transferred to a friend and from there began to circulate to the whole of the North,with some people even making brisk business from it.The lady,who is well loved by the Hausa movie audience,went into hiding for quite some time.
Also on the foreign scene,Big Brother Africa made a return to the screen after a few years of absence.It was a little bit more controversial than the first time.Towards the end of the show,the last three Housemates,Richard,Tatiana and Ofunneka got drunk and Richard was said to have raped Ofunneka by putting his fingers into her private part while Tatiana was urging him to stop.Eventually, Richard won the $100,000 prize at stake.
The Oscar Award at the beginning of the year also sprang surprises,as Forest Whittaker,who acted as Idi Amin in The Last King Of Scotland got an award with Jenniffer Hudson.
Recent Comments