9jaNollywoodstars

Conflict in Nollywood
Ike becomes factional president of AGN.The movie body known as the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has been a field of battle among its members over who becomes the president or not. Some time this year, an election was conducted,which produced Segun Arinze as the factional president of the body. Kanayo O. Kanayo and his faction disagreed with the emergence of Arinze as the president and he declared himself as the president.

In the middle of this ongoing battle, another election was conducted producing Emeka Ike as the AGN president to the discontent of the likes of Arinze. Embattled Arinze attempted to halt the caretaker committee of the guild from conducting the election that produced actor Ike. 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 Ike as his deputy as a way of moving the troubled guild forward. Arinze allegedly stormed the guild's secretariat with a team of policemen from Area D, Mushin, with the intention of stopping the election. However, he failed as the Kanayo team, armed with a court order, refused to be intimidated.

Odueke killed a 16 month old baby
Tayo Odueke, popularly called Sikiratu Sidondo, a named she got from the wayward lifestyle role she played in the movie Sikiratu Sidondo years back, killed a year and four months old baby boy known as Daramola. The incident, which happened last Friday at Muri Busari Close, Oloti Village off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos has been dragged to the State Traffic Division B OPS Department where the actress cum movie producer is apprehended.

The Ibinabo Fiberesima crisis
If you can recall, Ibinabo Fiberesima killed a male medical doctor identified as Suraju Giwa while allegedly driving carelessly and under the influence of alcohol along the Lekki/Epe Expressway in Lagos. The Nollywood actress was later convicted of murder/manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Igbosere Division of the Lagos Magistrate Court.

Those who did not make it through 2009
The death of Omoladun Omidina, aka Kenkelewu, the late wife of the dark skinned Yoruba movie comedian, Tunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, is still generating controversies. Her husband who was rumoured to have killed her.

Nicholas, the Galaxy Damsel television programe presenter on Galaxy television, died from the effects of diabetics.

Steve Efosa Kadiri, popularly called Steve the Sleek, of Ray Power, died after battling for years with a deadly Kidney problem.

Also to be remembered is Remi Abiola, the veteran actress and one of the wives of the late business mogul, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who passed away after an being diagnosed of Cancer at a New York hospital. She died on August 3.

Just this month, Caroline Johnson, an actress, died of cancer of the blood.

Awards by Nigerian entertainers
Awards were given out and received by the members of the industry. Locally, such awards for 2009 included the Sound city Music and Video Awards (SMVA), the Nigerian Music Award (NMA), the Future Awards, the AMAA, awards and the City People Awards etc. Internationally, there was the Koral award, Grammy award, Afro Hollywood Award and a host of others.

Kuti geta Grammy nomination again
As quiet as Femi Kuti appears to have been in recent times, he has been busy making himself a better person and improving his career. He has again been nominated for the Grammy awards. Kuti got a KORA award for his hit album 'Bang Bang Bang.

Ezuruonye become the face of Amstel Malta
Good looking actor and Glo Ambassador, Mike Ezuruonye, has just become the face of Amstel Malta and for this, he got paid in millions. His contract will run for one year.

Monalisa Wins Afro Hollywood award
Taking time out of her busy schedule in the bustling city of Lagos, Glo Ambassador and sexy screen siren, Mona Lisa Chinda, jetted out to the Queen's own country (England) to attend the 2009 edition of the Afro Hollywood Award. The actress was nominated along with several other actresses for the Award for Best Actress in an English movie, and she won amidst some stiff competition. Also present at the occasion was veteran actor, Justus Esiri, Mercy Johnson, etc. The Afro Hollywood Award is a yearly event organised by Mike Abiola and it seeks to reward deserving actors and actresses for their contribution to the development of the film industry in Nigeria.

Highlights on Nollywood stars
This has certainly been a year of innovation and growth for Nollywood. Oprah Winfrey, the most influential woman on television, mentioned Genevieve Nnaji on her show as one of the 20 most popular people in the world, Stephanie Okereke directed and produced a film 'Through the Glass,' racking in millions at the box office.

Akindele wins multiple awards
As the year comes to an end in a few days, one person who will pray that all the goodies of 2009 should go with her o 2010 is Funke Akindele, the Jenifa star actress. Her 2008 box office hit, Jenifa, was indeed a breakthrough as it catapulted her to the status of the leading Yoruba actress in Nigeria and as such her schedule dictates when productions take place as many producers are desperate to have her face in their movies. Many awards have come her way this year of which the BON award for best movie of the year 2008 goes to her for her great comical performance in Jenifa. Another award to her credit is the Future Award. City People gave her the Best Movie award. She also won the best actress of the year at AMAA where she also became Africa's best actress of the year. At the Afro Hollywood award held in the UK, she carted home the most outstanding actress of the year. She is currently one of the Glo ambassadors.

Darey the award mania gets four awards
Nigeria's king of R n B, Darey Art Alade, is definitely one artiste who did well this year. He won two awards at this year's Channel O awards on October 29 and four at the Nigeria Music Video Awards on November 1.

Johnson, Ademola, Nuoah, others shine at BON awards
Some weeks ago, the inaugural edition of the Best of Nollywood Award, organized by Seun Oloketuyi, was indeed a colorful one. Nineteen awards and six special recognitions were given out at the event. The best movie journalist of the year went to Samuel Olatunji. Upcoming artistes were not left out as the revelation of the year award for the male went to Kayode Akinbayo for his performance in the movie 'Bi a ti ko' while the female revelation award was given to Kehinde Bankole for her role in the movie 'Elerin Eye.'

Muyiwa Ademola went home with the best supporting actor of the year for his role in the movie 'Bamitale' and the best supporting actress of the year was Mercy Johnson for her role in 'Distance in Between.' The television personality of the year went to Denrele Edun while the radio personality of the year is Tosyn Bucknor.

Emem Issong 'Reloaded' also got Ramsey Nuoah the best English actor of the year while Ini Edo Philip carted away the best English actress of the year, which she got from her role in the Reloaded.
Indeed, Emem Issong went home a happy woman with her film Reloaded wining the best English movie of the year. Doris Simon Ademinokan was also a happy woman at the event as her movie Omo iya kan also won the indigenous Yoruba movie of the year. Dele Odule too was not left behind as he bagged the Indigenous Actor of the Year award, which his performance in the movie Bolode Oku earned him.

Gemini, best marketer of the year
If there has been any Nigerian award that is for the movies that gives out awards to the marketers of the movies, then, they will definitely be few. The Best Of Nollywood Award,which had its inaugural edition recently was one award that is all encompassing as it tend to look beyond just the actors and actresses but went the extra mile to also celebrate the marketers,the editors and producers of the movies. The event which was the master plan of Seun Oloketuyi was indeed a good innovation and a source of motivation to the industry at large. Gemini pictures emerged as this year's best marketer of the year. It was indeed a thing of joy and pride for the good works, sacrifices and efforts of the marketers to be acknowledged and recognised.

The Glo Ambassador contract
Globacom Nigeria, a leading telecommunications company, took the step in celebrating young artists who have distinguished themselves in the area of movie and music by making them its Ambassadors. The beneficiary of this deal this year include Jim Iyke, Rita Dominic, Monalisa Chinda, Funke Akindele and D'banj.

Artistes with crashed marriages in 2009
They started dating at the dawn of Nollywod after they hooked up on the set of a top movie producer. Their relationship was celebrated in the media after they tied the knot in a colourful ceremony. Uche Osutule was the darling of the screen while Obi Osutule was a director. However, it came crashing like a pack of dominoes and both partners called it quits. Today, they have both remarried.

Saheed and Fathia Balogun were the poster couple of the industry. Saheed always took time out to tell the world how rock solid his union with Fathia was. He spared no word in praising her to the highest heavens. That was until disaster struck after a close pal of Saheed's was alleged to be having trysts with his wife. The actor/producer was said to have done all he could to save his marriage from going under because they already had two kids. However,it seemed that their differences were irreconcilable and the drifted apart.But last year,Fathia made attempts to be reunite with her husband unsuccessfully.She had even dedicated an award she won in the UK to him and enlisted top Yoruba actors,including the likes of Jide Kosoko, to help plead her cause. But to his day,Saheed remains adamant,insisting that their union is buried in the graveyard of history.

Her forte is acting bitchy roles in movies. The question now is, could that have affected her marriage? Was she bitchy to her husband? Full-bodied actress, Eucharia Anunobi, probably believed that she had found Mr. Right when she hooked up and married her knight in the shining amour, Mr. Ekwu. However, he soon went AWOL, dumping his matrimonial home and in the process, also abandoning his child. Unconfirmed reports claim that Mr. Ekwu chickened out of town. Today they are separated.

The marriage of top actor,Femi Adebayo to his wife,Khadijat Bukola,has crashed.The blissful marriage of the couple began to experience trouble a few months ago after it was established that the actor has been involved in a secret affair with top actress,Funke Akindele. Sequel to this, there have been several stories about how Adebayo sent Khadijat packing with the three kids.As you read this, Khadijat now lives in her parents house located at Epe Road, GRA Area, Offa, Kwara State.

New marriages in 2009
Ini Edo tied the nuptial knots with her spouse this year and is currently in faraway America.

The widow of Jaiye Aboderin,Stella Damasus,finally deemed it fit to remarry this year to her business mogul love,Emeka Nzeribe.Today they live together as man and wife in her Lekki home.

Also not left out is the popular busty Yoruba actress,Ronke,popularly called Oshodi Oke,a nickname she earned from her hit movie,Oshodi Oke.She too joined the married club this year.

One of the newest marriages in town at the moment is that of Tricia Esiegbe,the versatile actress and producer of a popular TV programme,Bold Faces. She went to the alter with her heartthrob, Kingsley,two saturday ago.

Yoruba actress, Ireti Osayemi,took the bold step of tieing the knot with her lover boy of some years with whom she had two kids before.She is happily married now to her producer turned husband.

Story by http://nigeriafilms.com

2009 witnessed lots of rumors, scandals and ugly incidents in the entertainment industry.

The ugly
Many a star lost their lives to the cold hands of death.

Omoladun Kenkelewu: Omoladun, the late wife of Baba Suwe died of hypertension related ailment in August. Her death was one too many for a lot of people to bear.

Remi Abiola: One of the wives of the late politician,( M.K.O Abiola) Remi Abiola died in United States and the association was almost ridiculed when it could not bring her corpse back home. Luckily help came from other quarters and she was brought back home in one piece. It was five days after her burial that Omoladun passed away.

Bisi Ogunde also died on a film location at Itaegbe-Owode, near Idiroko, Ota, Ogun state. She had allegedly complained of dizziness to her colleagues when she arrived at the film location. She was advised to take a rest. But she insisted on shooting few scenes from her role. She later slumped on set possibly due to fatigue and died on the spot.

Mojisola Abeke Ogunsola aka Iya Alakara, passed on after a brief illness in Ibadan, on the 23rd of July 2009. She was one of the wives of another late movie veteran, Ishola Ogunsola aka Isho Pepper.

The bad
Kidnapping of comic Nkem Owoh was one of the bad things for Nollywood. Nkem Owoh was kidnapped on his way to Port Harcourt from Enugu . He spent about two days with kidnappers before he was reportedly released after the payment of about N1 million ransom.
Kidnapping of Pete Edochie: The veteran actor who has a reputation that is as hard as rock was kidnapped in August and there was nothing he could do about it. He was later released after payment of a ransom. His kidnapping was the beginning of wisdom for many A-list celebrities as they are now extra careful in the eastern states.

Crisis in AGN
The drama at Actors Guild of Nigeria is reminiscent of what is going on in the political circle in Nigeria . Two actors, Emeka Ike and Segun Arinze are laying claim to the presidency of the association and the feud is getting messier by the day. Some artistes are on Segun's side while many are also on Emeka's side. The feud no doubt has polarized the association and we can tell you for free that not many people take them serious anymore.

Rumors of break-ups
Oge Okoye's marriage: Oge Okoye's marriage was said to have packed up and her Holland based husband is said to be out of the picture.

It later turned out to be rumor according to Oge, though her husband has not made a categorical statement.

Ini Edo: her marriage made the news and gave the magazines a field day but not long afterwards, news filtered into town that her marriage was on the verge of breaking. She hopped on the next flight and went to Houston in United States to meet her man in order to douse the tension. The strategy proved effective as the rumor mongers calmed down but many are still poking noses and expecting to hear the worse.

Femi Adebayo's broken home
Femi's broken home was one of the bad news in the course of the year. Many alleged that it was his relationship with Funke that broke his home, but revelations have since emerged that the marriage was already under a lot of pressure before the rumor.

Timaya
He made the headline for reasons other than his music. First he got a bashing from Nico Graphity, put his hip hop world award plaque on his crotch in public and later went to fight Empress Njamah in a church when their love affair went sour. Of course he got a beating of his life and his reputation and goodwill flew out of the window.

Sikiratu Sindodo
She started the year as handbag of motor park lord, MC Oluomo in Oshodi. She lost out to manipulative play of some of her colleagues and eneded the year in police custody when her jeep was said to have crushed a toddler to death unknowingly. For her it was a bad year.

Story by www.nigeriafilms.com

Before now, these acts ruled the airwaves like a colossus.Okay, may be that is an exaggeration but they used to have such a visible presence in Nollywood on and off screen and of course they made plenty of news headlines. Now,we hardly see them.Most of them are no more in the news and if they manage to pop up somewhere in newspapers and irrepressible soft sell magazines it is for the wrong reason.
Here is the list of entertainment personalities missing in the thick of the action in 2009.

Dakore Egbuson: Yes, she can act and has this good aura that made her likeable. She was the new face, the critics of Nollywood wanted and her down to earth attitude gave her a plus. Dakore was not vain unlike many Nollywooders. With abundant talents and likeable personality Dakore did not fly beyond the sky as predicted and this year she missed plenty of Nollywood action. Instead she is said to be working on a TV programme and music that has reached advanced stage. And she has been in the news for her relationship with Harry Akande’s son Olumide whom many alleged has been responsible for her not acting that much. Let’s hope 2010 will finally be her year.

Chidi Mokeme: Chidi Mokeme is an actor that has gone full circle. He is an actor, presenter, TV anchor, and model and now he sells sex toys. What a 360 degree man. Chidi has been obviously missing in action for the past two years and he doesn’t seems to care, who will if you have to sell toys that make a bevy of beauties throng your shop. Lest we forget, Chidi was in Omotara Johnson and he was awesome.

Lilian Bach: The very attractive actress might not be on the A-list in her days but she has a presence you can’t ignore. At a time, she started acting in Yoruba flicks too and did we love her? Oh yeah and would love to see more of her but she is conspicuously missing in action in 2009. Her missing in action is by choice not that she doesn’t get offers. However she did a movie with Teco Benson this year and we hope that would be her re-launch pad in 2010.

Pat Attah: The lover boy of Nollywood came back to Nollywood in 2009, but he is still not as active as the word active. He is still missing in action in 2009. He was in ….. but that still has not helped matters. Pat would not have made the list, if not that he came back to Nollywood. Perhaps he came back too late because he missed plenty of the action.

Saint Obi: Saint Obi has every reason to be on top of his game. He is fine and can act like the word act but he is missing big on the screen. Saint Obi is said to be getting busy running his production company as the young actors seem to have taken over.

Shan George: Shan George was not in the thick or thin of the action. She was missing in the whole of the action. She made the news twice, one she was in the news for dating another younger man (any big deal?) and when she collaborated with some foreign people to produce Zebra. Anyway we heard she has also finished work on her musical work, if that is true we might see lots of this actress in 2010.

Fred Amata: Thanks to Celebrity Take 2, Fred Amata would have been lost in the crowd in 2009. He was almost invisible until he was named as one of the contestants in the highly popular TV reality programme, Celebrity Take 2. He has been making lots of noise and that made him a bit visible but some of us are not fazed. Fred was still not involved in the real action of Nollywood. We can’t remember a title of one of the movies he did this year. Our bros was seriously missing in action.

Nkiru Sylvanus : Not until we saw her in commercial TV advert and her name propped up as the Vice President (South East) of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Nkiru was nowhere to be found. She missed the Nollywood action and it was pretty obvious.

Benita Nzeribe: Benita has been perpetually missing for years now and she is still missing. May be now that she is PRO of one of the AGN factions things will pick up for her and she would be.

Baba Suwe: His case is understandable. He was down for health reasons and lost his wife along the line. We doubt if Baba Suwe featured in anybody’s movie this year but he did produce his own movie, Baba Jayejaye. We want to tell you for free that the movie is one of the flicks many are looking forward to in 2010.

Chioma Chukwuka: She is the good girl with no scandal and she can act. But somehow, this year wasn’t just Chioma’s year. She got a Globacom deal as one of its ambassadors but she was obviously missing in the action on the big screen and even the Glo advertorial doesn’t seem to favor her.

Pete Edochie: The grandfather of acting, Pete Edochie must have lost out to the poor movies being produced now. Aside from the news of his kidnap, Pete Edochie was missing in action. Majority of what we have now are movies that have jettisoned the traditional setting and that is what daddy seems to be very at home with.

Olumide Bakare: He is hard and tough in movies and there are very few people that did not like this man in movies. Olumide Bakare can dramatize everything but this year he did not see much of drama. Bakare’s face was missing in movie jackets and posters.

Bisi Ibidapo Obe: With grace and figure that make men drool, Bisi Ibidapo Obe should always be number one but her schedule seems to obstruct the flow of things. She was said to have secretly married and shot her own movie. We did not see Bisi’s face in any movie this year. She missed lots of things but doesn’t seems to care.

Bimbo Oshin: We cannot really say what is responsible for Bimbo’s absence this year but her marital status seems to be the reason many throw around. We learnt that her husband has to scrutinize everything before she considers any offer and since the man is not always around, it might be one of her challenges and motherhood might be another reason. Bimbo is missing in action and very missing.

Source: http://nigeriafilms.com

It is no longer news that most marriages involving Top Nollywood actresses have hit the rocks for one reason or the other. While a lot have been speculated on why these marriages fail, a recent investigation has revealed that top on the list are money and infidelity as well as quest for sexual satisfaction and the search to maintain the high profile bestowed on them by stardom which has led many of them into marriages of convinence and most times, they jump out of the relationship as soon as they go in.

Some of the victims of the broken marriages include:

Monalisa Chinda:- Hers is the latest marriage break up in Nollywood. It was alleged that the reason for the break up of the marriage of the top actress with her ex-hubby, Dejo Richards is money.

According to our source, the Rivers State-born actress, who had particularly been the bread winner of the household could not handle the heat of her wealth, part of which comes as Globacom ambassador and decided to let loose what she has been holding together over the years. Her marriage produced one beautiful daughter.

Ngozi Ezeonu: This top actress packed out of her matrimonial home many years ago on account of her husbands alleged unfaithfullness as he dumped her for another woman whom he pregnanted.

It was also gathered that before her husband's extra marital affair, she had been allegedly linked with a handsome young actor whose bed she was said to be warming.

Fred and Agata Amata: The handsome actor, producer and director and TV presenter and wife, have always served as a case study of Nollywood couple whose marriage hit the rocks as a result of infidelity. Though, they attribute the break-up to irreconcilable differences, a close source has it that the actor terminated the marriage due to the wife's infidelity while he had also been involved in extra-marital affairs. One of who is a top actress and ex beauty queen.

Stephanie Okereke:- This A List actress is said to be very happy with her divorce as she sees her self as being better of without her ex-footballer husband, Chikelu Ileoanusi.

The reason for their breakup is attributed to financial problems as she took charge of putting food on their table which nearly ruined her financially. Our source also revealed that the screen diva found out that all the stories the ex-hubby told her about himself before they got married were all lies.

Encharia Anunobi-Ekwu: Although, she wanted her marriage with Charles Ekwu to last, the ex-hubby had other plans as he depended on the actress for his own welfare and that of the family until he was caught red-handed making love to their 13-years-old house girl.

She made the actress to file a divorce suit. Revealing the reason for the dissolution of the marriage, the actress said, “it has not been easy because I have always been responsible financially in sustaining the marriage, we have been living in the house I secured as a spinster even after marriage because of the love I have for him.”

Clarion Chukwura: She is one actress who has married two husbands but not with any of them today. She has laid the blame for her failed marriages as the prize she has to pay as an artiste.

According to her, she has realised the fact that men come to them because they are stars and move on immediately they realise that artistes are ordinary people.

Chiege Alisigwe: The breakup of the marriage of this top actress is said to be based on extra-marital affairs. The actress, who was married to a UK-based businessman alleged that the man had other relationships, unable to bear it, she came back to Nigeria to continue her life until she met her second husband last year, an Enugu-based police officer.

Shan George:- She first got married as a teenager but left the marriage after giving birth to two boys, she later married a US-based guy, Tony Nwosisi, but she later found out that the man was married to another woman who had given him children at the time of his marriage to Shan, so she decided to quit the marriage for good.

Apart, form these actresses who have suffered broken marriages, there are others who are single and eager to hook a husband by all means, they include Ibinabo Fiberesima, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Uche Jumbo, Dakore Egbuson Lilian Bach, etc.

Source: nigeriafilms.com

The minister of communication; Mrs Dora Akunyili certainly tops the list of Nollywood Bashers. Every time she talks about Nigeria’s problem, she is quick to attribute it to Nollywood. All Nigeria’s image problems lies with the fact that we’re making Juju films, she couldn’t be more wrong. In the past few years, Nollywood has produced mostly love stories, I would even welcome a movie bordering on rituals just for a change. Yes we had our session of rituals. It’s the way it works; one person starts a trend, succeeds, everyone else follows till someone else breaks the trend. Hollywood is particularly guilty: They came with NEXT and PREMONITION and DÉJÀ VU etc, and then for a while, the Directors all visited Africa, LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, BLOOD DIAMONDS, CATCH A FIRE etc. Now they’ve all gone surreal: TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE, GAMER, 2012 etc.

Mrs. Akunyili is minister of information, an extremely sensitive position, before she can inform people, she must first be informed. All she needs do is grab a few copies of Nigerian movies from Idumota or sit facing Africa Magic for a few hours and she’d know a bit about Nollywood. It’s a bit embarrassing every time she makes a statement in error. In a recent statement, she blames Nollywood for the movie District 9. She says if we had been making movies about how Nigerians contributed towards ending apartheid, then District 9 may not have been made. Is she for real? The director of District 9: Neil Blomkamp clearly stated that he believes most of the crimes perpetrated in SA are by Nigerians, he’s probably never seen a Nigerian film.

Nigeria’s infamy is from corruption and internet scam, nicknamed yahoo, yahoo. And that’s the image she’s trying to clean, where does Nollywood come into the matter? Only recently, Amnesty International just accused the Nigeria police of extra- judicial killings stating that they ‘kill at will’. Someone will probably blame Nollywood for this development.

Even if we were making juju films as claimed, is this why my green passport is scanned a thousand times by immigration officers outside the country or why the guy in the bus in Germany shifts beside me uncomfortably, clutching his bag tighter. Or why the shop attendant in Dubai immediately becomes more alert when I mention that I am Nigerian. I bet they don’t even know we have a movie industry in Nigeria, all they remember is the number of crimes that have been perpetrated by Nigerians in their country. Why then is Mrs. Akunyili bent on blaming Nollywood? Only months ago, she asked Nollywood to help her rebrand Nigeria, now she turns around to rebrand Nollywood

The minister would do well not to tongue lash the Arts for it is the Arts that has saved Nigeriá’s face and given us global recognition. It is Uwem Akpan’s book that was selected by Oprah for her book Club, Asa who has gained acceptance world wide, I personally heard her on radio Leicester, Femi who has been nominated for the grammies, Chimamanda Adichie who has won several international awards, Lancelot Imasuen who has been featured on CNN and Genevieve Nnaji who was featured on Oprah.

But it is not only the minister that hates Nollywood. There are several websites dedicated to just spew venom on Nigerian movies and particularly at more successful producers. Most members of these sites are Nigerians in the diaspora or more specifically, Nigerians in the United States. Someone summarised their problem as beef(Nigerian English for envy) We succeeded where they couldn’t. We didn’t wait for them to return home with their Harvard or nursing degrees(not sure how nursing would help develop the country), we went ahead and produced an industry out of absolutely nothing. With most of us self-taught, we wrote scripts with candles, powered equipment with generators and made movies that have left the world gaping. How did we do it? Everyone is seeing the opportunities and potentials, except these set of Nigerians. South Africa, realising that winning the Oscar(Tsotsi) is not the all and all, have decided to go Nigeria’s way by creating Jollywood which they say will compete with Nigeria’s Nollywood. Ghana’s Gollywood is also following closely behind with the full support of their Government.

I was invited to a film makers workshop in Berlin based on a Nollywood script. The participants couldn’t believe my script had been shot as a feature film, they all wait for grants, grants that may never come and their dreams will be buried with them but in true Nigerian style, we found a way out without waiting for the Western Messiahs to come lead us right.

Nollywood has given me as a writer, a platform to be heard. I am privileged to write both screenplays and literature, while I enjoy both, in writing literature, my audience is mostly Western and I am forced often to look back to be sure that they are following me as I paint my dear continent black but with Nollywood there’s a freedom to be you.

Nollywood has also contributed towards bringing back the middle class in Nigeria. An average practitioner lives comfortably, travels round the globe, most times without having to pay for tickets.

While this profession will always attract its fair share of criticism, for most of the critics, it’s not aimed at bettering the industry, it’s sheer envy and hatred, they would give their left arms to see it fail so they can continue to feel justified for some of the conditions they live under abroad. Loads of them have tried to do it ‘better’ and few if any have succeeded so far.

While some movies make you cringe, some send you reeling with laughter or with tears. I choose to celebrate those ones.

Apart from Joy Isi Bewaju’s review of Guilty Pleasures and Molara Wood’s review of Figurine, a lot of what you read online is sheer balderdash. Ini Edo’s hair didn’t match her figure or Mercy Johnson should go learn how to kiss. These for movie reviews?

I read several reviews of Clint Eastwood’s ‘Invictus’: Some by critics and some by viewers. It left me with a prayer: Lord send us some intelligent critics in Nollywood. Chikena!

Story by www.nigeriafilms.com

Actress Caroline Johnson, who was down with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Cancer of the blood), and received overwhelming support before, during and after her operation in India, has died.

The mother of three,who acted as Uju in popular Christian soap ‘Heaven’s Gate’, passed on at 5:30PM yesterday (Wednesday December 16), after suffering a relapse.

Her husband Tony told www.nigeriafilms.com early this morning that his wife was ‘very okay’ until last Saturday when she ’suddenly took ill’.

”It started again on Saturday. By Sunday she was unconscious. We had taken her to the hospital (St Mary’s hospital in Omole, Lagos) where she was transfused and revived”

”She was bleeding from her mouth and nose and under the skin” Mr Johnson told www.nigeriafilms.com.

Caroline was placed on artificial Oxygen.

By Tuesday she got really better, her husband says. ”They were planning to discharge her on Thursday (today), and i even told her i’ll get her a wheelchair so we can go to the Redemption Camp”.

”Unfortunately, she broke down again on Wednesday morning”.

”She was tired”, Tony says, telling www.nigeriafilms.com that her last statement was: ”I have finished the Book”.

Before leaving for India, Caroline Johnson went through endless chemotherapy and blood transfusions at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Her illness was diagnosed in October 2008 – she was at the time, five months pregnant with her third child (whom she gave birth to, prematurely, on December 17, 2008).

She is survived by her husband Tony (they were married for seven years), and their three kids: Omolayo, Imisioluwa and Oluwatise (who clocks 1 today)

The late Caroline attended Ifako International Secondary School in Lagos and studied Mass Communication at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State.

Story by www.nigeriafilms.com

Former Ewi exponent, Mr. Sesan Adewusi a.k.a. Tantolorun, has assured members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), that there shall be no mysterious deaths in their fold in 2010.

Speaking against the backdrop of an alleged prophecy that death will reign supreme among ANTP members in 2010 by a Lagos pastor, Adewusi, also popularly known as Baba Oloyin Original, said the prediction was aimed at causing confusion and making members to run helter skelter to the pastor’s church.

He recalled that a popular prophet has been advising the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, to pray for his health since the monarch ascended the throne in 1980, but in the contrary, the monarch has continued to wax stronger.

“If any prophet wants to use fake prophecy to attract undue publicity in order to gain more members, he is free to buy advert space in any of the newspapers in the country. I like to assure ANTP members that the same prophet once failed, when he targeted fuji musicians,” Adewusi stated in a statement issued from his Iyesi, Ota, Ogun State office.

He said juju music maestro turned evangelist, Dr. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, once waxed a record for a prophet, who was predicting doom for juju musicians, saying it was back to the sender.

Adewusi posited that the motive behind these fake prophecies was to ensure that theatre arts practitioners rushed en masse to his church for spiritual help and that the prediction of doom was meant to scare ANTP members into submission, fear and subsequently, do such pastor’s bidding.

He noted that the incessant auto crash incidents involving theatre arts practitioners could be traced to their cars, especially sport utility vehicles (SUV) that most of them now ride.

He advised them to read Psalm 140 and pray regularly.

Story by http://nigeriafilms.com

1. Every problem you have is spiritual.
reply: not just Nollywood movies, even in Church. Everywhere. Its like this: you have a headache, and the situation becomes a spiritual attack.

2. In every romance movie, someone must die.
reply: sometimes I wonder what kind of fairy tales Nigerian movie producers /script writers read.

3. It is possible to hit a person without actually touching them!
reply: that one na Jaz ba?

4. Anyone who gets hit by a car dies immediately.
reply: even though the car is going slow-motion. Worse, camera men even film car tires.

5. Poisoned food always tastes better. reply: always

6. The best way to make money is by visiting a 'Babalawo' / joining a cult / sleeping with rich men.
reply: sleeping with rich women nko? There is nothing like hardwork + persistence in Nollywood.

7. One of a pair of twins (identical or not) is born evil…reply: between drama and horror movies, which is which?

8. There is never an end to your suffering, except death! reply: Now Your Suffering Continues

9. With a pastor … all things are possible.
reply: The easiest profession in Nigeria is armed robbery or Pastorship.

10. A movie can be titled anything… such as:
*The boy is mine,
* Face me, I face you
*Two rats,
*Spanner,
*Calculator,

reply: the title usually explains everything. In fact, after seeing the CD cover, you don't need to buy the movie. Add the title and the CD cover together and you have watched a Nigerian movie.

11… You are in love… you want to take your girl out, the best place
you take her to is…
*Mr. Biggs/Tantalizers: where you'll most probably see an ex while
feeding each other.
*The beach: where it is imperative that you ride a donkey and carry her playfully.
*Or the best: take her to buy some new ugly clothes.

reply: there are usually not more than 5 people inside Biggs/Tantalizers, and the ex is always sitting prominently. Talking of buying clothes, usually I might just fast forward. I cant imagine 20minutes of film inside a shop – when its not a bad-guy hostage situation.

12. An Igbo movie has been made if:
* You visit a Babalawo
* A fleet of cars is shown off at regular intervals for a total of half
of the movie time.
* Kanayo 'O' Kanayo is in the movie. Pete Edochie is there too!
* To get rich it is mandatory you join a cult .

13. Sometimes the title has absolutely nothing to do with the movie and other times, once you read the title and see the poster you know it all!!! (Also the soundtrack gives you a headache because it just narrates the whole story repeatedly – so much for suspense and intrigue!)
reply: this makes me wonder what the Nollywood stakeholders are really up to. Have you watched a Nigerian movie and you ended up asking yourself if the movie was ever reviewed? if any other person apart from the actors / directors have watched the movie before its released to the public?

14. A love story has not been produced if it does not have one or two of the following actresses-
* Stella Damascus
* Stephanie Okereke
* Genevieve Nnaji
* Omotola Jalade
* Rita Dominic

reply: and worse, its the usual story lines

15. The police are extremely 'efficient' unlike their counterparts in real life.
reply: not only are the Police extra-efficient in films, their uniform is always new and ironed.

16. It is permissible to wear very dark shades at night!
reply: dark shades at night, sweaters in broad daylight / Nigerian weather?

17. When you are shot in the chest, it really doesn't matter;your head will be bandaged! Same for your legs!
reply: its like this: someone is shot in the head, and the next thing is a hospital scene where the persons legs are in a POP cast

18. When advertising a movie, you really should shout because… people are deaf?
reply: worse, they plaster a bus with posters and start driving around town.

19.. When you are extremely poor, you will still be able to afford-a
beautiful house, very good furniture, T.V., nice clothes, but you won't be able to send your kids to school.
reply: and then junior will come and ask mommy, 'you mean we don't have food in the house'?

20. Most especially in Yoruba movies, your gateman must be inefficient and comical. He MUST dress like a freak, be rude to all your visitors and never mind his business.
reply: and this idea of bowing down to everybody? even to strangers?

21. At the end of a three-hour movie you'll be reminded that THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING…WATCH OUT FOR PART 2!
reply: not just 'watch out', its 'stay tuned'

22. An actor announces his death as he slowly dies- “You killed me” “I'm dying” “I'm dead”
reply: and then he dies.

23. In a case where a person is on his death bed, he/she must cough till they die.
reply: wahala dey for Nigeria o.

24. Every ghost must wear a white cloth and have powder unevenly distributed on their face.
reply: which makes me to wonder whats the difference between angels and ghosts. One's the good guy and the other's the bad guy.

25. No matter the type of movie…TO GOD BE THE GLORY….
reply: even if na juju fill the movie, its still To God be the Glory.

DISCLAIMER- no hard feelings abeg..

Story by http://nigeriafilms.com

Superstar actress Daryl Hannah, Pras a member of the legendary Grammy Award winning group 'The Fugees' and Gian Carlo Esposito distinguished star of numerous movies including "Twilight" opposite Paul Newman, "Derailed" with Clive Owen, Spike Lee films, TV and Broadway, joined by Bollywood Stars Nandita Das, Nandana Sen, and Film maker Madhu Mantena are all bound for Port Harcourt, Nigeria to attend the 6th Annual ION International Film Festival.

Each year, ION is held in a different international location in an effort to promote global awareness and unity. ION moved from Hollywood in 2007, to Dubai, UAE in 2008, will be hosted in Nigeria in 2009, travelling to Istanbul, Turkey in 2010.

The ION International Film Festival has chosen Port Harcourt, Nigeria for its diversity, rich culture and talented filmmakers. The Film Festival hopes to provide not only Nigerian filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their talents to a wide array of people but also independent filmmakers from across the globe.

ION international Film Festival is a touring festival dedicated to promoting independent film, documentary, animation, original screenplays and music videos. It honours and promotes individuals for their outstanding achievements, while encouraging new artists to emerge.
Caterina Bortolussi of Omcomm Limited, producers of the festival, said in interview with CNN, "People in Port Harcourt have an energy that I have never experienced before and for too long it has been showcased like a place of conflict and extremely insecure. The time has come to shift the focus from the bad news to the good news, to the light of the Niger Delta.... the positive initiatives that are taking place in this corner of the world."

Daryl Hannah said : "The ION Film Festival makes a serious commitment to supporting thoughtful, innovative, provocative, funny, intuitive and out of the box projects and stands out in the world of film festivals."

Giancarlo Esposito will be Chairing an Actor's Studio on the 12th of December in Port Harcourt, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge garnered from an illustrious and glorious career.

Pras who will be showing "Skid Row", a documentary that chronicles a 9-day experiment of his life as a homeless man in downtown Los Angeles as well as performing on stage said, "It's such an honour for me to attend and be a part of the Ion Film Festival in Nigeria this year. Being a part of this is like the prodigal son returning home. Going to Nigeria gives me a chance to reconnect and rejuvenate my soul."

IONIFF Nigeria09 strives to bring awareness to individuals and organisations creating socially relevant movies to positively impact Nigeria and our world.

Global Festival Promoter Prince Baba-Jallah Epega added, "We have been welcomed to the beautiful Rivers State by His Excellency the Rt Hon Governor Rotimi Amaechi and are proud to be able to positively showcase this extraordinary event in the most positive light. It has also been a delight to work with Parminder Vir OBE who brings a wealth of award winning production experience in drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment, bridging the gap between "Bollywood" and the Nigerian Film Industry "Nollywood".

Over 80 movies from different parts of the world are being showcased at the Festival. They include 32 movies from Nigeria, 12 from other African countries, 1 from India, 27 from the Americas, 6 from Europe and 1 from the Middle East. It is truly an international film festival highlighting the eclectic mix and international flavour together with a great component coming from emerging young talents.

The ION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL takes place from the 9th to 12th of December 2009

http://nigeriafilms.com

They are the pacesetters in the Nollywood industry.Their presence in the film making industry has been felt and always appreciated by lovers of homevideos and soaps.These are actors who have spent many years in the make-believe industry,have survived the good,bad and ugly sides of Nollywood.And because of their wealth of experience and influence in the industry,the younger artistes and even the aspiring ones look up to them,not only artistically,but because their names open doors to several opportunities in the corridors of power.

They stand as pillars of the Nigerian movie industry known as Nollywood.

Olu Jacobs: He commands so much respect,not only in Nollywood,but in Nigeria as a whole.Uncle Olu as many prefer to call him,has for many years been a source of inspiration to the younger actors and adored by his peers.He is a though-breed professional that has been able to prove his worth in the international movie industry.He is married to one of the best actresses in Nigeria,Joke Silva.
Olu Jacobs has lost count of the movies that he has featured in,has stood the test of time in Nollywood and possesses the qualities of a godfather.

Pete Edochie: Based in the Eastern part of Nigeria,Pete Edochie remains one of the most popular actors in Nigeria.His vast experience and knowledge about the Igbo culture has earned him more Igwe or Chiefly roles in movies.Although,people say he is stereotyped,Pete has repeatedly debunked such allegations claiming that as an actor,his professional responsibility is to interpret whatever script is given to him.
He is a godfather,particularly among the Igbo-speaking filmmakers.

Justus Esiri: He can be described as a bundle of talent with a unique way of interpreting roles.He had on several occasions served as a counsellor or adviser to less experienced filmmakers and actors. He is one of the few that are often contacted when issues affecting the development of Nollywood are to be addressed.

Lere Paimo a.k.a Eda Onile Ola: he is a Yoruba actor with vast experience.Like Pete Edochie in
the English/Igbo sector,Lere Paimo also seems to have been stereotyped,but that has not in anyway hindered the Ibadan based actor from displaying his talent and ability to inteprete roles.

Peter Fatomilola: He is an Ifa scholar of repute and has made use of his knowledge to become a celebrated movie star.However, his vast knowledge about Ifa may be the reason why he mostly plays the role of an Ifa Priest in movies.

Eddie Ugbomah: Ugbomah,who celebrated his 40 years on stage recently,is a down to earth person.He is proactive and innovative.As far back as the 70s Ugbomah had shot movies in celluloid, setting a pace for the modern Nollywood.His intelligence has earned him the responsibility of playing the role of an adviser in virtually all the guilds in the English sector of Nollywood.

Adebayo Faleti: He has proved his mettle as a fantastic script interpreter over the years.This ageing actor for sometime now has been playing an advisory role in the affairs of the Association of Nigeria Theatre-Arts Practitioners (ANTP),an umbrella body of all Yoruba thespians in the country.
Faleti is one actor that has distinguished himself with the unique style of delivering his lines. Watching this icon act,one will be convinced that he has experience.He fits in perfectly in movies that tend to promote more of Yoruba culture.

Kola Oyewo: Apart from being an actor of international repute,Kola Oyewo has contributed tremendously to the growth of Theatre-Arts in Nigeria as a Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife.
Oyewo is an actor that has no limits.He can conveniently feature in both Yoruba and English movies, but as a man who loves impacting more on people in his immediate constituency,he prefers Yoruba movies,particularly those that concentrate more on culture.

Sola Fosudo: Sola Fosudo is one of those that started what we today know as Nollywood.Before home videos and movies eventually became the order of the day,he had been one of the veterans doing stage performances.Fosudo, who is a senior lecturer at the Department of Theatre-Arts, Lagos State University and currently the Academic Director of LASU Part-time studies in Lekki.

Prince Jide Kosoko: He is currently the National President of the Association of Nigerian Theatre-Art Practitioners (ANTP).Although he is still very relevant as an actor,he is more involved in the politics of ANTP lately.Kosoko,one of the early actors in Nigeria,is married to an actress, Henrietta.

Adebayo Salami: Otherwise known as Oga Bello,this chubby actor has also contributed his quota to lift the make-believe industry up and has lost count of his movies.


eNowNow.com

A star and household name is asked by a friend to come for an audition. So she goes with a big bag of clothes, because, naturally, it should be a lead role. But she gets there and is told she will only be in two scenes. The fee? N3,000. She is so humiliated she can't hide the tears.

Like a movie script
Fast forward by a few years and that has-been is now the rave of the moment. Funke Akindele's personal story reads like a movie script. "When I look back today," she said recently in an interview, while on location, "I say God I thank you."
Before she became Jenifa the phenomenon, there was Bisi the phenomenon. Bisi was the lead character in the UNFPA-sponsored family television series called ‘I Need to Know', which was immensely popular. The series was shown on the NTA network and syndicated across the country for four years.After the series ended, movie stardom should have been a cakewalk. But the Nigeria movie and television industries are unlike those in Hollywood; Akindele was a star but she couldn't find work. She had to start afresh.

She began to go "from audition to audition," so broke was she sometimes that her mother had to drive her to the auditions. Still, save for ‘Egg of Life' and ‘Prison of Passion' where she got minor roles, she wasn't making any headway. She was almost forced to stoop to begging for roles."You can't rely on people," the 31-year-old said from experience. "I trusted people a lot and at the end of the day, I got heartbroken. So these days, I expect anything from anybody. That is the biggest lesson that life has taught me."

One can understand this from a woman who wept inside toilets and danfo buses because every door to stardom seemed jammed. "I remember Tayo Odueke (aka Sikiratu Sindodo) coming to meet me and saying ‘Funke stop crying, one day we will make it.'"That day came. Many auditions later, Funke made the hard decision to move over to Yoruba movies. And like a magic slipper, her fortunes changed.

Runaway success
In 2008, her movie, Jenifa - on the escapades of a village girl (Sulia aka Jenifa) desperate to make it big in the city - became such a crossover hit within weeks of release that it has become a cultural phenomenon, considered the highest selling movie in Nollywood."I didn't expect this level of success, I must tell you," she said. "My mother always advised me to do anything I am doing very well; there is no telling which will take you up there. So yes, I give acting and script-writing my all, but I must confess I didn't expect to be this big. What I intended to do with Jenifa was pass a message, especially to the young ladies out there. We obviously made a bigger impact."
Bigger impact is quite an understatement. Words and phrases from the movie - ‘gbogo bigs gelz', ‘my parry', ‘yelz' ‘Sulia Kan, Ayetoro Kan', ‘Don jazzy e' and others - have become a strong part of pop culture lexicon, Ms. Akindele is now possibly the most recognisable actress in Nigeria, and has won a string of accolades including: Actor of the Year 2009 (The Future Awards), Actress of the Year 2009 (AMAA Awards), Best Actress of the Year 2008(City People); not to mention a lucrative telecoms ambassadorship deal running into millions of naira.

Full-on Jenifa
She never tires of the feedback from the character. "No. I am loving it the more," she insists. "In fact, I try to create new things out of the character. The movie really changed my life, so I cannot be tired." Some of the new ‘things' she is creating are "The Return of Jenifa"; and a movie with that other famous comedy character, ‘Osuofia' - to be produced by Kingsley Ogoro. Other plans include full-on Jenifa branding and merchandising - ‘Jenifa' wigs, hair extensions, baseball caps, handbags, purses; ‘bigz boy' chains, shirts and others.
However, there is still a breadth of difference between Funke and Sulia. One is a crass wannabe with few values, the other an urbane law graduate with sound diction. "Sometimes, people always want me to be Jenifa," she says. "Some are even surprised when I talk off the screen. They keep on asking, ‘is she really posh?' They find it hard to believe that am not the village girl, Sulia. I handle them well. I try to be nice and smile. I also crack jokes for them with the Sulia accent."
The actress went out of her way to get that accent right. She had to go down to ‘bukas' (local restaurants) in Ibadan, Osogbo and Ilorin to see ‘local girls' and hear how they pronounce things like ‘big girl', how they paint their faces and what she called "their brand of self confidence".

A brand of self confidence
Her own brand of confidence comes from a string of degrees including an OND in Mass Communication from the Ogun State Polytechnic, as well as a law degree from the University of Lagos. But "acting has always been my first love. I love acting. It's a talent given to me by God."An actor, producer and director, she has so far acted in Yoruba and English language movies totalling 50 - including the multi million naira epic movie, Apaadi (Seal), in which she was lead actress and producer, working with a cast of over 200.
Whilst she calls producing Jenifa the highlight of her career, she is already focused on her next major projects - two dance movies called "Dasofunjo" and "My Choice" - in which she wants to have stars like Genevieve Nnaji. She doesn't have the money yet - but she knows she will do it."I tell younger actresses that Rome was not built in a day," she said. "Acting for instance; you shouldn't want to act because Funke Akindele is acting and is making money. Keep doing it even when you are not getting the roles. When they see you are focused and when you are prayerful too, you will get your chance."
And, of course, she knows what she's talking about.

Story by http://nigeriafilms.com

Association of Movie Producers (AMP) in collaboration with the Lagos State government have, come up with what will henceforth be known as the AMP/Eko International Film Festival. The body powering and packaging the festival, tagged “Film, The Catalyst For Change: Positive,” at the The National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos from November 24 to 27.
Speaking on the objectives of the festival, Paul Obazele, the national president of the, AMP said that it would definitely bring about behavioural change, with respect to motion picture issues: “Especially, the micro issues in motion picture, distributing and marketing.
It will also help to effectively communicate film values and its impact on our tradition. It will assist immensely in the dissemination of information on emerging and new technologies that would ensure effective piracy management. It will also be a medium for operators in the film industry to promote their products and services. The festival will create employment opportunities for the youths”, he said.
While shedding more light on the motivating factors behind the coming festival, the Chairman of its Business Committee section, Mr. Fred Amata, explained that the absence of any such festival that promotes the culture and values of the people of Lagos, to the outside world, through Nollywood, was one of the reasons for their coming on board.
He further added that the growing awareness about Nollywood and its effect on the image of Nigeria to the outside world was another motivating factor. “You cannot rule out the importance of film, in the re-branding of Nigeria.Again, the prevalence of HIV infection, unhygienic practices and moral decadence among youths, can be reduced through films, which is a vehicle for communication and change,” explained Amata, a leading actor/filmmaker in Nollywood.
Also speaking, Mr. Emeka Ossai, a top actor and the Chairman of the Media Committee of the festival, disclosed that it would run for four days.As it will involve issues of interest, spotlights, interviews, presentations, movie screenings, awards and many more while the language of communication is English and Yoruba, so as to reach majority of the audience that will be attending”, Ossai stated.
As Movie Reporters Guild of Nigeria (MORGON), endorsed their support for the forthcoming festival, which is currently serenading Tinsel town.

Culled :This daynewspaper

With the incessant kidnappings recorded in the South-East in general, entertainment practitioners all over the state are now turning down offers to come and perform at concerts and shows in the region. This is coming on the heels of the latest kidnapping of ace-actor, Nkem Owo a.k.a Osuofia last week by unknown persons in Anambra State, but was freed at the weekend. The state however, is fast becoming a kidnappers haven given the high calibre of personalities seized so far in the latest money spinning criminal venture.

Not only is the trend affecting the music industry who are yet to record any victim, many Nollywood actors and actresses are now having a rethink on shootings on locations in the region after the news of Osuofia's confiscation was broken.With the Yuletide season is around the corner, South East dwellers may be witnessing celebrations without any physical appearance of artistes, as many industry watchers are afraid that the kidnappers searchlights will soon be beamed at musicians as a result of their many Bling Bling nature expressed on screen.

The Nigeria Movie Industry, is one of the thriving sector of the Entertainment industry. However, with the influx of new movie artistes and the problem of piracy which is prevalent in this make-believe industry, a lot of movie stars have diversifies into other areas of business to complement their acting careers. NONYEM ANYAKWO in this report unveils the stars who are into other businesses.

PATIENCE OZOKWOR
Popularly known as Mama G Patience Ozokwor is a multi-talented actress who has carved a niche for herself in the movie industry. She launched into the music scene with her debut album titled “Make We Jolly”. Apart from acting and music, Mama G also owns the hottest fast food joint called “Wendy” at Ngwo in Enugu State.

GENEVIEVE NNAJI
Star actress Genevieve is one of the highly celebrated actresses. The talented and pretty screen diva was selected Africa's Most Famous Actress at the recent Oprah Winfrey Show tagged, “Most famous people in the world”. She is also musician and owns a fashion label called St. Genevieve. The dark complexioned mother of one is a renowned model who has done so many jobs, including Face of Lux. She has indeed carved a niche for herself.

OMONI OBOLI
Omoni, no doubt, is a super star who has done so well for herself before relocating to London to raise her family. Presently, this chocolate skinned actress is back full time and has been hitting it big with lead roles. Apart from her acting career, she is also a compere.

SHAN GEORGE
This Edema, Cross River State born actress is unarguably one of the highly controversial actresses in Nollywood. She made a big statement in the industry in the movie, Outcast many years back and since then, her career has been on the rise. Despite her achievements in the industry, she also owns a fashion house which she combines with her acting career.

KATE HENSHAW-NUTIAL
Apart from being a renowned actress, Kate, the beautiful mother of one is also a model and a TV presenter. This Cross River State born multi-talented star who has fetured in so many movies, is now the Face of Onga seasoning.

OMOTOLA JALADE EKEIDE
Award winning actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, popularly known as Omo Sexy is also a PR Consultant and a musician. This mother of four who is endowed with a good height and figure, is another actress who has made a great impact in the movie industry.

ENIOLA BADMUS
Popular Yoruba actress, Eniola Badmus was shot to limelight by her role in the blockbuster movie, Jenifa. She made her entry into the movie industry 11 years ago with the movie, “Brutal Times” and ever since, she has featured in several English and Yoruba Movies. Asides acting, she is also a compere and presenter with Excite TV.

EUCHARIA ANUNOBI
UK as she is fondly called by friends and colleagues, started off
as a model when she was still an English Language undergraduate at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. A divorcee and mother of one, the light-complexioned pretty movie star has featured in so many movies. Apart from being a Nollywood star, this tall and bulky actress also owns an outfit that deals in the supply of frozen foods.

CHIKA IKE
Beautiful, charming and unassuming actress, Chika Ike has had a steady rising career in Nollywood. The pretty actress is one of the hot Nollywood faces, as she has featured in lots of block buster movies. Asides acting, the Human Kinetics undergraduate of University of Lagos also owns a restaurant.

MONALISA CHINDA
She is one actress who has eared her place in the Movie Industry through hardwork. This pretty screen diva whose marriage to Dejo Richards just broke up, came to limelight in 1996, when she featured in the flick. Pregnant Virgin, as an undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt. She is presently one of the Nollywood Glo Ambassadors. She also owns a restaurant.

NDIDI OBI
She is of the long serving actresses in the Nigerian movie industry. She came to limelight with her first movie, Nneka The pretty Serpent. Apart from acting, Ndidi is a model and a business woman. She deals in the importation of Solar chargers.

UFUOMA EJENOBOR
This beautiful actress who sings with the masked musician, Lagbaja is not just and actress and singer, she is also a super model who has carved a niche for herself in her chosen career

BUKKY WRIGHT
Despite her immense contribution to the growth of the industry and her numerous achievements, this charming and elegant actress, Bukky Wright recently launched her fashion label “Wright Affairs”. She also owns a boutique in Lagos. This light skinned and versatile actress is a mother of two.

STELLA DAMASUS
Pretty actress and a mother of two, Stella Damasus is household name in the industry. Apart from acting, the talented actress who recently got married 4 years after the death of her first husband, is also a musician and a Master of Ceremony.

FUNLOLA AOFIYEBI-RAIMI
She is an acclaimed actress, TV and radio presenter, show compere and entrepreneur all rolled into one. The talented artiste is indeed doing well as an on air personality, despite her acting career which is now spanning over s decade.

BIMB AKINTOLA
For the busty and talented actress, Bimbo Akintola, she is another good compere at events. The talented actress who has been in the movie industry for quite a long time, has featured in so many block buster movies, one of which is Circle of Three produced by her.

Story by http://nigeriafilms.com

Ayo Onikoyi
They are beautiful, vivacious, multi-talented and are on top of their trades. They are the new breed of Yoruba actresses who have changed the looks of Yoruba films with their ultra-cosmopolitan style both in packaging and delivery. Most of them shot into limelight barely two years ago while others got into reckoning as far back as five years ago.

Since their foray into the industry, they have been able to stretch as wide and good the traditional laid-back outlook of Yoruba films as far as it has gotten in recent times. Because these girls are chic, sophisticated and educated, they have made Yoruba films a delight to watch not only for the core-traditional Yoruba audience but also for the polished, hip-hop young generation who would not be caught dead watching Yoruba films in the past.

The last African Movie Academy Award, AMAA, proved that much when Funke Akindele, one of the new kids on the block, got away emerging as the ‘Best Actress in Africa’ for her sensation leading role in the uptown movie “Jenifa”. Just yesterday Doris Simon, one of the rave-making chicks in town, got Nollywood by the horns when she premiered her new movie ‘Omo Iya Kan’ at the Silverbird Cinema, Lagos. Iyabo Ojo, Mide Funmi-Martins, Mercy Aigbe, Funmi Lawal, Flaky, Laide Bakare, Lizzy Anjorin, Toyin Aimaku, Bimbo Akinsanya, Mosun Filani, Bimbo Okeowo, Ireti Osayemi, Regina Olakunle, Yemi Okin, Ola Margaret, Tope Bali, Ade Joseph, Dupe Ashaye and a few others are the new rising stars expanding the firmament of Yoruba films, winning more converts along the way.

Though the likes of Bukky Wright, Tayo Odueke aka Sikiratu Sindodo, Moji Olaiya, Ronke Ojo, Opeyemi Aiyeola, Lola Alao, Fathia Balogun, Funke Daramola, Bimbo Akintola, Bimbo Oshin, Aishat Abimbola and others who glamourised the Yoruba movie world in the 1990s to early millennium no doubt put together the ‘glitzy cake’ on which these new ‘glamour girls’ have added not just the icing but lacquering cream of style, attitude and provocativeness that have continue to titillate the most reserved of sensibilities.

Iyabo Ojo got the eyes of movie-watchers not only for talent in films like ‘Jenifa’, ‘Rusida’, Wemmy’ and Abimbola’ but also for her sharp attractiveness and hip-hop kind of style. Funmi Lawal is a kind of robust beau who gave us enough dose of ‘leg and hip’ tease in the movies like ‘Wemmy and ‘Omodara’. Lizzy Anjorin, the fair-complexioned plum with forget-me-not eyes got her break with Iyawo Ojo Kan’ and have since got a drove of fans rooting for more of her films. Toyin Aimaku is alluring and has got a lot on her chest to want you to want to see her films even if they are as dry as the fig leaf during harmattan. Get a eyeful of her ‘Oniyangi maba temije and Omo Chief’ to get goggle-eyed with her talents and treasures.

Now, Mercy Aigbe is a genuine article, just what the doctor ordered when it comes to suaveness and sophistication wrapped up in beauty and brawn. Her love scenes with Yomi Fash Lanso in ‘Mosa d’oluwa and Abimbola’ could get anyone tripping, wanting to opt for love rather for some cool pile of Azikwes. If her free-flowing acting doesn’t get you her cuddly-kind of enchanting love aura will definitely do things to you. Then comes Mosunmola Filani who got into the big league with ‘ Amin Ayo’ brandishing drop-dead beauty and those eyes? Don’t even get me started on those eyes because just describing them could get many a happy fellow go a-sorrowing, wondering what lies beneath them. For Bimbo Akinsanya too, there is more than just a pair of goggle eyes. Those eyes are warm, comforting and maybe not too healthy to have staring at one often and much, you know, some funny stuff could go to play. If you have seen ‘Irin Ajo Mi or Ejiworo’ you will know eyes are far more than for seeing.

Flaky got her ovation in ‘Ididowo’ and ‘Jenifa’ and got away, disarming the male folks with her quantum of feminine sensuality which radiates powerful volts of attraction. She’s on the plumb side yet with mesmerising steps that leaves a wave of treasure bouncing provocatively behind her. Bimbo Okeowo, has this reserved beauty and a home-grown kind of attractiveness that could get you head-long in the saddle before you even let off a hint.

Maybe Ireti Osayemi is slipping these days with her figure but she’s so blessed with natural beauty and vivaciousness that will lead her along any day any time in the pack. Get a copy of ‘Iboju’ and behold the new gem of splashing beauty called Laide Bakare. She’s curvy, high on the chest and wide at the back, and yet a delight to watch as her talent is unique and multi-faceted. The other bunch like Regina Lakunle, Yemi Okin, Ola Margaret, Tope Bali and Dupe Ashaye have the sharp double-edge of beauty and brawn in great abundance. They have added glamour to the rich storylines Yoruba films are traditionally known for.

Divorce among Nollywood actresses is becoming a daily occurrence.As it is,hardly any day passes without the news of one failed marriage involving one notable Nollywood actress or the other.The rate is become so alarming that people are wondering if there is anything wrong with actors and actresses.Many factors have been identified as being responsible for this development.

Bukky Wright,a budding actress,reportedly said that these marriages crash because Nigerian men lack confidence,especially to manage successful women.

Whatever is the case, the list is increasing. Such actresses as Eucharia Anunobi, Bukky Wright, Monalisa Chinda, Chiege Alisigwe, Fathia Balogun, Clarion Chukwurah, Shan George, Regina Askia, Obot Etuk, Stephanie Okereke, Ngozi Nwosu, Ann Njemanze, Ibinabo Fiberesima and Sandra Achums, are among those whose marriages have crashed.

Eucharia Anunobi
Her marriage to Charles Ekwu looked like one made in heaven. The then couple was so much in love, in the beginning that their marriage was the envy of many. Tales are told of how they would hold hands and kiss during night outing at Ajao Estate in Lagos, in expression of love. However, the cookies just crumbled. Eucharia accused the husband of constant battering. She was reported to have admitted marrying her man out of infatuation. Her ex-husband was said to have dumped his matrimonial home in 2007, and in the process, also abandoned his child.

Fathia Balogun
The delectable Yoruba movie actress has twice married and divorced. Before she married Saheed Balogun, a fellow Yoruba movie actor, Fathia was once married to Tunde Anchor and the marriage produce a son. After her first marriage collapsed,she met and married Balogun.The marriage also hit the rocks.The former couple made frantic efforts to come back together as husband and wife,which proved abortive. Fathia was even said to have dedicated an award she won in the United Kingdom to her former husband and enlisted top Yoruba actors,like Jide Kosoko,to plead her cause. However,Saheed has remained adamant,insisting that their union had ended.He has since moved on with his life and married another wife.

Shan George
Shan George got married at the tender age of 15, and after bearing two kids walked out of the union at 21. She allegedly pulled out because her husband did not send her to school, but rather turned her to punching bag. When marriage crashed, she went back to school and after her graduation, from the University of Lagos at the age of 29, she got married the second time. However, that too was short lived. Last year, she was reported as saying that she deserted her matrimonial home because she was not ready for a servant/master relationship.Meanwhile, she has grown up kids from her first marriage, who are based in the United Kingdom with her first husband.

Clarion Chukwurah
Clarion Chukwurah came into limelight in 1984 when she starred in the now defunct popular soap, Mirror in the Sun. She is one of the best Nollywood actresses and has appeared in several stage productions, soap operas and over 74 home videos. Her Non-Governmental Organization, Clarion Chukwurah Initiative, is geared towards touching the lives of the underprivileged in the country. Chukwurah has been married twice, one of which was into the the late Moshood Abiola family. Later she became Mrs. Oduneye. She now bears her maiden name. In all, she has five children, two biological children and three adopted ones.She said that marriage is a fusion of two minds on the platform of joyful co-existence and, therefore, one can walk out and the two parties remain friends instead of living in misery. However, it is reported that she is friendly with the fathers of her babies.

Monalisa Chinda
The crash of Monalisa Chinda’s marriage is the latest in Nollywood. In a statement by her lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, Monalisa said her marriage to Segun Dejo-Richards, an artist manager, broke down due to irreconcilable differences. It was believed that this incompatibility led them to disagree on many issues. At the end, they could not manage the situation, which led to the crash of the five-year-old marriage. This came as a surprise to many Nigerians, especially as Monalisa, on several occasions, vowed that nothing could separate her from her husband. Indeed, before the marriage broke down, Monalisa had described her husband as God-sent.The marriage is blessed with a child, Tamar Kirejesu.
However, Monalisa’s husband expressed surprise at what could be called sacked letter from his wife. He attributed the crash of the marriage to bad advisers. However, he denied the allegation that he physically assaulted his wife. He also denied that his break-up with the wife was caused by the N10 million Glo Ambassador endorsement deal Monalisa got recently.

Ayo Adesanya
Ayo Adesanya, one of the notable Nollywood actresses, reported packed out of her matrimonial home owing to irreconcilable difference with her husband, Goriola Hassan. In order not to die in frustration, the actress decided to call it a quit. Ayo has since moved on with her life and now having a good time with an Abuja-based contractor, Tunde, who met at a party. A graduate of the University of Ibadan, she shot into limelight with the movie Out of Bounds.

Foluke Daramola
She was married to Mr. Shobowale for four years and the marriage was blessed with two children. In an interview with a national newspaper, Daramola said there were frequent crises in the home, to the extent that the condition became traumatic to her children. She packed out about a year ago and has not filed for divorce. She said that she had endured, believing that it would be in the interest of the children, but that she later discovered the continuation of the marriage would be to the detriment of the kids.The actress is not willing to go back to her husband’s house neither is she thinking of divorcing him.

Ann Njemanze
Her marriage to Segun Arinze crashed as soon as it was contracted. Shortly after the marriage hit the rocks, she was involved in a car crash, about eight years ago and was bed-ridden for a while. She could not walk for two years. Though she would want to go into another marriage, she was reported to have said that she would be very careful this time. However, she still relates with her former husband, as their marriage produced a child. She had wished she listened to her parents and waited much longer before jumping into marriage. She is now a single parent. After she recovered from the car crash, she went back to school to study Visual Art at the University of Lagos.

Stephanie Okereke
Stephanie’s marriage to a former Super Eagles player, Chikelu Iloenyosi, is another story of failed marriage. The top actress sought the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds that her ex-husband had extra-marital affairs. Stephanie said she had no regret whatsoever that the marriage crashed. She is quoted as saying that she is a better person now than when she was in marriage.

Sandra Achums
Sandra Achums was married to an Amakohia, Owerri man who was living abroad. The marriage crashed as soon as it started. The marriage would have produced a child but the baby died during delivery. Sandra has three children for two different men.

Ibinabo Fiberesima
The Rivers State-born actress, who was recently convicted for killing a medical doctor in a car crash, has her own share of failed relationship. Her affairs with Phillip Trimnell and top singer Daniel Wilson were widely celebrated on the pages of newspapers.Recently, it was alleged that Ibinabo and ace actor, Fred Amata, are having an affair. Her two failed marriages produced two children from the two ex-husbands.

Bukky Wright
This popular face in TV soaps and home videos has been in and out of marriage twice. Perhaps, owing to bitter experience, the Economics graduate was reported to have said that marriage was no longer in her dictionary. She did not lament over what could have been her mistakes. Rather, she sees the experience as an eye-opener. However, the beautiful actress has moved on with her life, while hoping to get married again.

Chiege Alisigwe
She came into limelight in 1998 when she played a role in the movie called Igodo. Her marriage crumbled as soon as it was contracted in 2002. Chiege attributed her failed marriage to incompatibility. She was reported to have admitted that she was naive when the union was contracted. Chiege was heavy with three-month pregnancy before their union crumbled. And since then, the Orlu, Imo State-born actress has picked up the broken pieces of her life and moved on.In the meantime, Chiege has not ruled out remarrying, provided the right man comes her way.

Ngozi Nwosu
Ngozi Egonu came into limelight when she played Ego in the popular home video, Living In Bondage. She is also popular with Fuji House of Commotion. Ngozi was married to one Mr. Huessnon from Badagry, but the marriage was not sustained.

CULLED FROM SUN NEWSPAPER

Few months after her clergy man took her to the altar,remarried Nollywood legend, Elizabeth Benson,may have signalled her strong desire to return to her first love, acting.The screen idol has already started making contacts in order to return to the industry,which she reportedly abandoned some years back.
Liz Benson got married again in an intimate court ceremony in Abuja a few months ago. In July, she and her man, Bishop Great Emeya, celebrated their love by walking down the aisle at the Rainbow Christian Assembly in Warri, Delta State. The couple are both deeply involved in Christian ministry.Liz is an evangelist while Bishop Great is a pastor of one of the largest ministries in Warri.They also have overcome tragic circumstances as Liz is a widow while Bishop Great is a widower. Their Wedding marked a turning point in the lives of the couple.
The 49 year-old man allegedly met Liz in the course of doing God's work. Their relationship however moved from friendship to the altar, now husband and wife.A recipient of the movie awards, THEMA, and the Reel Awards at different times, Liz Benson is one of the pioneer actresses in Nigeria who brought glamour and respect to the acting profession.
She has also been honoured outside Nigeria at several times. Liz was a past recipient of the Afro-Hollywood Awards in the United States of America. Her great performances in the past have been regularly acknowledged and rewarded by both industry practitioners and watchers.The deluge of awards and accolades with which she has been showered and continues to receive is vivid testimony to the high esteem in which she is held by all.
As she returns to Nollywood, expectations are high as questions are being asked, regarding what role she will be assigned to, given the fact that many of her contemporaries are presently not in the picture, with the emergence of vibrant looking, yet pretty young faces.

World third largest movie producing industry Nollywood recorded another tragic death of one its members,a comedian Monsurat Omidina, popularly known as Moladun Kenkelewu in the early hours of Tuesday (Sept 1). Moladun was a wife to an ace comedian Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe).

She gave the last breath at her Ikorodu residence in Lagos. She was assumed to have died of hypertension; sources revealed that thick blood was found dripping from her nose and her two ears simultaneously. Before her death she has been off the set of acting for about three years, presumably to have been battling with her failing health. Preparations were immediately put in place for her burial her according to Islamic rites, the source confirmed.

Monsurat Omidina, 46, left behind two kids she had for Babatunde Omidina. Moladun started her acting career in Ibadan, Oyo State, in the early 90s before she moved to Lagos where she married Baba Suwe. She had been sick for some time and was billed to visit the UK Embassy on Tuesday morning to obtain a visa to travel to England for the needed treatment.

Moladun didn't just turn into a Nigerian superstar over the night as she had begun her career as a stage performer in 1982 after a chance meeting with her boss,Chief Olowookere,in Ibadan.She joined the group and was performing with the group until she joined another group called Loveally some years later.She became one of the well-watched screen stars after she starred in a Yoruba television series called Okanlawon in the early 1990s and played the role of Okanlawon's mother.

Her superb performance won the hearts of several viewers and movie practitioners after which she started getting roles in the then home videos.Her way,however, crossed that of her hubby,Babatunde,in 1994 after the death of her ex-husband, Kareem,in 1993,while she had started making waves in Nollywood.They got married in 1995 and the marriage was contracted in a registry.The union produced two lovely kids, Okiki Omidina (9) and Halimat Omidina (4),though the couple had issues separately before their marriage.Moladun had two children,Jelili Adekunle Kareem and Omolara Kareem,while Baba Suwe has a son,Junior from their previous unions.

With about four flicks to her credit,'Obakan','Ola Ore','Kokunrin To Atorin' and 'Atiko,' Moladun holds sway as a female movie comedienne,who has been able to distinguish herself from her contemporaries in the last 27 years of being in the world of make-believe.Born into the household of Rauf Oyeniyi and Munirat Bamidele of the Ile Bara in Opooyeosa,Oyo State,Monsurat was the third child in the family of six;but couldn't even live to fulfill some of several mothers' dreams -to witness the wedding ceremony of her children.

It was gathered that Moladun's children from her first marriage,Jelili and Omolara, were already preparing to go into the holy matrimony when the cold pangs of death snatched her away at just 47.Those who know her very well said she had been suffering from high blood pressure several years back and many members of her family knew this.The disease was said to have troubled her existence for some years, but for the love and care showered her by those around her, she had managed to live this long.

Before her death, Moladun was ran a food restaurant inside one of the shops situated in her hubby's shopping complex in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.The business, which Moladun was using as an alternative source of livelihood,was said to have been more of a family business as her late mother also ran a food canteen while Moladun was younger and she joined in the business before she found her missing rib in the world of make-believe.

Babasuwe in an emotion ladden voice said "she was attacked recently and I had warned her to take as much rest as possible and in that measure I ensured that she was treated by the doctor and even tried securing her a UK visa to go and have some rest before returning later next month."

"When the Ramadan fast started, I kicked against her fasting because of her health and though she wanted to, she listened to me as a good wife that she was. Last Sunday, she invited her asalatu group to our residence at Ewu-Elepe in Ikorodu area and they had fun. On Monday, I went to the office and came back after I had ensured that she had all she wanted,though she pleaded with me to allow her fast and I allowed her.

"And when I returned on Monday night, she was so radiant and we both played around the house as she cooked our dinner and she even insisted that we put calls across to our several friends and relatives, which I obliged and that was all that night until we both went to bed.

"The next morning while I was preparing to go to work I told Junior (Babatunde's son from another woman) to go and wake her up because we don't sleep in the same room, so that I could drop her off at the visa centre, where she was supposed to go for her thumb printing session.

"My son raised an alarm upon entering the room, but before we rushed her to Ajayi Memorial Hospital she had given up the ghost," Babatunde added.

There have been tales that the actor may have conspired to kill the woman. His response: "I don't intend to make any uncomplimentary remarks about anybody neither do I intend to turn the pages of newspapers into where my family matters are discussed. But this is what I would say, every couple have their ups and downs, we had our own little squabbles and we were able to settle them no matter how big they come. My wife knew how she pampered me and how I pampered her before her death. Why would I want to kill her? Why would I kill someone I married for over nine years and married no other woman, someone that saw me through thick and thin, someone that loved me with all her heart and I loved equally?" Baba Suwe asked.

"I insisted that she should go for a bed rest and vacation in London for many weeks, I ensured that she was fine and okay, I loved her with all my heart, I didn't stop her from achieving her aims rather I supported her all through,why would I want to kill her?" he said sobbing profusely.

Some people are however not impressed.WOMEN ARISE a women advocacy group with special interest in eradication of violence against women have requested for a full investigation into the cause of death. Its President, Joe Okei-Odumakin, has written to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Supo Sasore (SAN).The letter stated: "We are asking you to order a coroner's inquest into the death of popular actress Mrs. Monsurat Omidina who died on Monday 31st August, 2009.We are constrained to make this request given the fact that there have been controversies over the cause of death of the late actress.

"While her daughter, Omolara Kareem and younger sister, Mujidat were reported to have claimed that her death was due to the aggravation of her hypertensive condition as a result of quarrels with her husband,the publisher of Wall Street Journal, Mr. Wole Arisekola directly accused the deceased's husband, Mr. Babatunde Omidina a.k.a. Baba Suwe to have beaten her to death.

Similarly in the month of July another star actress and wife of the late politician MKO Abiola, Mrs. Remi Abiola, was said to have died of lung cancer in America.Until her death,Remi too was a top actress in the movie scene and her dominance was felt more in the Yoruba genre of the movie industry. She relocated to America last year when she went for an award ceremony organized by The Third Eye,a publication that is now defunct.Remi stayed back in America after the award because she loved life there.She got a job and started working there,settling into life of an immigrant.

She reportedly slumped and went into coma last July; she was rushed to hospital where she was placed on life-support machine. She eventually died after the life support machine was unplugged, thereby throwing Nollywood especially, the Yoruba genre into state of deep mourning. She is survived by her family members and two children, out of which one is said to belong to late MKO Abiola. Remi who used to work for Nigeria Airways as an air hostess, trained in United Kingdom as a stage actor at the Fielding School for Dramatic Arts. Her foray into movies started with television drama that was popular in her time in the 80s and 90s. She started home video in 1989. Her mother roles in Yoruba movie and apt delivery endeared her to many lovers of movies in the industry. She was a household name in the industry until her death.

Nollywood actor and veteran broadcaster,Pete Edochie was kidnapped by an armed gang two Sunday ago at Afor-Nkpor in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State,as he was returning from Asaba in Delta State back to the family house in Enugu when the kidnappers intercepted his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and whisked him away.Twenty four (24) hours later he was freed.The actor in his statement after his release said,his kidnappers seized him in protest at the obscene display of Nigeria's stolen wealth by politicians.Edochie said his kidnappers told him they were not happy at the situation in the country.

He said the kidnappers told him that although people were repulsed by the act of seizing people,there was nothing else they could do.He said they refrained from shooting victims to show Nigerians that they were just focused on making money and not taking lives.Edochie described them as young men,explained he was grateful to them for the respect they accorded him, “but this does not portray the image of Nigeria positively.”

He stated earlier that the movie industry has no future if government does not take an interest in it.“I am still talking about the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.It has not shown any commitment to the industry. Nigeria by now should be in a position to produce a film that can be taken outside this country and commented upon by the international community, that this originates from Nigeria. We can do a good film on Slave Trade because we have never really told our own story,” he said.

Barely some months back,popular actor and singer,Enebeli Elebuwa was attacked by a young man who tried to pluck his left eye,allegedly to make him blind.The attack left Elebuwa with a major injury such that he could hardly see until many good Samaritans home and abroad came to his aid.The 62-year old entertainer was however sighted at a film location recently as he was preparing for shooting.Though he is yet to see clearly with his left eye ut can go on working and expressed his gratitude to all those who rallied round him and prevented him from going blind.

Again,Nigerian star actress,Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu cannot understand all the rumour about her family problem.She wonders why her case should be brought to the public domain,just because she is an actress.In her statement, she said “I am too grounded with my God and with a precept of Christianity; you don't go to defile your matrimonial bed. And I want to use this opportunity to say loud and clear that those seven years with my ex-husband, I remained one of the best women any man could have and I kept my matrimonial bed undefiled.

She said she also denied that her husband abandoned her because she was too possessive stressing that “you don't possess something that is not there and you don't fight over something that is not worth fighting over. I do not think anyone would say I am possessive. You are going to fight over a man who is not worth your time, who is not worth your value, if you really have something and it is supposed to be yours, are you not supposed to protect it?

“And you will even go out of your way to protect something that is worth it,” she said, explaining that what is important now is to strengthen her career and other challenges and future aspiration to find a new husband who will love, cherish and appreciate her worth in life.

Ever since she began her career in the Yoruba movie industry,she has made more headlines than some of her older and contemporary colleagues.Born Mercy Aigbe to Edo parents,this beautiful lady and mother of one,has been at no one's mercy.Rather,many producers are at her mercy for she can't just be wished away in the Nigerian movie industry.Her selling point is the talent God has given her.Aside this,her humility also contributes to her selling point.

She got her break from Wemimo Films in Ibadan,and it was through one of the movies they produced then.She got help from people like Uncle Yinka Quadri and several others.Many have attributed her sudden rise in the industry to her ability to 'roll with those that matter.'Instead of losing sleep over such weighty remark,Mercy simply accepted the insinuations as her price for being in Nollywood.Imbued with sound intelligence,a result of her stint with soap operas and her study at the University of Lagos,where she read creative arts.

She studied creative arts at the University of Lagos simply because of her love for the arts.Before then she had an OND in accountancy from The Polytechnic,Ibadan.She joined the movie industry in 2005,and started acting in 2006.She started with soap operas like Super Story,Images and Treasures,she later Yoruba flicks.Her first Yoruba flick was Sebeyan Ni, but got her break after acting in the flick known as Ara.She has featured in close to 80 films and also been able to produce her own flick and it is entitled Abimbola.

It hasn't been easy for her as a single mother but thank God.She is having a wonderful time bringing up her child.Although she agree that at the time she became a single mother,she was badly traumatised.In fact,the most traumatising period for her her was when she parted ways with the father of her child. It was so upsetting for her because she went into the marriage with naivety, but came out as a single mother,.Her relationship with the father of her child is cordial but no room for reunion,they are just friends.Aside that,she is in a relationship with another man at the moment, and my daughter has taken so much to my fiance that she calls him 'daddy'.It's challenging enough that she is in the public eyes and he is private person, but,she simply want to do as he wishes and keep him away from the public.

She is enjoying her current status,but the challenge comes mostly from what people choose to believe about actresses from what they read.Another thing is that she doesn't go unnoticed;she doesn't have her privacy anymore,but in all,it's what she prayed and worked hard for and it has come to reality.