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All Africa.com

Govt Still Repaying 50-Year-Old Loans: Some of the loans Nigeria is currently re-paying were obtained immediately after the nation attained independence in October 1960, according to Dr Abraham Nwankwo, Director-General of the Debts Management Office (DMO).
Govt to Try More Suspects in U.S. Oil Firm Scandal: The Federal Government will charge more suspects to court in the Halliburton bribery scandal as soon as it gathers more evidence linking them to the sleaze, a top official of the Minister of Justice told This Day last night.
UN Body Apologises Over Claims on Ogoni Oil Spills: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) involved in investigating the extent of oil spills in Ogoniland has apologised for what it called a mistake on the part of one of its officials who relied on the Federal Government figures on the causes of spills to pass a judgment on the issue.
Cholera Breaks Out in Jigawa State: No fewer than five people were confirmed dead, while over 100 others were hospitalised, following the cholera outbreak in Buji and Gwaram local government areas of Jigawa State.
10 Percent GDP Growth Possible in 2011 - Finance Minister: The Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga, has said 10 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product in the nation's economy can be achieved in 2011.
Is INEC Ready for Voter Registration?: By and large, what has so far given Nigerians some measure of confidence that the nation is on its way to breaking the jinx of poorly conducted and widely disputed elections is the personality and concomitant integrity of the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega. This is an attribute built over the years, attribute of unblemished public service both as a unionist and a university administrator.
Corrupt Politicians- Can EFCC Really Bite?: The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, caused a stir in the political circle last week when she declared that her commission has planned to bar some politicians that have been indicted by the anti-graft agency from contesting the next year’s general elections. The EFCC boss also said that her commission is already liasing with other security outfits to stop the indicted politicians from being elected into public office.
Amended Constitution Final -Senate: Senate yesterday said it would not go back on the 2010 Amended Constitution, insisting all talks on the issue are closed as it had become Nigeria's valid constitution.This was as Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State called for the strengthening of party mechanisms so that the PDP would be able to set proper standards and monitor their implementation of the letters of its manifesto.
As We Enter the Ember Months: It has been established in Nigeria that the so-called ember months comprising September, October, November and December are the most accident prone months of the year, each year. Statistics and records prove this. And even our collective memory supports this hypothesis.
NDDC plans N1.8 Trillion Calabar-Lagos coastal road: THE proposed 650-kilometre East-West coastal road from Calabar to Lagos would cost about N1.8 trillion. The design for the project is 70 per cent completed.
GLO 1 will revolutionise business - Globacom: Ahead of the formal launch of Glo 1 international submarine cable, National Operator Globacom yesterday presented to telecom industry stakeholders the unique offers on the multi-million dollar facility.
That World Bank Report: In the report of a study on the Nigerian economy conducted by the World Bank, it was reported to have declared that the economy does not suffer from credit crunch. If, as we have been made to believe, it is government's avowed policy to ensure a private sector-led economic growth, we find in the reports an over simplification of the problem.
Atiku- My Waiver from PDP Will Give Me Victory: Former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has stated that the waiver given to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run in the forthcoming presidential primaries would give him victory as the party's presidential candidate for the2011 polls.
AERO Loses Offshore Oil and Gas Operations to Caverton: Aero Contractors rotary wing, which carries out over 35 per cent of offshore shuttle services for oil and gas companies, has lost a major Shell contract to Caverton Helicopters and multibillion naira major services in the off-shore operations.
Voter Registration-Why INEC Chose Foreign Firms: Ahead of the award of the contracts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to procure the Direct Digital Data Capture Machines (DDCM), an official of the commission has explained why it preferred the services of foreign manufacturers in the purchase of the machines.
'Govt Still Re-paying Loans Taken in 60s': The Debt Management Office (DMO) has put Nigeria's local and foreign debts at $29 billion, revealing that some of the loans the country is currently re-paying were obtained shortly after the nation attained independence in October 1960.
Babangida Carpets PDP Over 'Zoning Confusion': Former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has demanded that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should come out and explain clearly its position on the zoning arrangement for the party's presidential ticket for the 2011 election.
Kaduna - Storm Over 'Wonder Banks': Reactions keep trailing the closure of wonder banks in Kaduna by the operatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) penultimate week. While the CBN is claiming that the closure was done in the best interest of the investing public, the public see the action as a conspiracy between the CBN and the commercial banks, who are losing out to the growing wonder banks.
Between Lamido And Turaki, the Fight Begins: Former governor of Jigawa State Senator Ibrahim Saminu Turaki says he will tell voters who to vote in the state. This has sent Governor Sule Lamido and his associates into series of meetings as Yushau Ibrahim reports from Dutse.
Predatory Banking Practices in the Country: The classical laissez-faire theory is not practised anywhere; even in the most liberal capitalist economies, industries are still subject to regulation. A regulator is there to oversee the activities of operators or players in the industry under its supervision, ensure the efficient supply of quality products and check the exploitation of users of the products.
Opposition Worries Over Election Machinery: The 120, 000 Data Capturing Machines [DCM] which the Independent National Electoral Commission is using for registration of voters do not have the requisite features to stop the sophistication of election fraudstars in the country, one of General Muhammadu Buhari's top aide has said
I'm Sure of PDP Ticket With Waiver -Atiku: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says with the waiver given to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run in the forth coming presidential election, he was sure of becoming the party's flag bearer in the election.
Obafemi, Eneramo Fire Super Eagles Past Madagascar: The Super Eagles of Nigeria yesterday at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar defeated their Madagascar counterparts 2-0 in the first leg of the first round of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
SEC DG Hints On Plans to Privatise NSE: Arunma Oteh, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), at the weekend hinted of plans privatise the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
2011 - CPC Accuses Doma of Plans to Rig Election: The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Nasarawa State chapter, has alleged that there are plans by Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma to rig the 2011 general election.
Bayelsa Prepares for Jonathan's Visit: The Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva weekend showed signs of high expectations towards the proposed two-day visit of the President,
Eagles Will Have to Do More -Mgbolu: Despite their 2-0 victory over Madagascar yesterday at the JS Esuene stadium Calabar, Super Eagles have been charged to do more to win back the support and confidence of Nigerian football fans.
NFF Board And the Difficult Tasks Ahead: After the storm comes the rain. The much talked about Nigeria football federation election has come and gone, and so have the dusts raised before and during the election. For some soccer pundits, this is the time for the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led executive board to settle down and work. Nigerians expect a total departure from the way the previous board led by Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi handled football-related issues.
Mark- Era of Unity, Stability in Senate: When recently, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim showered encomiums on Senator David Mark, the incumbent President of the Senate, not a few watchers of the activities of the upper legislative chamber agreed with Anyim’s observations.
Yakowa- Allegation of Graft Against Sambo False: What is your reaction to criticisms of your government’s decision to source for N15 Billion bond in the capital market to fund projects?

onlinenigeria.com

Emeka Okoro: Emeka Okoro is a versatile actor. The artiste, who spoke on his acting career and how the industry is growing also told Daily Sun recently that he has always dreamt of becoming a star. The actor, who hails from Umuahia in Ukwuano Local Government area of Abia State, said Nollywood which is now a fast growing phenomenon will attain higher heights in a few years to come. Motivation I have always dreamt of becoming an actor right from my childhood days. Whenever I watched American movies, I would say to myself that when I grow up, I will like to be an actor. I met a friend Emeka Kurimo, who told me that an audition was going on somewhere. I attended and luckily, I was chosen. That enabled me to feature in my first movie entitled: Dirty Deal. Success It is all about determination, knowing fully well what I wanted. Despite the obstacles, I just have to continue, at least, compared to when I started. Roles I have played several roles in movies which I can’t even remember any longer.But I can still remember a few like The Senator, Occultic Battle, First Love, One Love, among many others. Embarrassing moment I don’t have any, because I detest living a fake life. I like to be what I am . Most challenging role It is the movie entitled: First Love. I played the role of a good and a bad guy. Switching from one character to another was actually challenging. At the same time, I was also on location for another movie entitled: One Love. Kissing in Nollywood It is not true.We call it make-believe, because there is a camera before you and there are members of crew all around you. So, there is no way you would go contrary to what the director is saying. We are only trying to be natural in order to convey a message. It may look real, but it is all fake. Nollywood The Nigeria movie industry is like a woman who gives birth to a child. You do not expect the child to attain maturity at once, it has to be gradual.The industry is actually growing considering Nigeria’s poor economy. People are making their living out of it. Mentor Jesus Christ is my mentor. I respect people, the only person I recognize is Jesus. I read the Bible and follow Christ’s footsteps. Advice It is wonderful to be an actor, but before anything, one needs to be well prepared. Moreover, a potential actor should undergo a training programme and build his or her talent. First, if you have a talent, develop it, don’t wait until the opportunity slips. I will also advise people who want to make ends meet at once. It is not a good way of life, one needs to exercise some patience. Marriage I’m yet to get married.
Caroline Uduak Abasi Ekanem: Caroline Uduak Abasi Ekanem is a princess from the royal family of Ekanem in Eket, Cross River State. She went into acting not only for the fame and glamour, but to use her talent to impact on her society. Born to a British father and a Nigerian mother, Caroline is from a God-fearing and disciplined family. This undergraduate of the University of Calabar loves singing, but has acting as her first love. Since she cut her teeth in acting, when she featured in Chico Ejiro’s Deadly Kiss, she has never looked back. Though blessed with ravishing beauty, Caroline is not one of those Nollywood actresses who allows the glamour of screen acting to get into their heads. She told Daily Sun that she would rather die in penury than bare it all before the camera. In this interview, Caroline speaks on her life, career and why parental influence would not make her do anything untoward as an actress. How I started I was into modelling for three years before I went into acting. I had always wanted to act, but something told me that the time was not ripe for me to go into it. I started acting through a friend called Mrs Dominic. She was the one who took me to Chico Ejiro and he featured me in the movie entitled Deadly Kiss. Although the movie was my debut, I played a lead role and people said that I performed so brilliantly. Best role My best role in a movie was when I acted alongside Ikechukwu Onyeka, Emeka Nnoecha and Tu Face Idibia. The role was challenging to me as well as the setting. I felt real good doing it and I believe that it brought out the best in me and for the fact that I had to play five different roles in the same movie. Inspiration I am always inspired by the role at hand. At times, people see me as someone who cannot hurt a fly. But the irony of it is that some of my roles present me as someone who could be very mean. Relationship with directors My kind of relationship with directors is strictly on business, nothing else. As a lady, I know what it takes to be in the midst of men. So, if a director wants a relationship other than business, I would make him understand that I am not one of those upcoming artistes that sleeps around with men. Challenges I don’t like people to know that I am a half-caste. I am a Nigerian and I love African culture and I want people to see me as an African. The challenges are quite enormous because at times, some people would conclude that I can’t play certain roles because I am thin, or I am not dark skinned, or because I speak with British accent. There are other times that people have the impression that I should not be well paid and so on. However, I want people to know that I am not into acting because I am a half-caste but because I want to play the role that I am given. Movies featured in Some of the movies include Deadly Kiss, A Second Time, Missing Angel 2 &3, Foreign Affairs, The Twist, Angel and the Beast, Real Love Part 2 and a Yoruba movie. Happiest moment Everyday is my happiest moment because God grants me the grace to see each day. I am happy for that. So, there is no particular happiest moment for me. Artiste fee I won’t tell you, it is a secret. Some people always put my fee in the range of N500,000. May God bless them for rating me so high. Anyway, I am still an upcoming actress and I don’t earn up to that. Night clubbing I can’t remember the last time I went to a club, but I love singing. My social life is a kind of boring one because after acting and everything, I would be so tired that I would have to go home and rest the next day. As a student, whenever I don’t go to school, I am at home taking care of my grandparents. But when I want to have fun, I would have it to the fullest. If I don’t have fun in a day, that day would be boring. Acting negative roles Damn it! I am from a disciplined home. My parents will disown me should I act nude in a movie for instance. Rather, I would wear a bikini or shorts instead. I will not expose my body to the public except to my husband. That is to say that I can’t act nude in a movie even if I am paid the money in the whole world. Advice to my fans My advice to my fans is that whatever they want to do, they should not allow anybody to stop them. They should always give it a trial even if they think that it will fail. They would be surprised that they would make it and in everything, they should remember God first. They should be determined, self-confident and learn to please themselves before others. They should always follow the dictates of their hearts. In everything, they should not allow fear to conquer them. Future plans My future plan is big. I would like to be somebody that people would see and they will say! I want to be like this lady. I want to achieve all my dreams even before I attain 30 years and I know that I will do it in Jesus name.
Kalu Ikeagwu: Kalu Ikeagwu started acting as a student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he studied English. According to him, his father who was a lecturer at the University usually encouraged him to read. He soon developed a passion for Literature which ignited his interest in acting. Kalu who features as Jeny, a loving and very supportive husband to Ada in the TVsoap Domino, currently showing on AIT every Sunday, came into the country from England less than a year ago. Hear him: "A friend of mine who is a banker here in Nigeria encouraged me to come home and get involved in Nollywood. So, I planned to come to Nigeria just for two weeks to network and arrange for my final home coming." Ever since he arrived the country, Nigerian producers have been inviting him to feature in their movies. Following his debut movie, For Real by Emem Isong, in less than one year, the debonair actor has established his presence in the movie industry. Beaming smiles, the talented actor says he would love to be appreciated not just for his good looks but his potentials. He also spoke about his acting career, his fees, coping with female fans, the future of Nollywood and much more in this interview. Background My name is Kalu Ikeagwu. I was born in England. I returned to Nigeria when I was nine years old because my father wanted me to get closer to my culture. I had my primary education in England and Zambia and my secondary school and University here at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka before I returned to England. My father, who died two years ago, was a lecturer and a very good man. He was very strict too. Being a very academic man, he used to encourage us to read. My mother lives in England at the moment with the rest of the family. We are seven in number - two girls and five boys. I am the third child and the first son of my parents. I read English and graduated in 1991. Acting career My father had wanted me to study Medicine but I couldn’t do it because I wasn’t very good in the sciences. I developed the love for Literature and when it was time to go to the University, I chose Literature much to his disappointment. In my first year at the University, we had a drama to present. I was not really interested in it, I just wanted to go there and play about. Later a man came and made me read the script and before I knew it, he told me to pick up the role. It was hard work for me but I just found out that I enjoyed it. And ever since then, I have never looked back. I continued to act on stage throughout my stay at the university so much so that people thought I was a Dramatic Arts student. That was where it started from. I came into the country last year and featured in three home movies before I was invited to take part in Domino. The first one was For Real by Emem Isong; the second one was Darkest Night, but the third movie is not yet out. Picking the roles A friend of mine who is a banker here in Nigeria encouraged me to come home and get roles in Nollywood. So I planned to come to Nigeria just for two weeks to network. So when I arrived, I did not know they had already fixed me up with an agent who linked me with Emem Isong. So I went to see her, she asked me to read something for her. That was how she gave me the role. For the role in Domino, I went for another auditioning at the National Theatre, the then producer of Domino, Biodun Aleja, just saw me and told me that they were actually looking for new faces. So that was how I got the role. Most challenging role So far, the most challenging is the role I play in Domino. Moreso because I am usually more comfortable as a bad guy. But it is difficult acting a good person, you have to be disciplined enough in order not to overact. However, I really don’t want to fit into any role, I want to be as flexible as I can. As an actor, I think my responsibility is to express everything a human being can express to an audience, so I should be able to handle any role that is given to me. Acting in England and Nigeria In England things are a bit easier above all, more time is given to interpret roles which was quite a challenge. On arrival, I think that is the major difference. I also saw it here that they are not expression oriented. In England, the main thing is to make it as real as possible, it is more internalized – the way you talk, your eyes, body language, those are the things that are considered more important. I think we will still fit in, it is just that if we can have more time to do our work, it would be a lot better. Because our movie producers are in a bit of a hurry. Another thing I have observed is that the Nigerian movie industry is after quick profit. Nigerian movie industry In terms of recognition, Nigerian movie industry is rated high. Concerning quality, we have a lot of potentials. We are doing very well but we need to get rid of the short-term profit syndrome. I think that is what is affecting us at the moment. Initially I thought we were nowhere. But working in the industry, I have seen many directors who want to bring out quality work. Also our Nigerian audience are very critical of what they see. Nigerian movies abroad It is funny because we have a much larger market outside than we have here. But the strongest factor is that of nostalgia. People rush out to buy Nigerian films just to have an impression about the country. For instance, Osuofia in London, people watched it over and over again and they liked it. Africans and West Indians in London watch Nigerians movies because of the content. We should start gearing towards international recognition where our films can be shown at international festivals. If on the other hand we refuse to do that, we’ll crash out of reckoning. Role models One of the people I look up to in the industry is Kate Henshaw. She is a very humble person, and highly intelligent. As for RMD and Segun Arinze, when they read their scripts, it just sticks. I do not know how they do it. I like Stella Damascus-Aboderin. I have not worked with Stella but I have worked with the other people. Myself I am idealistic. I love having fun. I love God because he has done so much for me. I love people, but sometimes I do not have much patience. I can be moody sometimes. I am not that kind of nice person that people think Jerry in Domino is. I do not have Jerry’s patience. I like singing, but I also like to write. How I unwind I like to read and travel. I love driving but not in Lagos. I don’t like driving in Lagos. Most enabling moment I have never had stage fright. But there was this day I was on stage, at a point there was black out. But it was not my first time on stage. The first time I acted, it went smoothly. I was on stage playing Ezeulu, the Chief Priest in Arrow of God. I have been rehearsing on a much smaller stage. I have never been on the big stage before. So when I came out, the stage was so huge that I did not know how to go about my movements. I just stood there frozen. I just saw a whole sea of faces staring at me. Honestly, I do not know how I managed to get through that. Aspirations I would love to work in Nigeria and overseas as an actor. I don’t ever want to see myself as a good actor. I want to see myself as someone aspiring to be better. That for me will be a tremendous success. At the right time, I would love to produce my own movies and make an impact on what I think about life. Relationship Yes, I am engaged. I have a fiancee who lives in Kaduna. She is from Abia State and a wonderful lady at that. There’s nothing for my female fans who may want to take it beyond being fans. If they come close to me, they would realise that I am not that much of a catch. My fees Well, it could be better. At the stage that I am, I believe that it could be better. But actors in Nigeria are still poorly paid compared to other countries.
Uche Jombo: Despite her late father’s warning that she should not venture into acting, "very stubborn" Ucheobi Jessica Jombo, damned all consequence and gave her body and soul to Nollywood. "I disobeyed my very strict dad who is now deceased to go into acting. My first movie was Visa To Hell by Fidelis Duker in ’98. But Adure by Charles Ifeduba, where I played lead the following year, really established my name and presence in Nollywood". From Abiriba, Abia State, Jombo also made headlines few years ago when her celebrated romance with veteran actor, Norbert Young, crashed amid accusations and counter accusations from the estranged lovers. "I don’t like talking about my affair with Norbert. He is now married and we greet whenever we see," she said in a voice filled with emotion. Uche, who read Maths and Statistics from the University of Calabar, in this exclusive chat with Daily Sun, also spoke glowingly about the new man in her life. "He is humorous, dark and tall. He also makes me laugh always. Though, he has not proposed to me, I pray everyday for him to do it this year". Miss Jombo, you’ve been so quiet in terms of acting in recent times? What is happening? Nothing! No problem at all, I’ve been working, only that I chose to keep away from the media. About five of my movies are already out. I even wrote one of them, entitled, Girls In The Hood. Okay! Back to Nollywood. Some couple of years ago, you produced your debut movie entitled Ibinabo, since then, we have not heard anything from you again in terms of producing. Why? Emmh! Nothing was really responsible for my not producing more movies. I’m just being careful and studying the industry. Right now, I’m cooking something with Emem Isong. By the time we are set, Nigerians will know that Uche Jombo has not abandoned the art of movie making as a producer. So, how soon is this project of yours coming out? Very, very soon. Let me not talk much till the movie comes out. Ibinabo, your debut effort as a producer, was it a commercial success? Sincerely speaking, the movie was okay commercially when we released it in 1999. Going down memory lane, how did you come into Nollywood? I came into Nollywood like every other actress. My first movie was Visa To Hell, by Fidelis Duker, that was in ’98. But Adure, which was my first lead role by Charles Ifediba, catapulted me to fame. What were you doing before storming Nollywood? Before coming in, I was doing what I still do now. I write and produce advert copies and jingles. I was and still do that for Manny Bank before embracing acting fully. Then and even now, I do one or two legit businesses for corporate bodies. I also write much. I’m a total production person. As somebody who read Maths and Statistics, many people expected you to be in the financial sector. Why did you opt for showbiz? In a way, I’m practising what I read in the university. You calculate every aspect of your life. And that is exactly what I’m doing. The only difference is that I’m not stucked in a nine to five kind of job. I can’t do that because I’m too hyper active. The fact is that I can’t sit in a place for a long time. Again, I’ve never worked for anybody all my life. Did your parents give their approval when you were trying to storm Nollywood? Then, as an Abiriba man, my father objected vehemently. Being a stubborn child, I refused to listen to his advice. He later got tired and allowed me to be. Even my elder siblings were dazed on how I was able to conquer our dad, being the third in a family of nine. We are four girls and five boys. I’m stubborn, very stubborn. What other profession would have appealed to you if you were not in Nollywood today? (Thinks). Probably, I would have been a lawyer. I argue much about the things I know. I would have also gone into television big time. In the next couple of years, where do you hope to be or see yourself? In the next couple of years, I want to take my outfit, Picture Perfect, and myself to the highest level. In terms of production. I also want to have the best studio in Africa and transmit my own talk show to the world from here, Nigeria. I’m already working towards that. The year is still new, what are the goals you have set out to achieve before it comes to an end? I want to write good scripts and also act in many good movies this year. I also want to settle down to marital bliss. I want to get closer to my God this year. What was your lowest fee as an actress? It was my debut movie. I was paid N18, 000 (eighteen thousand). Don’t bother asking about my highest, I won’t tell you.
Oby Edozie: Star of Rough Rider and a dozen other box office home videos, Oby Edozie, has taken a swipe at those who hold the opinion that that she is morally lax because she is an actress. According to her, despite the raunchy and naughty roles she plays on television, she is definitely not a loose girl. Early years “My first movie was Love And Be Cherished. I came into acting after my lecturer at the Lagos State University, Sola Fosudo gave me a note to Zeb Ejiro . I got my first lead role after my third movie.” Ever since, she has acted over 40 movies and has grown to become one of Nollywood’s favourite faces after almost nine years in the industry. “My growing up was very Christian. Father was a disciplinarian who never spared the rod to save the child. We were one happy family. At a very tender age when I told my classmates I wanted to be an actor, they all laughed and made jest of me because then, I was very skinny. I am not there yet but I am growing and I thank God for every day of my life.” However, today, she has blossomed into a hot, sexy sought-after actress. How does she handle her male fans: “I am very polite. I try to have an excellent relationship with my fans. I know where to draw the line. Without them I wouldn’t be here today.” Nollywood Oby says that there has been tremendous improvement and growth in Nollywood between 1997, when she was a debutante and today: “We should not compare ourselves to Hollywood. The prospects are very bright. The industry is growing. Once upon a time, it was just a joke but it has transformed into the mainstay of a lot of families.” She describes herself as romantic: “I listen to soft sentimental music. I am very romantic. When I love, I love to the extreme. I go all the way. I have been broken hearted before but its personal.” Secret to success Oby has a rising profile. Today, she is one of Nollywoods most sought-after faces. She talks about the secret to her success: “The secret of my success is hardwork. I play my part to the best of my ability. It is being you, being humble and consistent. Carriage and poise are very important. I keep learning. I love people criticising me because that is the only way I could take my act to the next level. I believe in being real and consistent. That is the secret to my success.” Love life When enquired about her love life she responded thus: “You want to know about my love life? Wait till my wedding day. Once I get married to that very man, that’s when I would talk about love. That is when I would talk about that very man. So, stop bugging me.” Dreams “My dream ultimately is to get to Hollywood and be successful. I want to get married and have eight children at least. My vision was for 13 lovely kids but I have cut it down to eight. I love kids. I want to adopt them, at least, a boy and a girl. They are so innocent. I intend to establish a motherless babies home someday.” Some of the movies starring Oby includes Supremacy, Golden Moon, Abuja Connection, Jealous Lover, True Love, etc
Zack Orji: Some call you Zach Orji, others Zack Orji. What are your real names? I was born Zachee Ama Orji in Libreville, Gabon. However, most people call me Zack. When ever we talk about actors it looks like they have always been actors. What is your background before acting- education, experience etc I hold a B.Sc. (Hons) Estate Management degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I graduated in 1984. Apart from Gabon and my fatherland Nigeria, my formative years; primary and secondary education were in Cameroon, Benin and Togo where I attended both French and English schools. This accounts for my being bilingual. Before becoming an actor, I used to design and make aquariums for sale and on order. Fine Arts was where I made one of my best grades in secondary school. The aquanum market was dull so I moved on to shoes. Back in my secondary school my principal used to call me an all-rounder. I was senior prefect, I was speaker in senior debates, I was in the dramatic society, I was school champion in shot putt and discus; state champion in shot putt (1978) and went on to represent my state nationally You must be a unique Nigerian actor since you speak French fluently. Have you thought about acting in French? I would like to act in French. In August 2002, I was in Kinshasa, Congo where alongside my Congolese colleagues; I did a 5-minute promo in French for Vodacom to promote their short mail service in that country. Nigerian Movies have become de facto Africa's popular movies. How do you see this evolving? I see the role of Nigerian movies as a pioneering one. Other sister African Nations will follow our footsteps and begin to do their own homegrown movies. There will be more collaborations than we have already done with Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, transcending language barriers. Which are your all time favorite foreign and African Films? a. Guess who’s coming to Dinner b. The Good The Bad and The Ugly c. Sound of Music d. Sarafina e. The Unforgiven Sin f. Tenterhooks g. Web h. Return To Kazondia i. Games Women Play j. All my Life What is your take on Films made on celluloid and Filmmakers like Sembene Ousmane or Basek Bakobio? Nothing compares to the big screen. It is awesome, it captivates and it is the ultimate created world. My recollections of the big screen, watching movies like “The Good, the bad and the Ugly”, in my very early teens, are still very much vivid. Celluloid gives you the “feel” of the big screen. However, recent breakthroughs in digital technology have given birth to digital video cameras with very high definition. You can shoot your films with these high definition cameras and watch them on wide screens, enjoying the same picture resolutions. George Lucas used such high def cameras and said “I will never shoot another film on film”. Filmmakers like Sembene Ousmane or Basek Bakobio are torchbearers who have inspired a lot of Africans and people of black descent. They have made indelible marks and therefore occupy a pride of place. However, we must strive to traverse their footprints and leave something behind, in order to build up on their foundations
Shan George: A lot has been written about popular actress, Shan George. But for the first time ever, the lady tells her life story to Daily Sun. This is the story of a survivor, a woman that took her destiny in her hands and, against all odds, rose to fame and stardom. During the interview, Shan George broke down in tears, and the reporter could not stop the tears from flowing from her own eyes. This is her life story in her own words: In the beginning Life started for me in the village, in a small village called Ediba in Abi local government area of Cross-River State. My mum worked as a nurse in one of the local hospitals. She is now retired. My father was an expatriate from England with a company called Turners Asbestos in Emene, Enugu State, before he died. The company is now known as Emenite. It produces roofing sheets and water pipes. After the death of my father, my mother left Enugu to go back and live in my village where I grew up. My parents used to live at No. 2 Nwodo Close inside the G.R.A. in Enugu, and I was getting close to my 5th birthday when I lost my father. My mother was so heartbroken when she lost my father, my grand-mother then insisted she comes back to my village to live. Back in the village, my mother worked as a nurse in the local hospital across the river in Etigidi. My mother never got over my father, I am my mother’s only child and she still lives in the village, she only comes to Lagos now and then to visit me. My mother put all her effort in taking care of me, and also thought it was important for me to be educated. I had my primary and secondary education in the village. Village life, when I was between the ages of 8 and 12 years old, was a lot of fun for me. How I used to climb trees and mountains with my school-mates on our way back from school. How we used to swim in the stream, how you don’t get to eat lunch until you get to the farm after school and lunch, for me then, was roasted yam. Sometimes when I look back at what my life was as a young girl growing up in the village, sometimes I get an image of a young girl who deserves better. But then it was fun. I knew no other life. Here I was, half-caste, born by a British expatriate, living in a village that had no electricity. My mother worked very hard to send me to school, provided me with the little comfort that she could, I remember as a young girl I had my own bed. But all the other basic amenities like having a generator, a television set were luxuries that my mother could not afford. I remember how I used to go to watch television in neighbour’s houses. And how I used to dream of becoming somebody some day. I actually wanted to become a lawyer as a young girl. And I wanted so much to become somebody great in the society, and I used to fantasize about how someday, I am going to marry a governor or a president, so that I can become a first lady, just like the wives of the presidents and governors that I sometimes see on my neigbour’s television set. I was an Oyibo girl, who knew nothing about the Western world, and I had this big ambition to be great someday. How to go about it then, I did not know. But I just kept on dreaming, and hoped it happens. Early marriage It is the norm in my village then that young girls get married off between the age of 15 to 17. If you don’t get a suitor by the age of 17, you are like a leftover. And back then, in my village, they didn’t see it as a wise investment to send girls to school. After all, a girl changes her name to that of her husband immediately she gets married and whatever she becomes thereafter is to her husband’s name and glory. So why waste your money educating a girl child? And I thank my mother who insisted I pass through secondary school before I got married. So, when I was getting close to my 16th birthday, I got married. I was really excited about the marriage proposal then, to me as a young girl growing up in a village without electricity, getting married and going to live in "township" then was very exciting. "Township" then as we used to call places where there is electricity, cars, television, executive sitting chairs, to us then in the village, was paradise. I can’t say I was forced into marriage then, I was actually excited at the prospect of leaving the village for paradise. But I realised later that not all that glitters is gold. I left the village for the so-called paradise, for me to find out that it wasn’t a paradise after all. And things didn’t work out the way I thought they would. Maybe if I didn’t get married that early in life, maybe things would have been different. Because I now know everything has its time and season. One needs to be mature and ready for marriage. Although my ex-husband is older, there was no cordiality in the marriage. We had a traditional marriage and I left the village to live with him. As a young girl, I had high hopes of going to the university to read Law. Four years into the marriage with two kids, and no talk about me going back to school, to become that person that I wanted to be, I became an unhappy persons. Suddenly, I realised that if I stayed on in that marriage, I will never realise my dreams. And I was not happy in that marriage. At a point, my marriage was like a stumbling block to my success in life. So, I knew I had to do something about it. After six years in that marriage, I woke up one morning on the 6th of May 1991, with N2,400 in my bag. I left my husband’s house in Ojodu. I did not head for the village this time around. I had left with my kids before then for my village. But my mother asked me questions about how my ex-husband was treating me, and my replies were positive ones. Was I being maltreated by him? I replied no. So my mother was not in support of me staying back in the village with my kids, she insisted I had to go back to my husband. So, I realised then that I just couldn’t go back to my mother in the village this time around. I knew if I had to leave, I had to go somewhere else, definitely not my village. My first son was born in November 1986, my second son was born November 1988. In 1991, when I left my husband’s house, they were so young, I never wanted to leave without them. But I knew I couldn’t take the kids with me. I had nowhere to go, so taking the children with me to an unknown destination will be putting then through a lot of hardship. And I had no means of taking care of them. So, I prayed that morning for God’s forgiveness. We had just moved to Ojodu then. I think we moved to Ojodu in Lagos in 1990. So, I was very new in Lagos, I had no friends or family I could go stay with. But I was determined, so I was going round Lagos, looking for work and hoping that I would come across anybody from my village that could be of assistance. That night, I slept in a small hotel. I can’t remember exactly how much I paid at the hotel per night, but the N2,400 I had with me lasted just for four days. As God will have it on that 4th day, I met somebody I knew while in the village. Her name is Mrs. Betcy Ukoh. I ran into her somewhere around Fola Agoro in Shomolu where her fashion house was located. She now lives in Abidjan, Cote’d’Ivoire with her family. It was amazing and I was so excited and she was happy to see me. I explained my situation to her, and she offered to take me in. When I left my husband’s house in Ojodu, I did not leave with any of my things. What I had was just the one dress I had on. And throughout those four days I was going round Lagos, I had that dress on. At night, I wash it in the hotel I was staying, spread it under the fan to dry till the following morning. So, when my aunty took me in, the first thing she did was to make me a skirt and blouse from the leftover fabrics she had in her shop. And that was what I wore for the first few days that I stayed with her. I learned how to sew from her and she used to send me to some of her customers in corporate offices that can’t find the time to come to her shop to take their orders. And she was always sending me to Tejuoso Market to buy fabrics that she intends to sew for her customers. And that was how I got into fashion. After some time, I started saving the little money I was making towards buying G.C.E. forms. I got enough money to sit for my G.C.E, I passed, and the following year I sat for JAMB exams. I did not make my JAMB that year, but I did the following year. After two years of living with my aunt, I left her place to get a one room accommodation somewhere in Obanikoro. And that was how I started sewing on my own. After some time, I was able to save enough to open a boutique and up till date, I still run the boutique. My boutique is called SHANDEL, it’s a combination of my name and that of my first son. My boutique is located in Jibowu, my shop by the special grace of God is stocked with the latest fashion trend. Then I used to get goods from people that travel abroad to put in my shop. I couldn’t afford to pay outright, I used to take the goods on sales on return. And when I get little money then, I used to travel to Cotonou to buy things to put in the shop. In 1996, I got a letter of admission to University of Lagos to read Mass Communication. It was the happiest day of my life. I was overwhelmed with joy. I held the letter and tears of joy dropped from my eyes. Later, I realised I didn’t have enough to pay my tuition fees. I had to pay N12,000 and all I had then was N8 in my account. While I was working with my aunt, I met a lot of people from my village but I didn’t socialise with them, because I was always busy working for my aunt. One of them was my mother’s brother who is a customs officer. I went to see him, and he offered to help. He gave me N5,000. And there was this other man who is also from my village, his name is Mr. Omini, he was working with N.N.P.C then. I don’t know if he still does. I have made a lot of effort to reach him. I hope he reads this. I really, really want to get in touch with him. He gave me N2,000. (At this point, Shan’s voice quivers and tears rolled down her face). While I was running around looking for money to pay my tuition fees into the university, I was also looking out for any job opportunity. My boutique was not doing well then, so I decided I needed to get a paid job to support whatever I was making from the boutique. Luckily for me, I got a job working behind the camera at N.T.A. on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. And later, Sadiq Daba gave me a role to play in Winds of Destiny, and I was paid N1,000 per episode. That was in 1997. While acting in Winds of Destiny, I got my first home movie role in the late Jennifer Ossai’s movie titled, Thorns of Rose. My sister, Blessing Eremi, who played Wakanga in NTA’s rested soap, Fortune, introduced me to Jennifer. I had to stop my behind the camera work at NTA because of my studies, and later, I got a major role in After The Storm, a television drama which ran on N.T.A. Tunde Adesina gave me a big role, so I got a better fee. After the Storm was rested after a while, so, I just concentrated on school. And that was how I started writing my own script while in school. In my final year at the university, I produced my own movie titled, All For Winnie. Later, I was able to raise enough money to travel abroad on business trips. And the first country I travelled to in Europe was Paris. British citizen My father was a British expatriate and because my mother was too devastated after his death, when she left Enugu, she didn’t even think of keeping any document for future references as regards my father. All she had was his photograph. So, at a point in my life, out of curiosity of wanting to know who my father was, I went in search of the company he worked with in Enugu. And that was how I got to know that the company’s name had been changed from Turners Asbestos to Eminite. I found my father’s name in what was left as the ‘company’s record. And I was able to get the company’s address in Manchester, United Kingdom. I sent a lot of letters to the company, but I never got a responce. And the telephone number I got from the company’s record was also no longer in service. My father’s name, Gordon Walker George, was on the company’s record. I have reached out to a lot of organisations that could help trace my father’s relatives. I also tried Red Cross because I heard they are good at uniting lost families, but no positive response came from them. I didn’t inform my mother before I went to Enugu in search of the company my father worked with. But I later told her what I found out. And she was not pleased that I was going around trying to gather information about a dead man. She sees no point in the search, especially now that I am famous and am doing so well for myself. A lot of websites that I tried on the internet could not help because I don’t know my father’s date of birth and place of birth. There was a time that I logged onto a website called something ancestral and called all the Gordon Walker George listed, but nothing came up. Someday, I intend to go to the company’s address that I had written to in Manchester, and find out why I didn’t get a reply to my letters. So, right now, I don’t know how to go about the British citizenship. Okey Basassi I met Okey Bakassi at a public function in 1998, then I was still in school. We started out as friends, I was very new in the movie industry then and Okey was the only friend I had. We were friends before we became lovers and he put me through a lot of things. He had been in the movie industry before me. And he had produced several movies, so I learnt a lot from him. The relationship came to an end because at that time, I was not so keen on marriage. I had just come out of one marriage and I wasn’t ready to get into another one so soon. Coupled with the fact that we were both struggling artists. So we were not talking marriage. At a point, the affair just faded away naturally, no quarrel. But what we had was a good, honourable relationship that lasted for three years, and in an industry like ours that a relationship that lasts for two months is a big deal. My new husband I met my present husband Anthony Nwosisi in England in 2002 and we met through a friend. For me, it was love at first sight. In fact, I fell in love with him on the phone before we met physically. He called my friend I was with while in London, and she told him on the phone that I was in London and with her. He asked to speak with me, and immediately he said hi on the phone, my heart just skipped a beat. And we went on chatting like we’ve known each other for long, and that was how we exchanged numbers. And when we met physically, it was like magic. Well, the rest is history. I know there has been so much negative things written about us not being together in some soft sell magazines. And I will like to set the record straight. We are together and we intend to be together till kingdom come. Or like my husband used to say, till eternity. My husband lives in England and that’s why I shuttle between Lagos and England a lot. But he is planning on re-locating back to Nigeria very soon. Yes, he was once married with two kids, a boy and a girl. I love and respect him a lot as my husband and he has always been there for me. We got married traditionally, and he means the world to me
Ibinabo Fiberesima: So much in love with showbiz and entertainment right from her teens, Ibinabo Fiberesima had a taste of this life-long interest shortly after gaining admission into the university as she contested and won an 'Elopee Entertainment' sponsored Miss Wonderland beauty pageant in 1990. This however became a turning point in her life as she thereafter got involved in acting, modelling, singing (to some extent), contracts and beauty pageants. Currently the chief executive officer of 'Miss Africa Beauty Pageant' the extroverted artiste believes she is a Jack of all trade and also master of all. Born to an Okirika father and an Irish mother, Ibinabo lived with her grandmother for the greater part of her childhood and adolescent years. The second child in a family of six, she studied English Language and Literature at the University of Ibadan from where she graduated in 1994. Apparently destined for greatness in showbiz and entertainment, she didn't work with her degree for one day as she got 'The Pyramid' night club as birthday and graduation present from her ex-boyfriend. "I got the night club the month I came out of school, so I just started doing business. I preferred a night club because I am a karaoke freak, I love karaoke, I love to sing." A single parent to three boys (two of them biological), she soon discovered that as she started having her kids, she needed to spend more time with them. And the club wasn't well managed because she didn't really know anything about night club management. Instead of generating profit, 'The Pyramid' incurred great debts. Apparently trying to avoid a nervous breakdown, the fair-complexioned lady said she had no option but to put the property up for sale about three years ago. That was shortly before travelling to London with her son to unwind. An ex-beauty queen, and to a great extent still looking pretty and charming even after two kids, it would be an understatement to say that Ibinabo still attracts the attention of the opposite sex. However, one aspect of her life that seems puzzling to many is why she chose to be a single parent. "Well, that isn't anybody's choice, it happens. I thank God that even as a single mother, I am a strong woman, So, I really don't miss that part of it". Having grown up with her mother, father, grandmother". And in the presence of many family members, she believes that the love and experience she received from them goes a long way in assisting her bring up and take proper care of her sons: nine, six and two years old respectively. Even after three children Ibinabo said she still wants more. How? When would she get married then? "When the Lord wants it to happen. And He will soon, I know". This year? "Even if it is tomorrow. I miss that part of my life. I love the family setting". When asked what she looks out for in a man she would love to get married to, her response was swift but simple: "Honesty", She went on to reveal why she isn't married yet even after two biological children for two different men: "I found out two days after my grandmother's death that I was pregnant. I was shattered because she longed for me to have a child she could carry. I was really prepared for the baby, but not for marriage. I wasn't ready for that at the point, I just wanted my baby. With the second one, I was really ready to settle down, but it just didn't work. That's life." For now, the nervy actress said she isn't ready for marriage, but wouldn't hesitate to go into it if it is the Lord's wish. Reason(s) for not being ready? Her career. According to her, she has picked up with her career again and she is going places with it. "I want to be able to stand firm." Is she an independent person? "I am a very independent woman." How much is she worth? "I don't know; I am not telling you that side." If she had not gone into showbiz, Ibinabo said she would have been a full-time housewife. But she quickly added that for now, it is no longer possible. " I don't want to be anybody's housewife again. That time has passed. Now, I will own a career. But that doesn't make me less a mother." In her shoes, being partly Irish, many would prefer running away from the hustles and bustles of Nigeria to settle in Ireland, or somewhere in Europe. As far as this idea is concerned, Ibinabo reasons differently. She sees Nigeria as the place to be and doesn't in any way prefer to live in Europe. " I will never leave Nigeria. Maybe I am one of the idiots, as some of my friends call me. There is so much to do here. Everyday I wake up I have ideas in my head. I go after them and I get them done. In London, I can be indoors for a whole week without stepping out. It is so boring, and why would I go out and do all the odd jobs? Why would I do that when I can live like a queen in my country?" Gosh! Having emerged second runner-up of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant (1991), first runner -up Miss Nigeria (1990) and winner, Miss Wonderland, Ibinabo realised that she enjoys showbiz more than any other business. Knowing that only pageant winners proceed to other international contests (a situation she dislikes since she believes other contestants ought to be given similar opportunities), Ibinabo registered her own outfit, 'Miss African Beauty Pageant' and got the franchise for Miss Earth, Miss Intercontinental and Miss Tourism International. Having taken the Miss Nigeria (2003) first runner-up, Eva Ewemade Ogbebor to the Miss Earth Pageant in the Philippines, reigning Miss Nigeria (2003) to Miss Intercontinental in Japan, Ibinabo looks forward to taking the Miss Nigeria (2003) second runner-up to Sri-Lanka later tin the year for the Miss Tourism Intercontinental pageant.
Desmond Elliot: Desmond Elliot is easily one of the fastest rising stars in the Nigerian home video sector. He shot into limelight through television soap operas and was soon to become a regular face in Nollywood movies such that tracking him down for an interview became almost impossible. Elliot has also been to many parts of the globe, as his acting skills have made him a well sought after artiste. Besides, he has become a role model in Nollywood such that he often becomes first choice for every producer in search of artistes for romantic roles. In a recent chat with Daily Sun, Elliot recalled how a friend lured him into acting. He also spoke about his ambition to become the executive governor of Lagos State in the nearest future and why he married an Akwa–Ibom woman: Background I was born to a Yoruba father and an Ibo mother. I grew up in the Northern part of the country and I am married to an Akwa-Ibom woman. I had my primary education at Air Force Primary school in Jos from where I went to St John’s College also in Jos. I studied Economics at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos and graduated in 2003. It was a friend who influenced me to become an actor. My friend wasn’t an actor but he always felt that I was cut out for the entertainment industry. As a Christian, I felt that the best thing for me to do was to pray about it. I prayed and asked God to help me make a choice. It wasn’t easy but I thank God that He intervened and revealed to me that I should join the industry. I first started with soap operas such as Everyday People, One Too Much, Wale Adenuga’s Super Stories and Saints and Sinners. I still feature in Everday People but I moved into the movie industry gradually and today the rest is history. Between Soaps and Video Anywhere in the world, film and video have always been quite challenging and rewarding to practitioners. Even in more developed countries most great movie stars move from television to movies. For example, Bruce Willies moved from Moonlighting to movies and Will Smith went from Fresh Prince Of Barley to Men in Black. For me, movies are more demanding and rewarding than soap operas. Becoming governor of Lagos I am looking forward to becoming the elected governor of Lagos State in not too distant future, but definitely not in 2007. I want to serve the people of Lagos and I know I can do it. People say that politics is a dirty game, I don’t know exactly how dirty it can get but my intention basically is to serve humanity. Why I run from women Women chase me because I am an actor and if they don’t do that it simply means that I am not yet an actor. In fact, being chased is not the issue, what matters is that whenever I perceive that I am about to be chased, I run. I run because I have an ambition, which I don’t want women to ruin for me. I run from them if they want to go beyond the level of being my fans to another level. Realising a character When I receive a new script, I usually take my time to study it. Thereafter, I hold a discussion with the director on what is expected of me in the movie. Then I move on to develop a suitable character that will go well with what the entire production is all about. Turn off I don’t like people flashing me. I mean if you want to give a call, go ahead and do so, it is of no use flashing me. I also feel bad when the up-coming artistes are not given the necessary opportunity to come into the industry and fully realise their potentials. Another thing that really puts me off is when some directors want to turn actors to zombies by casting them stereotypically into such roles as lover boy, gentleman, tough guy and all that. Personally, I like to see an actor take up different roles and interpreting them well. Nollywood The fact that the Nigerian movie industry is growing is what particularly turns me on, thanks to all those that are making it happen such as the marketers, directors, producers and others Nollywood contributes to the nation’s economy because quite a number of people are involved and are earning their livelihood from it. The only problem is that our government is yet to fully realise the great economic advantage that lies in tapping into the industry. America and India have tapped into Hollywood and Bollywood respectively and the result is quite rewarding. Government should come and invest in the industry, the marketers have done great jobs by investing their money to prove that the sector is lucrative. Popularity First, I did not pay for this talent, it is a gift from God and whatever comes from God is mine. At the same time, God gave it to me and reserves the right to take it back if you fail to use the gift to make people happy and contribute to the good of humanity. So, there is nothing star in my dictionary. I don’t see myself as a star, rather I see myself as someone who wants to manifest God’s gift to bless people, to bless myself and everything around me. I want people to be happy around me, not just to call me a star. Relaxation I basically relax with my wife whenever the opportunity comes, especially if I am in town and not involved in a tedious job. I have a special form of relaxation, I just choose a suitable time and free myself from every form of stress. On AIDS My advice is that people should abstain from sex or be faithful to their partners. There is no alternative to it This may be difficult but it is the only way a young person can save his or her life in this era of HIV. The rule is not merely playing the so-called safe but to abstain. Piracy Piracy is a crime that government and the people have to fight. It is unfortunate that the pirates make all the money from products they had no input in manufacturing. I also feel very bad when I hear or see a movie that I feature in being pirated. Foundation for the less privileged This is one of my strategies as a politician. I don’t want to be accused of corruption. I am looking at the vision of a Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwaznneger who both saw the need to put something back to society by leaving their glamour world for elective offices to serve the people. Marriage Although people say I got married late but the truth is that I dated my wife for about eight years before we finally got married. My kind of job may have exposed me to the opposite sex but the truth is that my wife means the whole world to me. I appreciate my wife and I married her basically for love and nothing else. She is so understanding and caring. These are the two vital attributes I find lacking in most women of today. Upcoming actors The Bible teaches that anything that happens to a man comes by time and chance. So, I urge the younger artistes to aspire to be great. They shouldn’t lose hope or get frustrated. They should face their career no matter the obstacle they may encounter and keep working hard. For example, many people frustrated me before I could get to the level that I am now. But any serious young artiste can also overcome the odds. Above all, what every youth should do is to keep a low head and when the opportunity to shoot into limelight comes, grab it. A true Nigerian I understand the three major Nigerian languages but I speak more of Hausa because that is the language I grew up with. Movies They include:Magic Moment by Infinity Films Production; Last Oath: An Okoro Ugwu film, which equally starred Stella Damascus Aboderin and Ngozi Ezeonu. Others include: True Romance 1 and 2, directed by Chico Ejiro but produced by Arinze Ephrian; With Love, a movie directed by Osita Okoli but produced by Vitus Nnebue. The movie featured other artistes like Rita Dominic, Hanks Anuku, Ashley Nwosu, Abubakar Yakubu and Mike Nliams. Another movie I featured in is Wild Rose, which equally featured Omotola Jolade, Shan George and Fred Amata.
Saint Obi: Nigerian home video lovers who claim ignorance of the distinctive face and looks of Nigerian's most popular actor, Saint Obi, must be a strange lot. Saint Obi's ascension into the highly important first place he occupies in the heart of his many fans is almost magical. Born in Mbaitoli, Imo state "those-not-so-many years ago" (he won't tell you exactly how old he is) is Nigeria's screen god. The 1991 graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Jos did not go into acting immediately after graduation. Instead, his handsome face, wonderful mien and great body quickly got him modelling jobs. He was a model for a few years before he decided to try his hands at the profession which he has spent some four years (sons strikes, riots, etc) studying. Although he has been in quite a few stage plays, Saint Obi did not hit the national limelight until he debuted in the widely acclaimed home video, Without Love. From then on, producers and directors have continued to scramble for the model/actor who claims marriage is still quite far from being his immediate concern right now. To date, he has starred in most of the films that are considered the most popular in Nigeria. Sakobi, Goodbye Tomorrow, Heart of Gold, Amadas, Last Party, are a few of the films in which he has acted. Saint Obi continues to model. Not too long ago, he won a highly lucrative contract to model for Bevista, one of Nigeria's few highbrow boutiques. Right now, speculation is rife that Bevista might renew his one year contract given the huge marketing success Saint Obi has become for the boutique, a success which has translated into huge sales for the clothiers of past Nigerian presidents. Saint Obi continues to ride high as one of Nigeria's better paid actors. How much he grosses per film, he won't tell you. His high status and stature in the industry is of course enough proof that he is making a neat pile of money. Stardom and relative wealth have however left this handsome dude as simple as they met him. For the star whose parents were once opposed to his opting for acting instead of the many other more lucrative professions, he has carved a solid niche for himself and none can begrudge him enjoying his well deserved success.
Joke Silva: Joke is a household name in the world of Nigeria cinema. Since the early eighties, she has carved out a successful career as an actress on stage, film, television and radio primarily in Nigeria and England (BBC, British Film Institute, Royal Court Theatre Sloan Sq) and the South of France. Her acting credits include “Secret Laughter of Women” with Nia Long and Colin Firth (’97 Film), Mirror in the Sun (’84 TV), Second Chance (’84 TV), Jero’s Metamorphosis (’81 Stage), Owuro Lojo (’93 Video), Mind Bending (’92 TV), Sisters (2002 Stage), The King Must Dance Naked (’93 Stage), Tight Rope (2000 – 2002 TV), Twins of the Rainforest (’98 Film), The Kingmaker (2002 Video), A Husband’s Wife (2003 Stage), Brave Heart (2003 Film), Shylock (2004 Stage) and A Past Came Calling (2004 Stage) to mention a few. Joke has also written and directed to critical acclaim: Digging for Gold, Jonah, The Drummer Boy and Footprints. She is an alumnus of Holy Child College, Obalende, Weber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, University of Lagos Akoka and Fate Foundation, Ijora. Silva is a recipient of several awards, including the EMOTAN Award by African Independent Television and the SOLIDRA Award. She is also a Member of the think tank for the Blair Commission for Africa, a trustee of Advocacy for Women and Children, a board member and a grief counselor for AART of Life Foundation. There is no doubt that Joke brings a wealth of experience to the character she portrays in 30 Days. Dupe Alade is the president’s most powerful minister and she has been charged with the task of untangling the mystery behind the killing of government officials.
Enebeli Elebuwa: Background I am Enebeli Elebuwa, I hail from Upkane in Otagunu local government area of Delta State. My dad died when I was 10 years old, so I left my home town when I was only 12 to stay with someone in Lagos who never care to my education. I am a retired civil servant. I have been in the acting profession for the past 30 years. I started by going to auditions and somebody one day just said he wanted to use me for a perfomance and that was how it all started. TV Soaps The first soap I did was Mirror in the Sun. I played in the first three pilot episodes and eventually I was worked as an assistant producer/director in the soap. I had to leave the role I was given to enable me concentrate on production. I have been part of so many productions and I may not be able to remember all now but I am presently working on Heaven’s Gate produced by Zik Okafor. Movies The first one I acted in was a film (celluloid) called Dinner with the Devil. It was produced by Sanya Dosumu in 1974/75. I played the role of a police officer investigating a crime and I can remember that I featured in other major films including Bisi Daughter of the River by Jab Adu and Eddie Ugboma’s Oyenusi. When we started home movies, I featured in Journey To Hell. I cannot remember all but there is this particular movie titled Dark Goddess, which featured actress like Regina Askia and others. I have since done many others. I have been in the home movie industry since 1994. Challenging work To me, every script is challenging. Once I agree to do it, I have to play a role I haven’t played before. So, there is no script that is not challenging, when I look critically at the role, it turns out to be that I have to play a character that is not exactly mine. Inspiration My inspiration comes from God. I try to work hard because there are so many things that one cannot do well, one should not be jack of all trades, master of none. So, as an artiste, I concentrate on God to lead me most of the times. I do not look on anything or anybody to give me inspiration, I depend on Christ to inspire me. The industry The movie industry is profitable, I do not see myself featuring in every soap. I think a soap is sufficient for an actor, so I have one running and I am not expected to be jumping from one soap to another because one would not give enough time to the characters. Also I could remember that in 1977, I was paid N1000 while working on Oyenusi and that was the highest fee ever paid to anybody at that time. Today, a lot of people are involved, remuneration is a lot better than it was in those days. Even on TV in those days, artistes have received less than N50 working on Village Headmaster and some other programmes. The movie industry is rather coming up but it hasn’t really come of age until I see the average marketer selling up to two hundred thousand copies, four hundred thousand copies or even a million copies in a country of about 120 million. then I can be able to say we have really come of age. Role in Village Headmaster I was the police officer who comes from Jebaco to arrest criminals in Oja village. I enjoyed the programme because the masters that I met initially were all in Village Headmaster. These include the Aladeode of Oderemo, Oba Funso Adeolu (Eleyimi), Bassey Okon, Uncle Jab Adu, it was one big family. Others include Elsie Olusola (Sisi Clara) Mrs Ibidun Allison (Amebo) and Joe Layode. I started in the time of Femi Robinson and I also acted when Justus Esiri was there. But in Village Headmaster, I also got the job of assistant producer/director. In those days everyone was his brother’s keeper and people worked together and attended parties together. Turn off I hate lies and injustice. Memorable moments I didn’t start acting because I wanted fame, I have had my rough and good times in life, I remembered so many things but I can’t recall any spectacular day as such in the movie industry. But one of the greatest things that has happened to me since I came into this industry was that God saved my life from a very near fatal accident. I was driving to Ijebu Igbo and on getting close to Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye, my car somersaulted and eventually hit a big barrier; I lost control and the car eventually hung on the bridge. A greater part of the car was almost down there and I was rescued by some policemen who came and stood behind the car, pressed it down and rescued me and three other people who were with me in the car. I didn’t know how it all happened- It was really a miracle that showed that God wanted to preserve me. Role model I wouldn’t say I have a role model as such because I went through things that even some of the people that I might describe as role models never went through. My kind of role model is a great man who knows how to care for the ordinary people but this quality is missing in our society. Everybody is working for him /herself, nobody cares for the other person. One of the people that I admired as a young man then was the late Tai Solarin. He was doing things for the society; he trained children who ordinarily would not have been educated. He was someone I could call a role model if I am asked to choose one. The other person is Mother Theresa of India who left her home to help the needy. I also love Wole Soyinka, a great Nigerian who has achieved a lot through hard work. He was enlightened in time and he took advantage of it and used it reasonably well to bring fame to himself and to his nation. Most popular work What brought me into limelight was Andrew. Andrew was done about 21 years ago in a jingle on television where the man said he was checking out of Nigeria: a place where there is no electricity, no good road and where one could not even find a bottle of beer. Philosophy If I had the time to think, maybe I will bring out other things but my most important legacy in life is live and let live, which we hardly do in our land. Secondly, I always preach that people should love their neighbours as themselves. Marriage I am married, I have four children who are in school. My children are not into what I am doing and I cannot force them because my father did not force me into the arts. I will give them a chance if they are interested but I won’t go out of my way to force them into unnecessary publicity. Relaxation When I am not acting, I sleep or play music. I play a lot of Urobo music, I do not understand the language but the music touches me a lot. I also listen to the Jazz music of Joe Williams and other modern artistes. Sometimes, I go to niteclubs or shows and listen to good artist perform. At times I perform myself I vamp with the guitar and I sing. Advice to up-coming artistes My advice has always been that upcoming artistes should work hard. A lot of people think that only dropouts can become actors/actresses but it is not so. You have to be intelligent if you want to become artiste because there are lots of intellectual work involved. Dr. Femi Shaka of the University of Port Harcourt has promised me that whoever comes to him through me from any part of Nigeria, he would train for a certificate course. This is basically for those who are in a hurry and who would not want to wait for four years in a university to train as an artiste. Young artistes should work hard because nothing will be waiting for them. In our time, before we started acting, we had to go to the theatre to dance, sing, and act through the night just to keep us going. When given a script, an artiste needs to rehearse it, go to the mirror and see if he/she can convince the audience of the role. Becoming a producer I was a producer/director in NTA and I have not given up the hope of returning to production. So, when the kind of big budget I am looking for comes, I too will like to produce movies. Hollywood If an invitation comes, I guess I will honour it but I have not acted in Hollywood. It is the dream of every actor to act there because Hollywood pays well but then I am not going to worry myself because they too have their own pioneers who never got well paid like us.
Clarion Chukwura: Name: Clarion Chukwurah-Oduneye Address: Oko-oba, Lagos, Nigeria. Marital Status: Married State of Origin: - Onitsha, Anambra languages spoken: Yoruba, Igbo and English. Educational background - Ladylark nursery school, Lagos. Nigeria All saints primary school, Lagos, Nigeria. Queen of our rosary college, Onitsha, Nigeria. University of Ibadan actors workshop company, Ibadan, Nigeria. Department of dramatic arts, university of Ife, Ile-ife, Nigeria. Tell us a little about your childhood, growing up, parents, brothers and sisters? I was born into a middle class family in the mid sixties at the Lagos teaching hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos, to J.C. chukwurah, a chartered accountant and top Lagos socialite, and c.o. chukwurah, an ibara abeokuta princess who was a building materials contractor. I am an only daughter with four brothers. I had a good childhood in a big home off Commercial Avenue in the Old Yaba, Lagos growing up among upper middle class neighbours and family friends in a clean, organised and civilised neighbourhood of a not then over populated Lagos state, Nigeria. What was the first paying job ever that you had? A Bata shop sales assistant for two months in the summer before I finished high school. How much were you paid per month and what were the responsibilities? 50 Naira. To help customers try shoe size on their feet. What other jobs did you do outside acting? Human resources executive, fassey royal airlines, Lagos. Modelling and models recruitment. Oil industry services. Youth empowerment initiative. Drama and documentaries productions. What made you go into the acting career and when did you start acting (year)? My father had us taken to the cinema as kids. I saw Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra when I was six years old and I knew that's where I wanted to be, on the screen. I began acting in 1980. Who were your idols/models (actors) in those days? Al Pacino, Jodie foster. What was your first role in theatre, tv or movies? Jolomi Tutu in Prof. Bode Sowande's play 'farewell to babylon', theatre. Bello's daughter in Wale Ogunyemi's T.V. series bello's way.and Yemi in Ola Balogun's movie 'money power', all in the early eighties. What was your major break-through role and in what film, series or play? Money power-film as Yemi, The king must dance naked, as king Omajuwa- theatre. Mirror in the sun - T.V.- as Tinu. Abuja connection - home video movies. as Jessica. What were the constraints you had to face and overcome as an up-and-coming actor (young actor)? Low pay and being mostly out of work. Working within the confines of a society with little or no understanding and appreciation for creative art content. A television and theatre based industry controlled by government and lacking growth inducing private initiative. How many films have you been involved with as an actor to date? About 80 English and Yoruba movies. 1. Oduduwa, 2. Lagidigba, 3.Valentino, 4.True love, 5. Abuja connection, 6. egg of life, 7. Abela pupa, 8. Her majesty, 9. Danger signal, to mention a few As a dynamic and outstanding, 'a'-list actor, how have you managed to adapt to the different range of roles you have played in your career? By applying my professional style born out of talent, training, experience and skill- I do character acting on movies and method acting on stage. what is the most awkward or strangest role you have had to take/play in your career and why? Playing four roles in the same play same time in Chinua Achebe's Thing's fall apart at the West Yorkshire playhouse, Leeds and at the Royal Court theatre in London's west end for the London International Festival of Theatre. I had to play three male roles and one female haven been flown in two weeks to opening night to play with British actors who'd been rehearsing for over a month. Chuck Mike was my Director. What film have you been most proud to be involved with so far, and why? Egg of life. it was serious acting for the screen. As an 'a'-list actress yourself, what other 'a'-list actors or actresses have worked or collaborated with? Pete Edochie, Richard Mofe Damijo, Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Bukky Ajayi, Idowu Philips and Jide Kosoko. Did you at anytime want to quit your acting career for something else or for a reason, and why (if any)? Acting is my life. No. What is the motivation for you or what keeps you interested in this career every morning you wake up? Acting itself is the motivation. It's the one thing I do best apart from being a good mother. How important are our Nigerian roots, morals, values, knowledge and sense of wisdom to you and your works? Nigerian movies are to promote positive and progressive African values and move our people forward where change is necessary to enable our people adapt and compete favourably in a world that has become a global village. That is what I project in my works. On the stories, scripts, or screen play of your films, and its impact on the Nigerian/African cultural values (home and abroad), how do you manage to harness, keep and pass them across in your films? By discussing whatever script I accept to play in with my director on story thrust, message, character analysis vis-?-vis our agreed story interpretation. Discussing the image actualisation of my characterisation with the costumean and the make-up artist, and finally projecting the team work creativity of the entire crew. As a producer, director and filmmaker also, how is this different for you from acting and what is the additional drive for you? There are great organisational responsibilities solely yours to monitor as a producer to protect your investor's money as well as make sure your cast and crew are kept happy to get the job done. At the end of the day when your movie record massive public appreciation in sales figures, you just want to go right back and record more success, the stress forgotten because you've become a major stakeholder in a forward moving industry. What projects are you working on at the moment and with whom? I don't discuss current projects until they are completed. Where do you see yourself in this career in the next five years? A major producing stakeholder of internationally marketed African films. Where do you see the Nigerian movies industry in the next couple of years? Third biggest movie industry in the world with movies of high creative and technical content competing at international film festivals world-wide especially the Cannes film festival. When you are not working (acting, producing, directing or making a film), what do you do or how do you pass the time? I holiday abroad because I work very hard. I spend quality time with my family. I love sailing, car racing and cinema. What kind of music do you listen to and who is your favourite musician? South African music and R and b. My favourite artist is R. Kelly. Is there an international actor (American, British, Australian, African, etc.) You will want to work with if the opportunity presented itself? Angela basset What message do you have for your international fans in America, United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and its Diaspora? Just keep watching my movies. I have some fantastic ones you will love to see this year. Concentrate on my art, ignore the frills. For any reason at all, how would you personally want your fans to remember you? A damned good actress.
Chioma Chukwuka: Chioma sure loves to make people laugh. This is one character her fans are yet to discover, a trait that filmmakers are yet to explore. Twisting are lips mischievously and blinking like a spoilt brat, the amiable actress and final year student of Banking and Finance in Lagos State University (LASU) dazzled with deep pidgin English, while making light of the question on how her course of study is related to acting : “N-e-l-l, e fit no relate as you go think am o, but make we just say e go let me manage my finance as I dey make de peper from acting per se….” Chioma, a member of choir in the Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s “House on the Rock” church and back up singer for Sammy Okposo’s Ex-generation band, who said, she is a born again Christian, although she is single, wife seekers should keep off, as she will be tying the nuptial knot soon. Chioma told the story of a rewarding beginning in her acting career: “Sometimes in the 90s, I went for an audition and it didn’t work out. Then in the year 2000, I met a producer who asked me if I could read. He needed somebody for a role and he had not got what he wanted. That was how I got to read the script and I guess he liked my performance. But then he had a problem with my looks on that day which he said did not appear quite young and naïve, apparently because of what I was wearing. I took off that attire and that was it. That was how I got my first movie role in The Apple where I played a seventeen year old girl.” “Was she really seventeen? “No, I was much more older” she said. When did the idea of becoming an actress first strike her? Chioma, said she had had the flair from childhood, not necessarily to be an actress, but for any performance that would bring her before the crowd. Said she: “I actually grew up with the desire to be a singer, just like must kids do, you know; some wanting to become a lawyer and some others, doctor. But, for me, music was the thing, and I grew up loving the crowd. I just visualize myself under the spotlight with a lot of people. But then, I didn’t know which way exactly that dream was going to lead me. Now, I found myself here. Even then, before any vision, there must have existed certain traits of a particular talent. How did she discover that she could sing in the first place? “I had the desire to sing when I discovered that I had the voice. So, I started singing in the kitchen, the toilet, the shower, everywhere. Then, I said to myself, how do I improve on this? So, I joined the choir in my church”. Talking about her church and her role as an active member of the choir, how does she react to the rumour that her pastor, Paul Adefarasin, who felt that her acting career was beginning to run in conflict with her role in church, took issues so personal that he asked her to choose between her career and the church. “That is very wrong”, she said. “Pastor Paul supports what anybody is doing as long as you do it right and you still stand out. The assistant pastor, Yemi, actually told me this: ‘Chioma, I want you to be able to do what you are doing and do it well. I want you to stand out, such that people would see in you that you are a minister of God’. So, you see, they don’t have problem with my career. What is important here is how I do it, bearing in mind that I am a minister of God”. Concluding, she said: “Pastor Paul has never been against anyone becoming an actor or actress and I didn’t have any option of having to choose between acting and singing in the choir.” Chioma, who believes that as a performing artiste, the success which her effort in The Apple and other films brought to her is a mark of God’s love and destiny, said, although, she did her best to fit into her roles, God interpreted the character for her. She agreed that The Apple is truly her first and her break, it is today, difficult for her to say, which film, is actually her best. In retrospect, she said: “I won’t forget The Apple in a hurry because, it was my first and I had challenges. I was working with professionals. I was a green horn who didn’t know her left from her right. Another of such challenging ones is the very epic of Don Azema. Then, I wasn’t used to shooting outdoors. We went all out into the bush and there are particular costumes you wear in the movie and the make ups. So far, these two, I find quite challenging, but all my movies are my best, I dare say. How much was she paid the first time and how did she feel about it? “I know you are not expecting me to tell you how much it was that I was paid, but honestly, my first time, it wasn’t about how much it was that I was paid, I was still trying to establish myself as an actress, so, if I was paid peanut, it was okay, because I had to pay my due.” Has she really paid her due? Without mincing words, she said “Yes, I have paid my dues, because if you have a job for me, I tell you, this is how much I want from the job and if you can’t afford it, you forget it”. She added that beyond the money that any producer may be offering her the script and storyline must be good enough for her to accept to do it. What target has she set for herself in the industry? She said “Like I said, I have carved a niche for myself in the industry, and I want to remain there. I will do what I am supposed to do, but will still be myself. If you watch Chioma Chukwuka on TV, you will know this girl is natural, she is not trying to be somebody else, and that is what I want to be. I see myself, not just within the four walls of the country, Nigeria.” Now what part, if given to her, would she not be able to handle conveniently? She said: “well if I am given the part of a child who is two years old, that I am sure I won’t be able to play. Also, I can’t pose nude. I am not a nudity actress. I can’t reveal certain things that are meant for my husband’s eyes alone”.
Chidi Mokeme: I’ m Not A Man Of Scandals - — GQ Chidi Mokeme, Ultimate Search Anchorman/Actor He’s a born artiste. But his parents wanted him to go for the sciences and he obeyed them. After his secondary education at the Federal Government College, Minna, he settled for computer science. Pharmacy was actually his first choice, but no thanks to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which played its usual frustrating and discouraging role, he attended the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. That was merely to satisfy his parents’ wish. Chidi Mokeme was art-inclined but couldn’t oppose them as they knew better and called the shots then. Today, it is a different story. Art has eventually characterized in practical terms his life and runs through it, he has visibly gone more places; earned more fame and fortune, as well as garnered more respect which he mightn’t have done if he had embraced what he studied in the higher institution. Chidiebere Geoffrey Azubuike Mokeme, born close to 33years ago in Ogidi, Anambra State, hails from Oba, Idemili LGA of the state. He is one man that many people now see as a role model, an actor, model, fashion designer and businessman. The tall, handsome, baritone-voiced and amiable young man added another feather to his cap when he successfully presented Nigeria’s First Reality TV show, the Gulder Ultimate Search, courtesy Nigerian Breweries Plc. He opened up on a wide range of issues recently in what could easily be described as a forced interview having ‘dodged’ it on account of tight schedules over the past months. How has life been after the ‘ultimate’ experience, which visibly launched him into greater heights?“It’s been good. To some extent, you can say that it took me to more places and increased my fan base, being a programme that ran daily on national television, as well as a on cable station. So my fan base went wider than it used to be.” You returned to movie locations immediately after? “Yes, I’m back to the locations. I still design but for selected people since I rarely have time. I’ve been busy making so many movies. What saves the situation is that I make their clothes in bulk so it sustains them for a while before they request for new ones.” One man into three big-time deals. Which one of them sustains him more? “The movies basically pay the bills. And how did he escape the recent ban on some of his colleagues? What’s his opinion about the ban? “Like I have always maintained, the whole ban episode must have come as a result of dissatisfaction by the marketers as regards the way certain artistes have carried themselves in delivering their duties. I pride myself as a professional. When I take a job, I try to put everything into it and I like to concentrate. Acting is a very mental kind of job and if you don’t focus completely, you won’t bring out the desired effect. As a result, the producer on the long run who has made the movie for commercial purposes loses his money. I don’t believe in the idea of having to gather scripts up and down, here and there, and then holding people to ransom. I’m speaking not only as an actor but from a businessman’s point of view. When I invest, I ensure that I make returns. So if you have people who owing to certain attitude problems, want to tie down the capital you’ve put into an investment, you’re bound to react in some way.” Away from the ban, how does he manage the largesse that has been tumbling down his way from different deals? “In all honesty, I must say that I shouldn’t complain. God has been really fair to me because a lot of people, way back, who started this race with me, are nowhere to be found. So, I must say that I’ve done quite well for myself. I’m looking into the future and I’m very determined to ensure that I make a success out of my life. I’m not waiting on luck. Every move that I make is geared towards more successes.” Would he remain an actor, a designer or artist in future? “Acting is something I do with a passion and there’s nothing like working and getting paid for what you love doing. So, I’m going to keep acting for as long as possible because it encompasses every sphere of life. How about joining the political train come 2007? “Come 2007, I’m looking forward to a lot of projects. I would not want to divulge them for now. The movie industry is expanding rapidly that you don’t just have to be an actor to belong. So, I have plans to see what other areas one can venture into and take care of in a very professional manner. Back to the Snake Island, camp of the Ultimate Search, how was life there? “Have you lived in a jungle? That’s what happened when we spent about four weeks there. We all went through the same experiences but it was fun doing it. I enjoyed every minute of it.” And his relationship with the contestants? “I think I had an open door policy which, at the same time was firm. They knew when and how to relate with me and where their boundaries were.” So, there was nothing like favouritism in picking the eventual winner as some people insinuated? “I’m hearing that for the first time because it was a live programme on air for everyone to see. Much as people agree with the choice of the eventual winner, I’m not sure that most of the audience were looking towards him to win. If that be the case, then it answers the question. If they say I was biased towards one contestant, I wonder why that person didn’t win.” How about his largesse from the deal, how much really did he pocket? “I think you should ask NBL (laughs). Ask them, I think I set them back with a lot of money. Anyway, both parties were reasonable and paid commensurately for the services rendered. More than the monetary remuneration, it was more of a relationship-building process. I’m looking forward to doing it again next year because we’re trying to make sure that it gets better and bigger.” Why is Chidi not married with all the money he is making? “I’m making sure that I prepare a good foundation for the woman who’s coming in.” The same woman he’s been talking about? We still don’t know her. “Yes, the same woman. You still don’t know her because that is the way she wants it. She doesn’t want to be known.” When is it going to happen? “Very soon, by God’s grace.” Before the end of the year? “The year is already ended. Don’t put me in a corner. But I tell you, you’ll soon hear about it. Sooner than it has ever been.” Is Chidi a very rich man, how does one describe him with the way affluence smells around him? “I think I’d like to be described as someone who has got his eyes at some place and on the right path towards getting there.” His parents, who are very much around — dad, a retired insurance executive and mum, a retired teacher, are quite happy and now convinced that he towed a path that suited him. “Showbiz is addictive. At the onset, they couldn’t understand what kind of job I was doing. So we had problems initially but because I loved what I was doing, I stuck to it. Today, everybody is happier for it.” He is the first in a family of four. “By God’s grace, I’m taking care of my responsibilities.” Don’t they intrude into your marital status? “I’m sure they’re probably worried. I mean, with the kind of industry I’m in where anything can happen. But I know that they also have faith in me — that I know exactly what I’m doing.” How long has he been dating his fiancée? “This is the fourth year. If you have to date anybody in the showbiz industry, you have to be patient. The fact that she is dating me shows that she has a lot of patience. She is an Igbo like me, from Ohafia, Abia State.” He’s had a baby before, from her? “Yes, I’ve had a baby before but not from her,. Sometimes man proposes, God disposes. When I had the baby, the mum and I were relatively young. He stays with the mum and visits me during the holidays. He is six years old now.”
Kanayo .O. Kanayo: NAME: Kanayo. O. Kanayo ADDRESS: Surulere, Lagos. TOWN AND STATE: Nru Umueze Oboama, Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State. DATE OF BIRTH: 1 March, 1962 MARITAL STATUS: Married LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Igbo, English, and French. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Diploma, Mass Communication, University Of Lagos Philosophy Dept. University Of Lagos, 2000-Dat Tell us a little about your childhood, growing up, parents, brothers and sisters? I was brought up under the strict guidance of Mr and Mrs Donatus and Isabella Onyekwere, my parents, with catholic tenets and Apostolic reverence for God. I have 2 sisters and an elder brother. Growing up was fun, I used to plait my hair a lot but papa never liked it. What was the first paying job ever that you had? ”Digging pit toilets with an older relative”. How much were you paid per month and what were the responsibilities? I Can’t remember the payment. I was on ground receiving red sand while the older relative dug deep. What other jobs did you do outside Acting? I used to travel to Aba from lagos to buy and sow shirts and suits materials which I took around to banks, NTA e.t.c to sell. What made you go into the Acting career and when did you start Acting (year)? I started acting in 1982. I got into acting out of a personal desire to bring smiles to the faces of people, because about 1980, there were not too many T.V sets then, characters on TV were admired greatly, and were seen as role models. Who was/were your Idols/Models (Actors) in those days? Matt Dadzie. What was your first role in Theatre, TV or Movies? I Can’t recall my first role on TV but on movies was Chief Omego in “Living in Bondage” in 1992. What was your major break-through role and in what film, series or play? My major breakthrough was No.7 What were the constraints you had to face and overcome as an up-and-coming Actor (young actor)? The major constraint as a young actor was the bureaucratic processing of payment forms at the Nigeria Television Authority, one spent over 70% of his artiste fee before getting paid. It was very discouraging because parents still had to cough out transport fares for their wards who are supposed to be earning their wages. How many films have you been involved with as an Actor to date? Above 120 films - (1) Blood money, (2) Rituals, (3.) Lost kingdom, (4.) Fire on the Mountain, (5) Billionaires Club, and (6) Entangled, to name a few. As a DYNAMIC, OUTSTANDING, 'A'-List Actor, how have you managed to adapt to the different range of roles you have played in your career? Simply by thinking yourself into the role. What is the most awkward or strangest role you have had to take/play in your career and why? No roles are strange or awkward, roles pose challenges and I love challenges. What film have you been most proud to be involved with so far, and why? “Blood Money”, because it was shot in the thick of the Otokoto Saga in Owerri, and the viewing public applauded its social relevance. As an 'A'-List Actor yourself, what other 'A'-List Actors or Actresses have worked or collaborated with? Olu jacobs, Pete Edochie, Liz Benson, Omotola Ekehinde, Genevive Nnaji, Justus Esiri etc. Did you at anytime want to quit your Acting career for something else or for a reason, and why (if any)? The industry took a break for 4 months in 2002 to restructure, I felt like quitting the profession when I found out as a representative of the Actors Guild in the CWC that most members we worked with were agents sent to destabilise and derail plans for a better welfare for actors. What is the motivation for you or what keeps you interested in this career every morning you wake up? Public Opinion. Just knowing that I bring joy constantly into their lives, especially in this economically difficult times. How important are our Nigerian roots, morals, values, knowledge and sense of wisdom to you and your works? They are the only identity we have as Nigerians. On the stories, scripts, or screen play of your films, and its impact on the Nigerian/African cultural values (home and abroad), how do you manage to harness, keep and pass them across in your films? I ensure that I only participate in films with social relevance. As a Producer, Director and filmmaker also, how is this different for you from Acting and what is the additional drive for you? The additional drive is that I encourage script writers by contributing freely to re-working scripts. What projects are you working on at the moment and with whom? I am presently working on a project, part of which will be shot in South Africa. It has a working title at the moment, so it’s better kept secret. Where do you see yourself in this career in the next five years? The future is very bright with a focused army of practitioners travelling in and out of the country to create awareness for our industry. With Governments “sudden interest” and relevant implementable policies, co-producers/production companies will come in from abroad to make movies in conjunction with Nigerian enterprises. Where do you see the Nigerian movies industry in the next couple of years? From the above, a better welfare for me translates into a better and professionally managed industry. When you are not working (Acting, producing, directing or making a film), what do you do or how do you pass the time? I run a media consultancy outfit, and own a cyber caf? in Lagos. I spend some time with my family (which I take very seriously). My schedule is too tight right now for any other activities. What kind of music do you listen to and who is your favourite musician? Classical music, Jazz, Roots Rock Reggae, and Indigenous African music. Fela and Bob Marley. Is there an International Actor (American, British, Australian, African, etc.) you will want to work with if the opportunity presented itself? Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, and Al Pacino. What message do you have for your international fans in America, United kingdom, Europe, Africa and its Diaspora? Keep the African spirit alive by being good ambassadors, think about home always, and imbibe virtues abroad to be used to extinguish the vices. For any reason at all, how would you personally want your fans to remember you? I want to be remembered as that guy who made drama look real.
Oge Okoye: Delectable Oge Okoye is one of the very few young rising figures in the Nigerian movie culture who got it right. Barely five years old in Nollywood, Oge has proven that her choice of acting as a career from childhood was not misplaced.   What has kept her shinning on the acting runway has been her unwavering determination to reach the top rung. Indeed today, her dazzling takes have singled her out amongst her contemporaries-'new acting kids on the block'.   Current industry ratings place her as one of the most sought after actresses in the Nigerian home movie sector. Recent statistics from Idumota, the seat of the popular movie market in Lagos confirmed that Oge appears the busiest now, of the youthful screen actress. Her face is most likely to grace the cover jacket of six out of say ten movies released in the Nigerian movie culture in a month. Indeed Oge seems the new pearl of most of the sector's producers.   Oge was born in London to the Late Mazi Okoye and Lolo Okoye, both devout Anglicans. It was from them that Oge imbibed the virtues of honesty, sincerity, courage and fear of God. A native of Nnewi in Anambra State, Oge, who was born under the star sign Scorpio, had her early education partly in London, at the University Primary School Enugu and at the Holy Rosary College, Enugu. In school Oge was engaged in a number of theatrical activities, which got quite a number of people, including her teachers, convinced that she was cut out for a career in entertainment. After her primary and post primary education, Oge gained admission into the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Akwa, Anambra State where she graduated four years later with a degree in Theatre Arts. It was during Oge's first year in the University at Akwa that the inspiration to become a 'big time actress' heightened. She felt that it wouldn't be out of place to try her hands on her long held passion.   "I started acting when I was in the university precisely in my first year in school. That was when I did the job 'One Dollar' after which I did 'Spanner' and then 'Sister Mary'. But indulged in little dramas back in those days. So when I grew up and found myself studying theatre arts, I decided to just start acting. I was opportuned to find a platform as soon as I made my intention known to a few people who knew that my passion for acting was boundless. " I really wanted to act but I didn't really know how to go about it. I had friends who told me that I had to go for audition and all that and I went for one and I was lucky to have been given a role. It was a sub lead. After the shoot, I was encouraged by the comments from the director and the producer who predicted that I would go far once I put my mind to it and work hard. After that movie, I started receiving offers. I am sure I handled my role in my debut performance well, because if I didn't do it very well, I don't think anyone would have called me up for another job." But even as Oge was itching to be an actress, Daddy felt that she would be better off as a doctor. He had prepared her mind towards becoming a surgeon so she could save lives. "My dad is the strict type. You can't mess around with him. He really had a set opinion about acting because of the negative image actors portrayed then. It's really sad that he is not here to see the height I have attained so far. He died as soon as I started acting full time but he knew that my dream was to act. "My mummy, who currently resides in Spain, also knew that I wanted to be an actress. She had no objection whatsoever. And really, my mum has always been with me. She has always been on my side to push me to any level I want to get to. I am like the only child of my parents, so all the pampering has been there. I mean she is not surprised at all about what I am doing. She has heard and read of my exploits and she is happy with me." Oge's first shot at the home video turf was in the commercially successful comedy <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=43" NAME>'One Dollar</A>' starring Patience Ozokwo and Victor Osuagwu. Though she played a supporting role, she drew attention to herself with her smooth interpretation and showed a lot of promise. "I didn't particularly do much, but many people called me up and were commending me. So that was how I knew that I was going to do some more work and even move higher."   After that outing in 'One Dollar', producers sought and engaged her. They all seemed to be in agreement that Oge was a good center to hang a story on. Today Oge has featured in over 50 movies with a dozen others at various stages of postproduction.   Of all her movie offerings, Oge picks her effort in the emotive movie 'Sister Mary' as her most tasking. "All the movies have I done have been tasking, but I found that particular movie tasking. I must say that it was that movie that brought me to limelight. I found it very challenging for the simple fact that I played the role as if I was really in the convent. I am not a catholic, but to convince the audience I visited so many places like the convent, bought books and made a lot of research. It came out well and so many people liked it particularly those in the catholic fold who thought I was Catholic. As a matter of fact I am an Anglican' Indeed it was her performance in that movie that endeared her to a number of movie producers and movie lovers. She kept receiving offers and has not stopped receiving those offers till date.   Asked to name her role models, Oge says that they are legion. But she lists the Hollywood actress Julia Roberts, Nigeria's Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Liz Benson and the veteran actor 'Uncle' Olu Jacobs as actors that have had tremendous influence on her. She adds: "I love Uncle Olu Jacobs. He is like a father to me. He talks to me from time to time on how to be better.   "I recall that one thing that he told me that has sort of guided me is the fact that I must never strive to be like anyone but myself. That's my word for anyone who wants to come into the industry. My word for them is that they shouldn't come into the industry to be like my role model Liz Benson or like Auntie Taiwo Ajai Lycett. They should create their style and be themselves. They should do their own thing and aim at being better than those on the turf." Oge obviously has no regrets engaging the movie run way. She says that it has been worth the while and adds that she is always overjoyed each time fans cheer at her and each time people stop her on the streets to appreciate what she described as her 'little effort' on the screen. "I am happy each time they appreciate me. And really I don't feel that I have arrived yet. Oge still has a lot of grounds to cover. But I appreciate all their love and concern they have shown and accorded me." If there is one role that her fans have not found her playing, then it's the strip-teasing role. Oge says there is no rule to her not playing such roles. "No rule to it. I think as an actress, you should be versatile. You must not be tied to a particular character. You should be able to flow in any role you are given. You shouldn't be stereotyped.   "So if I have not done any daring role, it's because it's the job that I have been given. But there is a very daring one that would soon come out. Maybe I should just ask my fans at this juncture to bear with me and consider my role in that movie as just make believe. I am certain that they would see a different Oge in the yet to be released movie." Oge loves casual wear because they give her freedom of movement. "I wear the best but it's the best that would allow me move freely. So I normally would go for the best. I mean that's one of the challenges we face as celebrities. You can't afford not to appear good always. So my dress code has to do with what exactly is happening but I prefer a lot of casuals except when I have like a dinner or official engagement. Then I would look for something else to wear. But I prefer being caught in casuals, like in my jean and my shirt.   "As for perfume, I go for designers like Angels and Obsession. For jewelry I prefer gold. I hardly put on gels because I am prone to burns on my neckline. I am not too much into make-up. I only make up when I am on set. And as for food, I like Semovita and Edikaikang. I can hold on a shooting session once I am battling with a plate of Semovita and Edikainkong soup. As for music, I love rhythm and blues. I like to listen to Tuface Idibia and Lagbaja. Asked to state the most ridiculous rumour she has read or heard about herself, Oge recalls a tale, which suggested that 'she was dead and buried'. She states what would have necessitated such a costly tale: "It was one tale that swept me off my feet and to know that it was flying everywhere and was even published in a popular magazine and with my picture there. It has nothing to do with me. I think someone died after we shot my second movie 'Spanner' and the folks thought I was the one. So they went to the press without verifying. That's one of the challenges we face as celebrities.   "The other is being able to interpret a particular role. I played a role of an army officer recently. It was challenging for me because I was to live a role of an army officer who was to hand out orders and keep a straight face. I tried everything possible and I know it came out well. Another part of the challenge is the fact that people judge you by the works you do and that's a bad thing to do because our own job is to act. It doesn't really mean that that is the way we are and that's the thing we do because our own job is to act. "I played a wacko role in a movie recently. I think it was in 'Separate Lives' and a woman came to me and was shouting on me at a filling station. She was just screaming and taking the role I played in the movie so personal. But apart from that, everything is cool and okay." Although she does not believe in reincarnation, Oge says she would choose to come back an actress if given the opportunity to live life again. Indeed for her, this has been very fulfilling. "I don't think I would have been happier in another profession. It has been particularly fulfilling. I am comfortable with whatever I am earning as an actress. It has been able to pick up my bills. And of course, what I earn today is better than what we earned when I started. For me, it was not really about the money, because if it is, there were so many things one would have indulged in. So it was not really about the money. I just wanted to do that I had always wanted to do, which is acting. That was just it, even though the money is helping out somehow."   When not on set, Oge spends time reading, watching movies, 'catching some rest' and 'just chilling out with some of my friends and relations'. Asked where she would want to be five years from now, Oge quips, "Hollywood." She would also want to be married then, be successful, have her kids and live a stress free life."
Omotola Ekeinde: To all my fans,if it wasn't for you; I wouldn't be where I am today!!!. Thank you for your love and support throughout the years I have been in the entertainment business". NAME Omotola J. Ekeinde PROFFESSION Actress STATUS Married with four kids HUSBAND Capt. Matthew Ekeinde CHILDREN Princess, M.J, Meriah and Michael I am from a family of five (5); Mrs & Mrs Shola Jalade (both late) and two brothers Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. I attended Christland Nursery School, Opebi, Lagos and Oxford Children School Santos Layout. I then proceeded to Kaduna for my Secondary education at Command Secondary School. I am currently undertaking an HND course in Estate Management at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. I got married at the Ikeja registry on the 23rd, March 1996, then later had a beautiful white wedding on board a DASH 7 Aircraft flying from Lagos to Benin, on the 19th April, 2001. Besides acting, I also sing and have an album soon to be released. I feature as a writer for the Saturday?s SUN ( Omotola?s Diary). Occasionally I get involved in Social Services for women and the homes. She is another actress who has proved that she is also one of the best around proved her worth in Kingsley Ogoro's movie, "Prostitute", This mother of four is endowed with a good height and good figure. She drives a BMW with a personalised number plate, "Omotola 1" and a Chevrolet Jeep with a personalised number plate- "Omo Sexy ". She lives with her husband in their eye-popping mansion at Iba Estate. To my Family:- What will I do without your support, never complaining always encouraging...I love you all Media:- sometimes sweet Sometimes bitter, but you have been there fore me when I needed you the most, and sincerely I appreciate you. I wouldn't be here without your help. My Fans:- What can I say about you guys?. You have made me a better person and I strive to please you all the time. I love You. omotola movies Oyato 1 Reckless heart No Rival (1&2) Day Break 1 What I Want Maniac 1 My Best Friend Venom Of Justice Working For Love Iva I Will Die For You The Outside The Prostitute The Oppressor Society Lady Slave The Silent Book Mid Night Scream Scores To Settle Pretty woman Okosisi No one but you Market sellers Two faces of evil Rescue Out of love Mortal inheritance Lost kingdom Final step Blood sister 1 Blood sister 2
Ngozi Ezeonu: ADDRESS: Lagos, Nigeria. DATE OF BIRTH: May 23- 1965 MARITAL STATUS: Married STATE OF ORIGIN: Anambra L.G.A., Anambra State. LANGUAGES SPOKEN: Igbo, English and Pigeon English EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Primary, Secondary, and Diploma in Journalism. Tell us a little about your childhood, growing up, parents, brothers and sisters? Parents - Mr and Mrs D.O. Ikpelue. I have 5 brothers and one sister (7 all together).Normal Nigerian home. Above average. What was the first paying job ever that you had? Hair dressing. I practised journalism for a short while too. How much were you paid per month and what were the responsibilities? I was self-employed and comfortable. What other jobs did you do outside Acting? None. What made you go into the Acting career and when did you start Acting (year)? The Interest. I started acting professionally in 1993. Who were your Idols/Models (Actors) in those days? None. What was your first role in theatre, TV or Movies? Supporting lead in Nneka, the pretty serpent, an Igbo Movie. What was your major break-through role and in what film, series or play? Thelma in Glamour girls (1), back in 1993. What were the constraints you had to face and overcome as an up-and -coming Actor (young actor)? I was Lucky - None. How many films have you been involved with as an Actor to date? I have done quite a lot at least 50 movies. Glamour Girls, Nneka, the pretty serpent, August Meeting (1) and (2), Christ in me, In the beginning (1) and (2), Innocent tears (1) and (2), etc. AS a DYNAMIC,OUTSTANDING,'A'-List Actor, how have you managed to adapt to the different range of roles you have played in your career? *Versatility and Interpretation. What is the most awkward or strangest role you have had to take /play in your career and why? My role in "Love in High Places". No reason at all. What films have you been most proud to be involved with so far, and why? Glamour girls, My best friend, and My faithful friend. As an 'A'-List Actor, yourself, what other 'A'-List Actors or Actresses have worked or collaborated with? *Pete Edochie, Liz Benson, Sola Fosudo, Sola Shobowale, Clarion Chukwurah, Justus Esiri, Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu, etc. Did you at anytime want to quit your Acting career for something else or for any reason, and why(if any)? Never. What is the motivation for you or what keeps you interested in this career every morning you wake up? The Job satisfaction I get. How important are our Nigerian roots, moral, values, knowledge and sense of wisdom to you and your works? They are very important, they form the bedrock of any job I take part in. On the stories, scripts, or screen play of your films, and its impact on the Nigerian/African culture values (home and abroad), how do you manage to harness, keep and pass them across in your films? *Like I mentioned earlier, I consider the impact my films will have on the public. I hold morals and our cultural values close to my heart. I also use my films as a medium to evangelise. Are you also a producer, Director and film-maker, which seems to the natural progression for our actors/actresses? I am concentrating on just Acting for now. What project are you working on at the moment and with whom? I just finished a job with Sola Fosudo in Enugu for Twins Production (The Agents for Naijacommunity.com in Eastern Nigeria). Where do you see yourself in this career in the next five years? I will be five steps higher in the next five years, by the grace of God. Where do you see the Nigerian movies industry in the next couple of years? It definitely must have passed the teething stage. When you are not working (Acting, or making a film), what do you do or how do you pass the time? I stay with my family and play wife and mother. What kind of music do you listen to and who is your favourite musician? I listen to all kinds of music depending on my mood. I Like Whitney Houston a lot. Is there an international Actor (American, British, Australian, African, etc.) you will want to work with if the opportunity presented itself? I will want to work with Whoopi Goldberg if I have the opportunity. What message do you have for your international fans in America, United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and its Diaspora? I appreciate all of you. I promise not to disappoint you all, God bless you. For any reason at all, how would you personally want your fans to remember you? As one who did not lose her sanity and kept her feet on the ground
Benita Nzeribe: Vivacious Benita Nnenna Adaeze Nzeribe, is among the few top actresses in Nollywood who hard work and mother luck has helped get to the top of their careers. From a humble beginning in ’96 on the set of "Beyond Our Dreams", a TV soap, Ihiala, Anambra State-born Benita, is now a top player in Nollywood movies. "I’ve paid my dues. It was not easy when I started then. I used to travel all the way from the East to Lagos for auditions," divulged the English graduate of Abia State University. Continuing, the star actress with verve and panache who registered her bold presence in Nollywood on the sets of Notorious Virgin and Gold Diggers’ in ’99, has this to say on relationships: "At present, there is no man in life. I’m not searching. I’m only pausing pending the time my ideal man will come my way. I’ve chosen to be single since my last affair collapsed.." Shy and easy going, Benny, as she is fondly called by her colleagues and pals, also shared some of her most kept secrets, Recently, you were involved in a car accident. How did it happen? Nothing much, sometimes in life some things just happen to test your faith in God. I thank God for everything. I’m very strong now. The accident happened here in Lagos while I was driving with a relative of mine. She was on the wheels when it happened. Except for my Chrysler Jeep that was heavily damaged, none of us sustained any injuries. They are still fixing the car. You are looking prettier these days. Is any man responsible for it? (laughs heartily) I guess I just rediscovered myself. Were you lost before? No! when a woman tells you she rediscovers herself, it means much. Well, as a man you won’t understand. God has also been good to me…. Talking about movies, like how many have you done this year? Well, I’ve not done much this year. I have shot about three movies this year. But Peace of Mind, is one of my most recent movies. It came out early this year. I acted alongside Olu Jacobs, Ejike Asiegbu, Ken Okonkwo, Fred Amata, Juliet Ibe, among others. In the movie I played the role of a troubled and battered housewife who went through much in her marriage at a very tender age. A well-scripted and family-oriented movie. Every home deserves a copy of Peace of Mind; especially young couples…It was fun on set. Financially, were you okay with the movie? Yeah! They tried much with my artiste fee, but I can’t tell you the amount. In the movie, your husband kept beating and battering you. In real life, can you tolerate such a husband? In real life, I always pray to God not to give me the husband that will turn me into a punching bag. He will surely give me the man that will love and pamper me, despite my short comings. Is there a man in your life at present? No! Why? Sometimes in life you pause. So, there is a possibility I’m pausing for now. That does not mean I’m not functioning. I’m only pausing in terms of relationships and please that does not mean I’m searching. I’m only single but not searching. I’m not going to look for a relationship, even biblically, a woman does not look for a man, it is the other way round. So, a man should look for me and not me going to look for a man. So, in essence, you are still single because the men have refused to come look for you? No! that is not the reason. They keep coming, but I have chosen to be alone right now. Remember I’m still pausing. I just want to be alone. Was a heartbreak your reason for choosing to be single? I don’t want to delve into that right now. The unexpected happens once in a while and after making amendments in your lifes, you just want to be. I’m not saying that I want to be celibate. No! I just want to pause and think about my life for the time being. I’m also using this time to reflect on my past life. And whatever you think made me choose to remain this way, it is very personal. I’m not denying the fact that something cause my new status as regards relationships. So, for how many months or years are you going to pause? (Laughs). Okay! I might get out of my pause this month or next month. It depends. But it will surely happen when God decides to bring that person that will help get me out of my pause. And that remains a secret between I and my God. Talking about men and marriages. What qualities do you want your ideal man to possess? The truth is that I want a man that is complete. A man that will understand, respect and love me. I don’t need a saint, because there is none. I also want a man that is straight with me. He mustn’t be Mr. World or a Bill Gates in terms of money. I want a man that knows himself inside out. A man that loves a woman, knows his limit, no matter what he does. And I think that is every woman’s dream. So, you are still searching and have not seen a man with all these qualities? I keep saying it to whosoever that cares to listen, I’m not searching. No woman searches. The men have to search for us and that’s the way it is. Does that also mean that you will be altar-bound as soon as a man with these qualities come your way? (Chuckles) Till then, let’s see what happens. Back to Nollywood. How come you have starred in only three movies since the beginning of this year. Did they ban you secretly? No! Nobody banned me, I’ve not been around for sometimes now. I travelled and stayed long. But, I will be going on set very soon. Besides, Nollywood is going through much restructuring and re-organization. Aside acting, what other things are you into? I’m also a model. I do interior decorations also. Your entry into Nollywood, how did you do it? I started first on television around ’96, with Beyond Our Dream. I was also an English undergraduate then at Abia State University. I came in basically because of my love for acting. In fact, I started coming to auditions from the East then to Lagos while still in a convent school then. I went to several auditions then here in Lagos. My first movie was around "99/2000. I did two movies at a stretch then, Notorious Virgin and Gold Diggers. From then till now, like how many movies have you starred in? Jeez. I’ve lost count of the number of movies I have featured in. They are many. Close to 100. Did your parents approve of your going into acting then, considering the many negative publicities associated with artistes? They did not wholly come out to kick against my choice, but there were little skepticisms here and there. But thank God I’ve been able to prove them wrong. They did not say it boldly. They allowed me be after seeing the success I’ve made out of my acting career. As a young and rising actress then, how were you able to cope with sexual harassments from producers and directors? Sincerely speaking, I was lucky, nobody harassed me sexually. Maybe, because of my innocence then. You are from the popular and controversial Nzeribe family in Anambra State. In fact, Chuma Nzeribe, is your uncle. Does it affect your career in Nollywood? Sincerely speaking, it does not affect me or weigh me down. I’m so proud of my family. We might not be the best. Every family has its ups and downs. I’m from a humble home. But how do you feel whenever your uncle, Chuma’s name, comes up as one of those fighting Gov. Ngige and the same time holding Anambra State to ransom? (Laughs). I really don’t want to discuss that here, it is a family matter. It’s also politics, and sorry I’m not very good at discussing politics. I can’t precisely tell you this person is right or wrong. But I know my uncle is one person that has good reasons for whatever he does. If given the opportunity, will you advise him to leave the governor alone? (Chuckles) Sorry, no comment. Tell us more about yourself and family background Well, I’m Benita Nnenna Adaeze Nzeribe. I’m an adult from Uzoakwa in Ihiala LGA in Anambra State. I was born in Aba and grew up in so many places. I did my primary and secondary schools in Aba and Umuahia. I also attended a Convent school with the hope of becoming a reverend sister. But I left when I felt I was not called towards that. My growing up was also normal and nice. Nothing too fantastic. Little pains here and there. The fondest memorable about my growing up years, was when my dad bought me my first car at the age of 14. Growing up was fun for me. We are four in my family: two boys, two girls. I’m the third child. Dad is an international businessman and mom is a retired chief nurse. That’s it about my family. Nothing spectacular. Was English what you had always thought of reading in the university or it happened by chance? No! I had always wanted to read theatre arts, but as at the time I got into ABSU, they were not offering theatre arts, so, I opted for English… Some of your colleagues are at present under ban, courtesy of movie-makers. What is y our view on the raging issue? Well, in situations like this, it is only God that can really see our hearts. But for me, I have chosen to remain silent till the storm is over. What will be, will be. Despite all these, I’m optimistic we will get to our destination… I’m also silent not because I’m scared of anybody, no! I’m silent because I don’t have facts of what happened. You must have achieved much as an actress. What would you say is your biggest achievement in Nollywood today? I might not have made it so big. But I believe that God has been so good to me. Especially, when I look back from where I was coming form. I’m also not the kind of person that forgets where I’m coming from…Whenever I look back, I know God has been really good to me as an actress. I keep praying that we all join hands together to build Nollywood and make it a better place for us. Out of nothing, Benita rose to become something in Nollywood, that is a big achievement. What would you say has been your most difficult experience in Nollywood? None that I can remember now. But it was rough and tough getting to the top in Nollywood. At a point, it was like a mirage. But I told myself that if people get there, I will also be there. And God has been so, so good to me. Did you ever think of quitting then that the going was rough and tough? I never thought of quitting because I knew I would surely get there. It’s either you make it or you fail. Did it also occur to you that you would get to the top of your career this soon? I told myself I will get there, but I don’t know how. I had this thing inside of me, which keeps telling me I would get there. As a star actress, how would you rate Nollywood? I won’t say we are excellent right now, because we don’t have what it takes to be excellent. We do good movies and I’m very proud of Nollywood. In fact, in Nollywood we are performing miracles. In your own view, what do you see as the biggest problem facing actresses today? Our personal lives are no longer personal to us again. Most times, people misunderstand us. We are decent human beings with consciences contrary to opinions about us, especially in the media. We are not the way they look at us. I have my limits in whatever movie role that comes my way. It is so because I’m an African. I can’t go beyond kissing in a movie and it must not be deep kissing. As a popular and pretty actress, how do you cope with your male admirers? Well, I get by and tell myself the truth always. I’m usually very nice and polite whenever they come my way. But if I discover they want something deep, I will turn you down politely. I usually tell them loud and clear that I can’t offer anything more than friendship. Is marriage on your mind? Marriage is on every young girl’s mind. What is on my mind is a peaceful marriage and it does not come easily. You pray for it to come. Are there pressures on you from your parents to settle down? (Giggles) This job makes people to place you above what you are in all ramifications. Normally, every mum wants her grown up daughter to be married. If the right man comes why not…But there are no pressures on me right now to get married. The fact that you are still single, does it weigh you down sometimes? How can it weigh me down? I’m not running out of time. I’m just there. Can you marry an actor? Well, if the actor loves me and has all the qualities I want in my dream man, yes. Your job does not really matter to me. What matters to me is happiness. Who are you role models in Nollywood today, in terms of acting? I have Liz Benson anyday. On the foreign scene, I have Cameroon Diaz and Angelina Jolie. I also admire Brad Pitt, RMD and Ben Affleck. I know you believe so much in love. But has the game of love been fair to you? Yes and no. It bites and hurts sometimes and makes you happy sometimes too. I’ve had a heartbreak once in my life. It is one of those things. Do you have any regret in life today? Regrets? None that I can remember, honestly. If you are not acting today, what else would you have been doing? Maybe, singing. I used to sing much before. What are your phobias? My biggest phobia is height. I also have a phobia for failure. If you are to meet God today, what one major favour would you ask from him? I would ask Him to grant me my heart desires. And these heart desires of mine are secrets between Him and me. What is your philosophy of life? Very simple! What will be, will be. Destiny can be delayed but it can never be changed. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind when you are no longer there? Good name, fighting spirit and will power to emulate. Many of your colleagues say you are cocky, pompous, arrogant and conceited. Are you? No! Benita Nnenna Adaeze is a very shy person who is being misconstrued by so many people. I’m humble. You get to know me better when you are close to me. I like being on my own, a very shy lady. I don’t like cocky or snobbish people. As far as I’m concerned, we are all equal in the eyes of God. In the next couple of years, where do you hope to be? By God’s grace, I want to attain a big height in Nollywood and also have a happy home. God will do it for me. So, how is life in Nollywood? Life in Nollywood is good. It’s really been nice. Ups and down, it is so in every business. And how are you coping with stardom? It’s okay! I get by somehow (laughs) What are the things you like and hate about stardom? What I don’t like about stardom is that you don’t have your life. You can’t live the way you want to live. You are extra careful in doing most things. I love the fact that most times, you jump the queues…Doors are also opened for you. Are you romantic? For lack of a better word, I’m extra romantic (Laughs longer).
Patience Ozokwor: Mrs Patience Uzokwor is a popular actress who plays the role of a wicked woman so well. In fact, many people find it difficult to separate her role in drama from her actions in real life. Besides, when Uzokwor is not playing one of her negative roles, she is likely playing that of an old Mama Youngy - the type she played in the movie, Old School, which eventually earned her the name Mama Gee. A proud and caring mother of four, Uzokwor's first son is an engineer while the last is a footballer with Rangers International of Enugu. Although she lost her husband a few years ago to a terminal disease, Uzokwor was full of joy and gratitude to God for her achievements in the entertainment world. The actress recalled her days as a teacher, broadcaster and owner of a fashion institute before she went into acting by accident or better still, as fate would have it. The beginning I come from a humble family here in Ngwo. My village is Amaobo. I attended Abimbola Gibson Memorial School, Lagos. I gained admission into Methodist Girls, Yaba but it was in the heat of the political crisis that later culminated into the civil war, so we had to relocate to Enugu. My father insisted that I was too young to be in the secondary school and that I should go back to Elementary five. I obeyed him and went two steps backwards in my education and later re-wrote the Common Entrance Examinations that I had earlier passed in Lagos. I got admitted to Girls Secondary School, Ngwo, where I had my entire secondary education and on completion, my result was not good. I took the private G.C.E and passed all my papers. I got married immediately afterwards. Later on, I attended Teachers Training College in Afikpo from where I proceeded to IMT Enugu where I studied Fine and Applied Arts, specialising in Graphics. But I never practiced for one day. Initially, I never had the intention of joining the film industry. I did not even know anything about the industry. I was a teacher by training and I taught for about four years before venturing into broadcasting. I was employed as an announcer with FRCN Enugu and was later retrenched when they closed down all the medium wave band stations. I went into business. Acting career During my teacher training days in Afikpo, I had a competent Literature teacher who made us present a play each term. When it was the turn of my set to present a play, I was given the Role of Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play of the same title and the production came out fine. Other schools that offered Hamlet as a subject paid to watch our production. In fact, we were invited to stage the play in so many other places in Eastern Nigeria. I was very popular then and everywhere I went people were calling me Hamlet. But after the teachers’ training, I forgot everything about drama until I went into Radio Nigeria. Retrenchment I was really angry when I was retrenched because I was enjoying my job. I even tried to go back there, not because of the salary but because I found fulfillment doing the things that I was doing on radio. People knew me then as Madam Social because whenever anyone was on transfer, I would be the one to organise the send forth and also to prepare food for fellow staff members. My appointment was terminated under General Buhari on January 4, 1985 and there was no way I would ever forget that date because it was a date that I felt that I was unduly robbed of something that I really cherished. How Zebrudaya discovered me It was Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya of New Masquarades) that invited me to take part in a commercial in which I played the wife of Pete Eneh. The commercial was a mass orientation promo by the Anambra State Government to encourage her citizens to acquire education before venturing into trading. After the promo was shot, there was this positive reaction from the people, and Chief Zebrudaya himself was so impressed that he said, ‘what have you been doing with yourself, where are you, I am so impressed.’ He later confessed he never knew that he was doing the right thing by inviting me for the commercial. When Pete Eneh had the opportunity of shooting a serial (Someone Cares) for a television station, he gave me the lead role. During the shooting of the serial, many of the established faces that saw me commended me. They urged me not to light the candle and keep it under the table. But as a member of the Scripture Union, I just felt that coming into Nollywood would give me an unnecessary exposure and secondly I was very shy. But those of them that wanted me on board were adamant until they succeeded in pulling me in and I was pleasantly surprised the way I rose in the industry. After my first movie in 1998, I was already being recognised by people. But when I did Authority (1999), the movie became very popular and it really shot me into limelight. After Authority, I have been moving from one movie set to the another by the grace of God. Mother in Nollywood For a long time now people have started calling me Mother Africa. I have played the role of a mother to almost every prominent actor in Nollywood. I usually joke with Olu Jacobs. I tell him, ‘ It is only you and Pete Edochie that have refused to let me play your mother’. Playing bad roles When I play the role of a bad woman, I see myself at that instance as a mirror through which I want society to see and appreciate the fact that it is not good to be bad. This is the reason I do it with so much passion that it becomes almost believable and by extention, I also see such roles as an opportunity to minister to lost and wicked souls that jealousy, hatred, envy and all the likes can only bring one to ruins. Entering into character Surprisingly, I am very lazy at reading scripts over and over again. As soon as a script is given to me, I get into the character as soon as I read a few lines from any scene in the script and to tell you the truth, it baffles even me that I can perform such near magical acts. I give all the glory to God because I think it is part of the special gift he has deposited in me. A few glances at the script easily exposes me to my character and once I discover this, I would proceed to getting the lines into my head and of course, adding some other things that would make my role stand out. The way I memorise lines baffles me and once I get the lines in, it takes a long time for me to forget them. Movies I have lost count of how many movies I have taken part in. Initially, I tried to keep the records because sometimes you run from one production to the other that you may not even give an accurate date or month of the year, let alone keeping records of the movies one has been involved in. But I can say that I have done more than 200 movies to date. Advice Don’t ever go into anything because someone else is making name from it. Go into something because you have a talent in it. We must try and discover our own talents - that is the only way to move forward in life. My fans I want to thank my fans for the interest they have shown in me and for the movies I have featured in. They have made me what I am today, because if they don’t like me, no producers would give me important roles to play. I want to encourage some of them that see me as their role model to join the industry. They should come in with the talents God has given them and discover themselves the more. I also encourage all my fans to keep being there for me. I will continue, by the grace of God, to improve on every new movie that I do and I will always keep them happy. Improving others Women around me always feel my impact. A lot of girls here do run into trouble and when they come to me, I always give my support. A lady in the movie industry who lost her parents got pregnant and when I discovered, I threatened her that if she aborted the baby, I would hand her over to the police. Later, I took her to my house and took care of her until she delivered a baby girl. I am still taking care of the baby girl right now while the mother is back to her career. I do such for girls and I also advice them not to have sex outside marriage. I hate abortion with a passion so if any girl should get careless and get pregnant, let her come to Mama Gee and I will shelter her so that she does not destroy God’s special gift. In addition, I help widows and other women to create job opportunities for themselves and sometimes for their sons and daughters. I think they feel the impact and are happy with me that I am a woman like them. I always tell women to be faithful to their husbands and they should stop behaving like widows while their husbands are still alive. Building in my husband’s name Most widows in this town are really encouraged by my story because I was able to build a house on my late husband’s ancestral land. He could not build one in his lifetime but I really thank God that through acting, I (a poor widow) was able to build a roof over my children’s head. My legacy I want to be remembered for helping humanity, I want to touch any life that crosses my way, no matter how small the impact is.
Jim lyke: <UL> <LI>Watch <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=43" target="Watch One Dollar">Jim lyke in One Dollar</A></LI></UL> Jim lyke Esomugha was born in Gabon Libreville to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Esomugha. Jim Iyke hails from Enugu Agidi village of Anambra state Eastern Nigeria.    Jim circumstance of birth can only be livened to other great personalities. As a destiny child, Jim was placed between 7 other sisters making him the only son among other siblings of his father’s household. His early struggle to create a niche for himself was made manifest by his ability to believe and demonstrate his conviction at any given opportunity.   After the completion of his primary and secondary school education he proceeded to the University of Jos in furtherance of his educational career. After his youth service, Jim lyke Esomugha relocated to Lagos in search of greener fleece but encountered frustration, setback and challenges; however, his early set back was cushioned by his contact with a Lagos based lawyer Barrister. Victor Opurum, who having identified the bundle of talent inherent in this enigma, encouraged him to continue the pursue of his dreams. Through sheer hard work, humility and unprecedented preservance, Jim survived all odds, excelled in his chosen career and has since proved to be among the best. Jim lyke has presently produced two intemational movies called Ebony and Good evening with internationally renowned actress Judy Shekoni and Tangerine Martins. Jim has continued to spread and propagate the ideas of his foundation in his recent 12 country world tour. He desire to give back to the community of which he was a product of is the reason behind setting up this Foundation. Given his background and the traumatic childhood experience, he believe that there is no greater good than to restore hope, lift up the smile and dreams of our children in dire need. At a tender age, Jim lyke Esomugha has realised purpose in his life and he has chosen no other platform than this foundation to pursue this eternal calling, we therefore urge you to be a partner of our children dreams to restore hope to the needy and humanity. Jim lyke, Actor, model, businessman and film maker, is the founder, initiator and driving force of Jim lyke Foundation for Children with special Disabilities. Jim lyke is one of Nigerian’s most popular actors with a history of over100 movies in his film graph in just five years. Renowned for more than acting skills, he is martial arts specialist and is celebrated for pioneering a lot of first in the home video industry. He is the first actor to produce a mainstream big budget movie abroad. As a businessman, Jim has considerable interest in Real Estate and resource management. He is an alumnus of the <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/category2detail001.asp?itemCategory=University%20of%20Jos&sid=311" NAME>University of Jos</A> with a degree in philosophy. In spite of the good looking charming playboy roles that movies seem to cast him in, Jim is a focused and disciplined young man who has allowed his passion for children, their welfare and the greater good of society to be expressed via the vehicle of his foundation.
Rita Dominic: When Rita Dominic closes her eyes she imagines herself strutting her stuff with the best top movies stars Hollywood has to offer. Rita aka silky skin who has a beautiful figure that suggests sensible eating and her fair share of spending time at the gym has certainly come a long away from her days of TV programs such as Children’s Variety, Junior Opinion, winning several dance competitions both at the local sports club and whilst at Federal Government College Ikot Ekpene where she gained her GCE 0-LEVEL qualification. Rita, Uchenna, Nkem, Dominic, Waturuocha who was born on 1 July, 1975 and has always reached for the stars, attributes her inspiration to the encouragement of her immediate close knit family consisting of her parents, two elder sisters and a brother. Especially her late mum who identified her obvious talent at an early age supported and nurtured her academic, social achievements and was very instrumental to her success as an actress. From when Rita Dominic was about three years old and attending YMWCA nursery school Aba to Constitution Crescent Primary school all in Abia State Nigeria it was obvious she was destined for fame, at the time, mostly because of her excellent and unique singing and dancing talent, Rita whose hobbies include acting, singing, watching movies, reading and traveling graduated from University of Port-harcourt with a BA (1-lonours) Degree in Theatre Arts in 1999 hails from Abiah Mbaise local government area in lmo State and belongs to the Royal Waturuocha family. Blessed with stunning and very attractive looks, Rita favours the indian rock cheek style and enjoys spending time with her friends and family when she is not on a movie set. She recently visited Sierra Leone with some of her colleagues and was overwhelmed by the turn out of fans at the airport, a lot of them wearing t-shirts with their names on them. The Nigerian committee in Dublin also recently presented her with an honorary award. Other facts about Rita Philosophy - Always strive to achieve your heart’s desire Can’t Do Without - Her Walkman or CD player Type of Music - Oldies to jazz sentimental Best African Food - Afang soup and semovita Beauty routine - Mild cleansers and face wipes Style of hair - I like the Afro hair because it sooths my face What she admires in people - She likes natural and humble people What I find attractive in a guy - Cool, polished, intelligent and 100% dress sense HERE IS A LIST OF MOVIES THAT RITA HAS FEATURED IN:  <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=45" target="Watch All My Life">ALL MY LIFE</A> 2004 GOODBYE NEW YORK 2004 INDECENT ACT 2004 NIGHTS OF RIOT 2004 PASSION OF MIND 2004 SINGLES AND MARRIED 2004 THRONING STONES 2004 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 2003 ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE 2003 ANOTHER SIDE OF LOVE 2003 BACK FROM AMERICA 2003 BLIND LOVE 2003 BREAK UP 2003 CONTROVERSY 2003 HERO OF LOVE 2003 HONEY MOON 2003 PLAYER 2003 STOLEN HEART 2003 STREET LIFE 2003 TO LOVE A THIEF 2003 UNFORGETTABLE 2003 FATE OF LIAR 1999 HONEY MOON 2003 HOSTILE HOSTAGE 2003 LEAN ON ME 2003 LOST PARADISE 2003 LOVE TEMPLE 2003 LOVE U FOREVER 2003 PAINT MY LOVE 2003 WHO KILLED MY HUSBAND 1999 ABA RIOTS 1990 BLACK SHEEP 1995 CHILDREN OF TERROR 1995 CORNER TONE 1995 TIME TO KILL 1990 FUGITIVES 1999 MY HEART DESIRE 1999 ORIGINAL SIN 1999 PLAY BOY 1999 PRISONER OF LOVE 1999 SILENT TEARS 1999 SOUL MATES 1999 THE SOUL THAT SINNET 1999 WHO KILLED MY HUSBAND 1999
Ini Edo: It was the movie, Thick Madam, that first launched Ini Edo into the motion picture industry in 2003. Since then, Edo has featured in many movies, although she sees her role in Worlds Apart as the most challenging. Pretty, young and highly talented, the 23-year old Theatre Arts undergraduate of the University of Uyo nurtured her acting career as a dramatist in her church. Today, Edo is one of the most sought after actresses in Nollywood. Edo who spoke about her passion for acting and her dream of becoming the best actress in the world also hinted that her dream man must be comfortable: Background My name is Ini Edo from Akwa Ibom State. My mother is a teacher while my father is an elder in the church. My parents have four children, three girls and a boy. I am the second child. I attended New Era International Nursery School. I am currently studying Theatre Arts at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Growing up was fun although I had a strict upbringing. Ours is a very young and close-knit family. Getting started As a child, I always knew I had this talent in me. This was why I always grabbed the opportunity to act in church drama and my nursery school. While in School, someone invited me for an audition. I went there, performed well and later got the role. But my parents did not really like it. They insisted I completed my education before going into acting, but I had to beg and convince them before they allowed me to feature in my first movie called Thick Madam in 2003. Combining acting and my studies has not been easy, but I set my priorities right. When I am less busy in school, I go to location. Taking up roles This depends on a lot of things – the story, remuneration and the people I am going to work with. I do not act for the fun of it, but because I love it and I enjoy it. So the storyline must be very strong. It must not be just any kind of story. Sometimes you see a story you can never imagine someone could sit down and write. I am talking about creativity. I do not like everyday stories with flat characters. Inspiration I get inspired when I watch young girls like me making it in the industry. If I have a good story to work on, it gives me a lot of inspiration. God and my love for acting also inspire me. First time out I felt good. I was not nervous because I started with stage performance. I did a lot of stage work. It was not really a new thing to me. At first, I felt a little bit intimidated by the presence of known stars but as time went on, I got used to it. Later, when I got close to most of them, I just found out that they are colleagues. I learnt to see them like that too. Mentors A lot of people contributed to my growth in the industry. Ikenna Igwe encouraged me to take up a career in acting. There was a movie they produced sometime ago, my course mates invited him over, and he gave me a role. Most challenging role The most challenging role for me so far was played in a movie entitled Worlds Apart. That was the first time I was given such a lead role. I really had to come out of my own character to learn a new language entirely, putting up an attitude that was out of my own lifestyle. Sexual harassment I have not been harassed by anybody, though people talk about harassment. I have never experienced it. Maybe because I never came into the industry through the back door. I have overheard people talking about sexual harassment but truly speaking, I have never experienced it. Besides, I believe that anything that you don’t get through the right source can never last you. I worked hard to get to where I am today. I worked round the clock and what I have today is on merit. I cannot sleep with a producer for a role. It is not possible. Romantic roles If you decide to take it, then you must act it. There are certain scenes that you may not like but because it is your job, you have to do it. But honestly, no personal feelings is attached to the job, put pure professionalism. Acting and my life Yes, acting has affected my life both positively and negatively. The negative aspect is that it does not give me room to attend to my family and friends. It takes a lot of my time. Actresses and marriage Acting will never be a hindrance to me. I will get married the moment I am ready for it. I am a woman and when I find the right man, I will marry him. My kind of man should be God-fearing. It is not really about outward appearance but about inner beauty. Having money is not something I consider but my dream man must be comfortable enough to take care of me. Relationship Boyfriend? Did I have a boyfriend before? I can’t remember if I have ever had a boyfriend, it’s been a long time now. I am a beautiful woman, men naturally come my way but I know the aim of everyman that comes my way. So it is up to me to know what I want. You can’t be my fan and also want to have a relationship. Prospects There is nothing impossible under the sun. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. It is not going to be easy, but I know we would definitely get there. In Nollywood, there is too much of envy, but I guess it is everywhere in showbiz world. But the way we are going, I know we would get there because Hollywood did not spring up in a day. It took some years and if we have the support of the government, we would surely get there. Last word I love my fans and I will try my best to give them what they want. *Update* Ini Edo is now a graduate from University of Calabar.
Ramsey Nouah: Watch <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=67">Ramsey Nouah in Power of love </A> <DIV class=figure> </DIV> Ramsey Nouah’s face is better known around the black and African world than the face of the president of Nigeria. Born in July 1973, his face has sold many Nigerian home movies at home and abroad. Ladies melt with love for him, especially for his numerous “lover boy” roles in romantic movies. This writer has chased him across three continents just to have this conversation. Ramsey was in the US at the inauguration of the Filmmakers Association of Nigeria, USA, and that gave <A href="http://www.naijarules.com" NAME>Naijarules.com </A>editor Sola Osofisan an opportunity to sit him down. Now, let’s unwrap the Ramsey Nouah you have never seen. Sola Osofisan: Mr. Nouah, I see you here in the gym. Do you work out regularly? Ramsey Nouah: I try to. S.O.: And what does it do for you? Is it to keep the belly in (laughing)? R.N.: Oh yes. Absolutely. You have to like stay fit to be an actor actually. You must. In our profession, you can’t have (a) port belly or a paunch. It’s not good for the profession at all. S.O.: The staying fit aspect of it… Do you need energy to be an actor? Why is staying fit important aside of the looks and the physical fitness part of it? Why is it important? R.N.: As an actor, there are so many things you can be called to do. In Nigeria, we’re not big; the industry is not big enough to have a body double in doing some of your stunts and all that and some very dangerous parts. But if you’re fit, then you will be able to go through it. And then if you have the heart too of course. S.O.: What’s the wildest stunt you’ve done? R.N.: Oh, I can’t remember… S.O.: Just tell me one or two that you’ve done. R.N.: I’ve done quite a few. I actually tried… Zach Orji directed that one. It was in Ghana. I jumped from a story building down. Then I tried to like save a woman from an oncoming car and it was pretty risky. It was pretty close. And then in “My Lover”, I was thrown in a 15ft deep well, artificially dug well. What else? Can’t remember… I’ve done so many stunts: jump, fall, break, bruises and stuff like that. S.O.: Its all so risky. Do you think actors should be doing their own stunts? R.N.: I like to do my own stunts. S.O.: You love taking risks apparently. R.N.: Yes. S.O.: Is taking risk an outlook of yours to life? Do you take risks in things that you do? R.N.: Well, life is all about risks. In business, physically, however you wanna put it, it’s all about risks. You take risks sometimes you don’t even know. Sometimes you do know. The ones you know, you fear. And if you don’t fear, you go ahead and do it. S.O.: And do you fear anything? R.N.: Yes, God. S.O.: What role is God playing in your life? R.N.: The role that he made me what I am today and who I am and whom I will ever be till I die. S.O.: Your name, Ramsey… You’re Ramsey Tokunbo Nouah, Jr. Where is the Tokunbo there from? In addition, explain your name. R.N.: Yeah, Ramsey is my father’s name. He’s the senior. I’m the junior. That’s why you have Ramsey Nouah, Jr. The Tokunbo was… Of course my grandmother gave it to me. That’s my mother’s mother. I adopted the name when I was having problems with Nigerian government because they needed – for me to get a passport, certain business registered and all that – they needed to know if I was a true Nigerian or a foreigner because of the name. So I had to adopt Tokunbo. S.O.: But you know you look more foreigner than Nigerian. R.N.: Yes. S.O.: Has that worked in your favor? R.N.: Em… I wouldn’t know. A lot of people believe that colored guys are highly highly endowed as in God… It’s a mixture of two races and it shows that they’re always very very healthy and strong. Even scientists said so. Now, it’s helped me, yes, in that aspect of life. I hardly ever fall sick. I don’t know, but I hardly ever fall ill. S.O.: Has it helped you in your movie career? I mean the mixed race now… R.N.: Em, would I say “help”? S.O.: I really mean has it been useful. I don’t mean help in the actual sense of the word. R.N.: (HESITANTLY). Maybe. Just maybe. As a light skinned fella, you sort of like cut across somehow very quickly amongst the black race, you know, in Nigeria. Because I’m light skinned, in everything people quickly get to notice me. I mean if I walked alongside most of my colleagues, I’d be picked out by fans from a distance (before) they will ever pick my other colleagues like Emeka Ike, Jim Iyke… Because they are dark you know. Because I’m light skinned, I’m walking along – ah, that’s Ramsey Nouah. They quickly know me. So, sometimes, it’s good. Sometimes it’s not. S.O.: Have you ever felt like you’re in competition with some of the other big name actors in any way? R.N.: Competition, yes, possibly. Rivalry, no. S.O.: Okay, maybe competition is for the heart of the ladies? (Laughter). R.N.: (Laughing) I really do not know. S.O.: They call you “Lover boy”. What does it feel like? Even right here, there are ladies hanging around looking at you, waiting for a chance to talk to you… What does it feel like? R.N.: Its just the same way they would like to have a chance to talk to Jim Iyke, Emeka Ike, RMD and the rest of them. We’re TV personalities. I don’t think there’s anything special to it particularly (smiling as the ladies around freak out) that they’re really interested in or something. S.O.: But it’s very flattering? R.N.: (Playfully modest) Maybe (Laughter). S.O.: He’s being very modest. (laughter). Ramsey, back to your name briefly, there are different spellings of it. Give us the real spelling of your last name. R.N.: Nouah. S.O.: So there is a “U” there. R.N.: There’s “U”. S.O.: Good. Let’s wrap up this issue of the mixed race before moving on. Your mom is from where and your dad is from where? R.N.: My mom is from Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria – and my father is Isreali. S.O.: And you grew up in Nigeria or where? R.N.: I grew up in Nigeria, on the streets of Nigeria. S.O.: What streets specifically? Maybe we can go to that area to pick up the talents that you have… R.N.: Ebute Meta for a start. That’s where I started. Then I moved on to Surulere. S.O.: Surulere… I grew up in Surulere too. I never met you. R.N.: I was inconspicuous at the time. (Laughter). S.O.: You walked into this Ralph Nwadike soap opera and you just walked into the lap of stardom. And over the years you have grown as an actor as you got more experience. Tell us the story of your evolution from that soap opera – was it “Palace”? R.N.: No, it was “Fortunes”. S.O.: I saw that episode when you came in. I saw the beginning and I see you here today as a different person. Tell us the story of that evolution please. R.N.: Alright. Em… I had this fan… I still have the fan. She looked at me and said… We get to talk and laugh a lot and Jill can crack all kinds of jokes. And then she looked at me and said “Ramsey, you’re just an actor”. She’s always saying that you know. Sometimes I go ahead and I tease her and I look at her and I laugh. She said I could act in one of these soaps in Nigeria. And I said “me, Ramsey? Why would I want to act in Nigeria? Abeg. If I was going to act at all, let me be in Hollywood, let me look at my idols at the time you know: Stallone, Schwarzennegger and the rest of them”. She now said something that really motivated me, something that actually changed my point of view, which was “Ramsey, charity begins at home”. Now, that’s a very normal phrase and line. Apparently, it worked perfectly well for the scenario at the time and I looked at it and I said to myself, “that’s true. If you’re going to do something at all, you have to start from somewhere. You have to build it from somewhere”. Like Johnnie Walker says, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. I went over to see her again and said “this soap opera thing, let’s go”. Alright. We went and we did some few things and all that and that was in 19990. In 1991, she took me to Ralph Nwadike’s – then, it was Zeb Ejiro’s office somewhere in Oyekan Street, in Aguda. And then we walked in and there was this soap going on for “Fortunes” at the time. It wasn’t running. We we’re about shooting the pilot. And they said okay they wanted this role and I performed and Ralph Nwadike just screamed like “this is the guy I’m looking for. This is the guy I’ve been waiting for”. Well, I laughed. S.O.: I can picture him saying that. R.N.: And so that started my fame, my stardom, what I am and what I’ve become today. So we got into the soap. The soap… We shot a pilot in ’91 but the soap didn’t get to go on air until like ’93. It ran for just a year due to logistic problems and all that, and then it became defunct. And then, about two years thereafter came the advent of home video. And then I was in (some) home videos. S.O.: Which was the very first one you did? R.N.: Well, I did a few which were not like major roles (before) I now hit my major, which was “Silent Night”. After “Silent Night”, I now shot another major which was “Blind Trust”. S.O.: A lot of people remember “Silent Night”. R.N.: Yeah. It was a fantastic story and movie. S.O.: Over the years, you have exploded in terms of your acting capabilities, range and depth. How did this come to be? Is it that you have had more experience or you were able to dig deeper to become characters? What happened? R.N.: Fortunately for us, we shoot movies like no man in the world, you know (laughing). We churn out movies and that gives you very quick adaptation to professionalism. I shot quite a number of movies and with each movie, I grew, became matured and got professional. Now, within all these times, I learnt along the way mannerisms, gestures, eye contact, lines, modulation and several other things that makes you a good actor and makes you deliver properly. That is how I have come to become what I am. S.O.: I look at you and I feel envy. I mean you have everything: fame, you’re well paid so you have some fortune, you have a family you’re happy with, and you have all the girls. (General laughter). What does it feel like to have everything? R.N.: (Laughing). It feels good to have everything. But sometimes, it’s usually not always good to have everything. Trust me. If you walk a mile in my shoes, then you would probably hand me back my shoes. (Laughing). S.O.: Is there anything else you’d like to have that you don’t have right now? Something you would like to be able to do that you’re not doing right now? R.N.: Well, I wish that I could have my privacy, my life back without the fame. Yeah, I wish so. S.O.: Why would you want that back? R.N.: Well, because… I don’t know. Somehow, I’m not enjoying the life of stardom. You have no life. You live for the people. You live for everybody. You live for everybody. Nobody thinks about you. Nobody cares about you. They just want from you. Particularly where I come from where we do not have enough money and fortunes to take care of certain needs and stuffs, it’s a bit difficult. Some people might enjoy it. Some of my other colleagues might like it, but for me, it’s not really rosy. I just wish I was an ordinary… Maybe a businessman, a pilot, engineer, whatever… Who gets his salary, does his work, has his family, and lives a normal life without the fame. S.O.: Ramsey, there’s a whole load of people out there who would like to be what you are today. R.N.: Oh yeah, like I said, I would like them to walk a mile in my shoes. S.O.: Is this like what… The price we pay for fame? R.N.: You could say that. You could say that. S.O.: Are you happy? R.N.: Yeah, I am. I am. I try to be. (Laughing). I mean I have no choice. If I think about… It’s not as if its that bad. No, its not as if the fame is so terrible and all that, its weighing me down, no. Its just that I wish, I just only wish I could have my normal life back without the fame. There’s something about we humans, alright? I long for my life without fame, but at the same time, if I go out and I’m not being recognized at certain times, I feel bad sometimes. It’s just the human nature, but deep down in me, I wish I wasn’t recognized sometimes in places. S.O.: So fame is a lot of hard work? R.N.: Yes. I mean in Nigeria, yes. From where were starting from, the recognition we have supercedes what we have as a financial base. It supercedes it absolutely, so the fame is a lot much more than what we have. S.O.: An initiative like this, the Filmmakers’ Association of Nigeria, USA, event that brought you to the US hopefully will help repatriate some of the money spent on Nigerian movies here to the producers in Nigeria who will now be able to pay actors better. Is that how you also see the FAN event? R.N.: Oh yes, I see the FAN event without a doubt creating a new avenue, you know… I mean this is a new horizon to the Nigerian home video. I wanna thank them most profusely for the event, for taking this step, the Nigerians who got together in America to try and make our community and our industry and culture grow. It’s a big thing. It’s very very big. We’re hoping. We’re not looking right now at what we will get from it like financially. We’re not looking at that. We’re just looking at expanding our horizon away from the African continent and beyond. That’s what we’re doing. If it does increase the artistes’ fee, to God be the glory. S.O.: Talking about expanding your horizon now, how far do you want your acting to take you? R.N.: Oh, take me? (Laughing). S.O.: I think you’ve already conquered Nigeria and Africa. So what else would you like to do as an actor? R.N.: Okay, as an actor, I think I’ve gotten to a point where I’m satisfied and sufficed with what I am and what I’ve become. As a director, no. I want to direct movies. I want to make impressions, you know, pictures and do stuffs like Mel Gibson did with “Passions of The Christ”. He’s an actor and now he’s directing and he’s a great director. And he directed “Braveheart” too. It was a fantastic movie. Tremendous movie. S.O.: Is this always a natural progression - for the actor when he gets to a particular point – to want to become a director? R.N.: (Laughing) I do not know. I really can’t speak as regards that. Now, like you (know), Denzel Washington too has directed too, you know. Its just that as an actor, if for you, you’re lucky to have a bit of directorial ability in you, as an actor you see certain shots from particular points of view that some times, whoever is directing you will not see and you wished you could ask for that shot, and you wished you could make that shot possible. Do you understand me? So, given all these indices, you now look at it and say ah, alright, let me do it. Let me see if I can do it myself. With my contribution to the industry in all these years, I’ve been able to learn things and tricks along the line. I can very well say when I do go into directing, I’ll probably become a success. S.O.: So when will you go into directing? R.N.: When God calls. S.O.: And when God calls, what would we be seeing differently from your directorial perspective? What would you be doing differently from what they are doing right now? R.N.: Well, as it were, virtually everything is done. What would probably be different would be your story…your storyline. Technically, I mean God! What else? Except I want to go sci-fi. (Laughing). And we don’t have that yet in Nigeria. S.O.: Ramsey, you speak Yoruba? R.N.: Absolutely. S.O.: Say something to us in Yoruba. R.N.: Ba’wo le se wa? Ki lo n happen? (General laughter) S.O.: Your new movie, Tade Ogidan’s “Dangerous Twins”, is hyped all over the place. I hear there are huge billboards all over the place. I hear they’ve already spent 4 million Naira at least on publicity alone. Tell us about it. R.N.: Tade is one hell of a risky businessman and director, but I like him. He’s a fantastic director. In fact, I could say categorically, that he’s the best director in Nigeria – technically and artistically. It’s very rare for you to get a mixture of both in a director in Nigeria. They only have good technical director or a good artistic director. But having a mixture of both is rare and Tade is one of those directors that are like that. And he’s also a very risky businessman. Tade is putting so much and everything he has in that movie. We’ve always known him to be like that because even when he did “Hostages”, he sold his father’s cars and he almost sold his father’s house under him too to publicize the film. But one thing I know about him is that he believes so much in himself, which of course is a stepping stone, which of course is a great way of putting yourself in confidence that “yes, I know what I’ve done. I know if I even take everything I’ve got, I will get it back because I’ve done something good”. “Dangerous Twins” is an awesome movie. It’s off the hook. Its beyond the Nigerian imagination, beyond the Nigerian movies that you’ve already seen and all that. I’m not boosting this movie out of its proportion in any way. I’m saying it categorically that even when some of maybe Hollywood’s very good, technically strong director sit down and watch “Dangerous Twins” and they hear its from Nigeria, Africa, they will probably stand up and give it an applause because its quite a good movie. It’s the first movie of its kind in Nigeria where you see two characters – I mean two guys, the same guys, standing one in one – S.O.: Yes, the promotional CD was brought to me by some of our guys who came in from Nigeria. How did you guys achieve the effect of Ramsey talking to Ramsey? R.N.: Well, I don’t know. (Laughing) It’s Tade’s trick. S.O.: Okay, acting-wise, how did you achieve it? I mean you had to play the other twin, the mannerism had to be different, the acting and expressions, not just the costumes… What was that like for you playing two people in the same scenes simultaneously? R.N.: That is the most demanding job I have ever done in my 14years in this industry. It was so tasking. It was so so exhausting. You know I was – I don’t know if I can explain it to you and you will probably understand. We’re talking about you standing on this side and talking to an empty space, right? You have a different costume here and a different make-up. And then you have different gestures and different mannerisms. Now, you come back – on the same shot! You do not change the shot – you go change to the other guy, come back here and answer to everything this guy has said. And then you change back to that one… That scene probably takes you a whole day. The scene where the two characters are involved, it takes you like a whole day. So sometimes you have to take a break because it’s so so demanding. I doubt if I will ever play a twin again. S.O.: Someone said to me that you said in passing – and you just confirmed it now – that the role in “Dangerous Twins” is the most challenging thing you’ve ever done. Is it just because you had to transit from one character to another that makes it so challenging, or the range of the characters now? R.N.: The range of the characters themselves. Yeah, physically, it was quite exerting, but now I’m talking about the range of the characters because that way of course you show your ability, your versatility as an actor. S.O.: And you shot scenes in the UK for several weeks? R.N.: Yeah, we shot in different parts of the UK. S.O.: Then you shot in Nigeria too. R.N.: Yes. S.O.: This is the first time you’re working with Tade Ogidan. What are you taking away from the experience that’s different from what you’ve done with all the other people you have worked with? R.N.: I’m taking away another side of professionalism. Tade taught me a lot on set. He is a very very patient director. He is not in a hurry to achieve and get the best. That also goes to say that possibly, you can also say that he has the money to take his time. But even if he doesn’t have, he will still take his time. And that’s one attribute I’ve learnt. It’s better to be calm, take things easy and get the best than rush and then bring out some rubbish. S.O.: Wrapping up now Ramsey. There’s a lot of crossover work going on. People are doing Yoruba movies, doing this and that. I don’t know if you’ve done any. I’ve never seen you in any. R.N.: I’ve done a Yoruba movie. I was the first crossover actor from English to the Yoruba sector. And it was a tremendous success. I’ve been called several times after that, but because I saw that it was very successful, I now said to myself, its better for me to shoot my own Yoruba film and make the money instead of me making the money for all these producers. And so I refuse to do other Yoruba movies. That’s why. S.O.: This is your first time in the US? R.N.: Oh yes. My first time. S.O.: Have we treated you right? Have you had fun here so far? R.N.: (Laughing). Well, you could say I’ve had fun. I’m still trying to adapt to (US time) jet lag and all the rest of it, but I know I will adapt to it. It’s fun. America is not like Heaven like most people think in Nigeria. Its everywhere, you know. I’ve been around… I’ve been to some parts of the world and this is my first time in America and I could say America is just like one of those other countries I’ve been to. Nothing spectacular. S.O.: And the fans here… Are they any different from the fans in Nigeria? Are we crazier? R.N.: Well, yes. The fans in Nigeria are already used to me, so they don’t go “Aggghhhhh!” over me like that, you know (Laughing). The ones here are not used to me and they just see me in the movies and now they see me in life so I expect a reaction. It’s okay, yeah. S.O.: You have a wife? R.N.: I do. S.O.: What’s your wife’s name? R.N.: Emelia Philips-Nouah. S.O.: And you have a son? Daughter? R.N.: A son. S.O.: What’s his name? R.N.: Quincy Camil Nouah. S.O.: I know that information is going to break some hearts out there… R.N.: (Laughing). No, if I had the chance and if I had the money, I would actually marry all my fans. (More laughter). S.O.: Ramsey, just say anything you like to your fans out there in the international community. Remember that they are all over the world. R.N.: Oh yes. To all my fans, to all my loved ones out there, I wanna thank you. Like I’ve always said, without you, there is no Ramsey Nouah and that’s a fact, for real. I wanna tell you that you have to believe in something. When you believe in that thing, never give up on it, and that way, you will have a breakthrough. We all need a breakthrough in our lives. Everybody needs a breakthrough. Thank God for me, I have my breakthrough already. I know you will get yours if you just believe in it. Thanks and Shalom! S.O.: Thank you Ramsey. R.N.: You’re welcome Sola.
Stella Damasus: Watch <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=19">Stella Damasus-Aboderin In We are One </A> I have interviewed many people in my time. I have had extensive conversations with the likes of Hayford Alile, Sunny Kuku, Raymond Dokpesi, Chinweizu…But I have never had the pleasure of interviewing someone as obviously unpretentious as Stella Damasus-Aboderin. The star of movies like DANGEROUS DESIRE and NEVER SAY GOODBYE, Stella has a passionate following among the lovers of Nigerian movies scattered around Africa and the African Diaspora. That is all the introduction you’re going to get. Read the rest. It is a joy... - Sola Osofisan Sola Osofisan: Stella, you are called Damasus by some, Damascus by others. For the record, tell us the correct name please. Aboderin Stella Damasus-Aboderin: It’s Damasus. D-A-M-A-S-U-S. There’s no “c”. S.O.: I’m sure you must have grown tired of correcting people by now. S.D.A.: Oh, I just let them call me whatever. I’ve heard worse. I’ve heard “Damastockings”. I just let them call me whatever, but everybody knows they’re talking about me. S.O.: Damasus is an unusual name. What part of the country are you from? S.D.A.: I’m from Asaba, Delta State. Damasus was actually my grandfather’s first name. It’s a Greek name. The family name was actually Ojukwu, but when the war broke out, the Nigerian Civil War, a lot of Nigerian soldiers mistook my family for the real <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/people/ad.asp?blurb=126">Ojukwu</A> himself, so a lot of things happened to my family members until my grandfather came and said look, instead of them killing our people thinking we’re Biafrans, let’s just change our name, so we’re safe. That’s how the name became Damasus. S.O.: And it has remained the same ever since? S.D.A.: yeah. S.O.: Interesting. You grew up in Asaba or in <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/lagosadv.asp?blurb=318">Lagos</A>? S.D.A.: I grew up in Benin City actually. I only lived in Asaba for about three years when my father was transferred from former ACB Bank in Benin to Asaba Branch. S.O.: So you did all of your schooling in Benin City? S.D.A.: Yes. But my JSS 3 to my final year in secondary school I did in Ibusa, in a private school in Ibusa about 15mins away from Asaba. But from the time I was born to that time, I did most of all my education in Benin. S.O.: In what way did your childhood prepare you for a career in the entertainment industry? S.D.A.: I think it was basically my mom. My mom used to be an opera singer. She used to be a stage actress. When we went to church together, she used to make me sing with the junior choir and all that. And then whenever we were in school and they wanted to do a school drama, she would tell me to go for it. Since I was in primary school, she was always there making sure that I did one drama piece or one song or something. And when I was growing up, they bought tapes of Boney M, Abba and she made me sing along and things like that. I would actually hold the electric kettle cord as my microphone and all that in front of a mirror. Ever since then, she just basically knew that I was going to do something in the entertainment world and she just kept encouraging me to do that. S.O.: That is also unusual. The typical parent in Nigeria would never encourage you to go into the entertainment business. Stella: (pix: Olaolu Afolabi) S.D.A.: Yeah. My mom’s case was different because she was in it. I had a problem actually (with my father) when I started acting because of the impression a lot of people had about actors. My mother was always supporting me and she was there telling him its not like this, have you forgotten how we met, though I was a banker but then I was doing my singing and acting on the side so let her do what she wants… And my parents are very liberal people, you know, so they let their children be who they want to be. It was easier for me because my mother was already an entertainer before I joined them. S.O.: Wow, you’re one of the lucky few. S.D.A.: Yeah. S.O.: It appears you did a lot more acting work in 2003 than any other year… What happened? S.D.A.: I honestly don’t know. I can’t say for sure. I just know that each one I did, people just kept calling me. I won’t lie to you, the money got better and bigger, so it was difficult for me to say no. As a fact, I used to say let me take time off for my kids or let me take time off for… Last year, it was just like a blow out. Everybody remembered that I was around. I also realized that the scripts that came my way were very good and they were characters that would project me more. So, I guess that’s why. But I can’t tell you why they wanted me all the time. I don’t know. S.O.: What kind of roles do you accept? S.D.A.: It has to be something that is based around me, something that makes me important, something that challenges me, something that will make me really work. I cannot just take a script, look at it and just go and talk. Something that will make me rehearse in my house, look at my mirror, have someone to read with me at home, something that will make people to be blessed, so every day and say please can we break down these scenes and let’s do a character analysis, something that moves me that I don’t really need to do anything artificial, something that will make me bring out the best from the bottom of my belly, you know… Something that will make me work like the one I’m doing right now… Its really making me sweat. Scripts that make sense. Scripts that will talk to you - as you’re reading it, you’re imagining it and you’re going through the motions with it, not just any story, you know? Stories that you can relate to, that you know that whenever people see it, they will remember you for doing one thing or the other… That’s it. S.O.: Which is the one you’re doing right now? S.D.A.: Dangerous Twins, the one with Tade Ogidan. S.O.: I know they shot a series of scenes in England. You’re not in the England sequences? S.D.A.: No no, I’m the wife of the other twin in Nigeria. S.O.: Dangerous Twins id promising to be an explosive thing. S.D.A.: Oh yes, oh yes it is. And then with the cast as well, it’s going to be fantastic. We have Sola Sobowale and Bimbo Akintola also in the movie. It’s going to be very nice. S.O.: And <A href="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=7232&z=3" NAME>Ramsey Nouah</A>? S.D.A.: Ramsey Nouah is a fantastic actor. He’s doing so well. In fact, I’m really really complimenting him. I do that every day because it’s not easy playing a twin. You wear one costume, play all the lines of one person, wear another costume of the other twin and start doing all the lines and remember what the other person said and how he dressed, and you know things like that. And he’s been doing it so well. I’m really really impressed with what I’m seeing. S.O.: What is it like, Stella, to have two talents? I’m talking about the singing and acting now. Do you get pulled to explore one more than the other? S.D.A.: Em… Maybe. I’ve been doing both together at the same time. I think I prefer it like that because I don’t want a situation where I would have to choose between the two. I manage my time very well. My husband and I, we have a band called Synergy, and we have a lot of shows. Private shows for weddings, launching and things like that. And then I do my movies as well, but if you ask me to choose between (two) of them, I will tell you I probably can’t because I love both of them and they complement each other. You know, now I’m being offered scripts to play as singer in a movie and I’m telling them the highest bidder will take it. If people are planning to use me as a professional singer… I have something that I perceive as being an edge over a lot of other because I can do – and I’m a dancer as well. So I combine all of these things to try and make me a perfect actress, you know… At least the best I can be. S.O.: You sing, you dance and you act? S.D.A.: Yes. S.O.: Interesting. So how did you sharpen all these skills Stella? At the professional level, did you have any special training or did you just start doing it? How did you get into it formally? S.D.A.: I’m a theatre arts graduate. I’ve been doing theatre arts for (long distance gabble). I’m doing a part-time course. And in these five years, I think I know a lot. As a theatre student, you must have (more long distance gabble). The acting, to be a theatre arts student, you have to go through different acting techniques, acting styles and people that have propounded a lot of theories about expression, movement, bodywork and things like that. So I guess I try to put a lot of that into practice whenever I do a movie or anything else because I try to translate what I have read into practicals – into motion. I read a lot of books. I love to read, so I try to educate myself… Each character I play, I try to talk slightly different from what I have done. I try to change my style of acting, my style of walking, things like that… I think its basically my education that really helped me. And then my husband used to do movies as well. He used to be an actor as well, and since he is more experienced than I am, he helped me out a lot when I was starting. I guess I do try to improve in everything that I do by reading more. I’m studying other foreign actors as well cos I have this artist that I like a lot – Cicely Tyson. I think she’s fantastic so I learn a lot from her. S.O.: Aside of Cicely, is there any other person you would call a role model? S.D.A.: Jack Nicholson. I love him as well. And I think they’re fantastic because I’ve seen them do these same roles and they’re so convincing. I mean Cicely Tyson played a role…She played the role when she was a very young girl and she grew up into a great grandmother and she was so fantastic because her voice changed, her style of acting changed, everything changed, so for someone to do that, it takes a lot of work and I respect it… S.O.: Are there roles for instance that you would not play? In Obaseki (Pix: Sola Osofisan) S.D.A.: I don’t think so. I think I can play every role because it’s my profession and if I play a very bad role or a loud role, it means I am doing it to correct something. The script has to be right. If I’m just going to play (for instance) a prostitute just for the sake of being a prostitute and it doesn’t make sense and the story is not centered around that particular person so she’s able to change at the end of the day and make people realize how bad it is, then I don’t think there’s any point in doing it. But if I’m playing roles like that where I have to really loud but at the end of the day there’s a message, a positive message, that’s going to be passed across, that people need for the ills of the society. Then I probably would do it. You have to learn different acting styles and techniques to be able to play things and make them convincing without being extremely vulgar or do things that are very extreme that people will frown at. There are ways of doing different things that I try to learn every day, so I don’t think I will shy away from any role. It just depends on the director I’m working with and how we can work together to bring it out without having to irritate people or be vulgar about it. S.O.: Let me ask you a vague question. What’s the most challenging thing that has ever happened to you? S.D.A.: Oh my God, what do I say? I think that it’s being a young wife. Because of who I am and what I do, its not easy, because in this part of the world, its not easy to keep your home intact because when you in-laws, you have families and then there are some things that you would probably not accept or take and because of the negative publicity we get and things like that… I think that’s my greatest challenge because sometimes they hit on us the females who are married and it takes a lot of work to try and repair the damage and also a lot of work to try and make sure that your spouse trusts you enough to stand by you and believe you… And also to be that wife that your in-laws expect you to be, no matter what, even if it breaking your back or killing yourself. I think its more challenging than any job or anything I have to do outside because if you regard something as the most important thing in your life, I think that is the think you fight hardest to keep intact. Its more difficult for an entertainer – an actress - to keep her home, especially when herself and her husband are very young and are going through a lot of things and trying to be adults and trying to be mature and trying to be role models and parents and all that. I think that’s basically my greatest challenge in life and I am determined to succeed. Really really determined. S.O.: You briefly addressed my next question in your last response. I was going to ask you what it is like to have the husband and wife in the entertainment industry? How does it impact on the home, the children and everything? S.D.A.: We have a way of doing it. We always make time out for the kids. We never abandon them. And we found out recently that whenever we have shows outside Lagos or outside the country, I find that I stay back so that he goes and I stay with the kids – or sometimes, if I have to travel on location or something, he stays in town. But if both of us have to go, then there must be a family member who will stay with them. And its not easy, you know. It’s not easy… That is where we fight the most… Because we work together, we don’t always agree on things. Of course we’re two different people. He’s a human being; he has different views and things like that. I’m a human being; I have my own set rules and principles, even though I try to do what the Bible says… You must submit to your husband. Of course I try to that, but at the same time, there are some things that I will need to stand on or grab on to and say no, this is how I want it and he may not like it and we fight a lot. But being in the entertainment world together is one of the most – in fact, I’m very lucky because even though we have our problems when we fight, we find that we always have something to talk about, something to bring us back together, you know… If there’s a problem in your house, and we have a show tomorrow, what are we wearing? Okay let’s do this and before you know it, we’re already talking. I have a movie… Okay, let’s read it together. And again, it’s easier for me to go, shoot, stay out late, come back and he understands because he’s into it as well. We basically try to help each other out and do our work, but he’s still the same person that says if you have to do this job, do it well. Don’t say because of me you will not do it to the best of your ability. S.O.: Do you see your kids going into the entertainment business? S.D.A.: My first child, no. My second child, probably. I think she’s getting because she cannot stay in one place if she hears the slightest sound. She would stand up and dance or do something. My first child is more subdued. She’s more of a technical person. She like remote control, she likes cable, she likes phones… She doesn’t like toys actually. She doesn’t like things that are entertaining. She likes things that are very technical like the computer; she likes working with her father, things like that… So, I’m still watching them to see what will happen. S.O.: Synergy… You guys only perform in exclusive circles? S.D.A.: Yeah. S.O.: Is there any special reason behind that? Or is it the kind of music you play? S.D.A.: No, it’s not just the kind of music. We started out playing regular shows in places like Jazzville, Eko Hotel and places like that. But as you grow older and you expand your band, you find that you need to grow more because you find that in Lagos it is when you play private gigs that you’re respected more and you’re paid more. When you do regular shows at the Jazzvilles and Eko Hotels, they pay you just a little bit of money to get by. In everything you do, you try to expand and move up and earn more and gain more and be more recognized. I guess we moved up and people started accepting the fact you cannot just come and see us every week. We are only at exclusive places where you must have really paid well for and things like that. Its not just the kind of music, cos my band, we do copyright songs most of the time, apart from our own songs. We play highlife, we play funk, we play disco, we play oldies, we play all sorts of music. We even play at traditional weddings. We’ve played at a Nikkai before. We’ve played at even Owambe. We have different people in the band that specialize in different types of music, different genres of music. S.O.: Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun. S.D.A.: Well, we’re trying. It’s been a lot of years of hard work, but we’re getting there. S.O.: Did you know your husband before you started acting? S.D.A.: No. I started acting… I’d done two movies before I met my husband. I’d done… My first major movie was really my breakthrough. The name of the movie was actually Breaking Point and that’s how he recognized me the first time he saw me. So I was already in the movie industry before we started dating. S.O.: And he did not know you could sing when you met? S.D.A.: The first day we met, I actually grabbed his microphone. I went to Jazzville (with) one of my friends. And he was on stage with his sister and his sister’s husband. I got on stage, I was carried away… I loved the song they were doing. I got on stage, grabbed his microphone and started singing with them. And at the end of the night he came to me and said look, I like your voice. I hope to set up my own band. Are you interested? And I said why not? So, we started working together. The first time he saw me, he knew who I was. That’s how come he let me take his microphone like that on stage. By the time he heard me sing, he saw another side of me and he liked it. That is the side he prefers. He prefers me as a singer because he says I’m a better singer than I’m an actress. He loves my acting but he believes that I’m a better singer than an actress. S.O.: So the poor guy saw you on stage and fell head over heels in love. (GENERAL LAUGHTER) S.D.A.: Well, I always tell him that, but he still tells me that I was the one that fell in love first. I’m not gonna argue because I actually tripped when I saw him. (MORE LAUGHTER) S.O.: How sweet. Jaiye (that’s your husband’s name, right?), I read somewhere that he composes in French, Spannish and in Yoruba and English. Where did the French and Spanish come from? S.D.A.: He studied languages. He’s French graduate and he lived in London for a long time so he did Spannish in London. He studied that and a little Italian as well. Then he came down to Nigeria and got into Unilag and he studied French, so he’s actually a French translator as well. S.O.: So are you picking up any of these languages? S.D.A.: Well, sometimes, when we’re in a place and he doesn’t want people to know what we’re talking about, there are some words in French that he has taught me, so when he says any words like that, I know what he’s talking about. I’m not very good with languages, but sometimes when he says things, he says something in it that makes it easier for me to understand what he’s saying. I didn’t pique interest early enough, so I guess that’s where my problem is. I can read French, but I might not understand what I’m saying. And then I can understand a little Spannish, but I don’t speak very well. S.O.: Your husband is obviously comfortable with you acting because he’s also in the entertainment business, so this rumor on the Internet that he wants you to quit acting is just a rumor? S.D.A.: I don’t know what they’re talking about. I have a husband who always tells me that he loves women that are hardworking and have a drive. He tells me if this is what you’re meant for, if you’re very popular because you’re an actress, (then) make the best of it while you’re young. He doesn’t stop me from doing what I like to do. Judging by the kind of negative publicity that I’ve got, the things that some people have written about me, if he wanted me to stop acting I would have stopped a long time ago, a long time ago… He believes in me. He has faith in me and he knows that I will go places if I work hard at what I’m doing. And he’s not one to stop your dreams or put a stop to your career because he feels or she’s my wife, she can’t be seen doing things like that. He wants me to really really be big and he encourages me, he helps me. So he has never told me to quit acting. S.O.: How does the acting part of you facilitate the musical part of you? S.D.A.: When it comes to music, my husband is more popular than I am. He’s the one that people know as a musician. He’s the one that they know as a family of music people because of his sister and the others. So his fame gets more job for us when it comes to the music aspect than my fame, because – don’t forget a lot of people still don’t know that I am a singer. It’s just recently that we released one of our videos that people got to know. So they know him as the musician. But when they see me performing with him, they say aha, that actress o, she sings. S.O.: A couple of questions from the members of my website, Naijarules.com: you’re a mother and working lady. How do you manage to remain so good looking? S.D.A.: I don’t know, really. It’s God. I don’t have any special routine and I’m not a designer freak. I probably don’t know the names of these facial or body things… I think I stay trim because I work round the clock. If I’m not shooting a movie, I’m going to school or I’m running Synergy or I’m running my African shop. I sell African things. I’m doing one thing or the other every given time. Whatever comes with it, I believe its God because I know I have good skin and I don’t do anything special to maintain anything. I just try to be very clean. I try to wash my face all the time. The products that I use are basically the Ginseng products and Vaseline. I don’t have any funny thing that I do in the morning. I’m sorry, I might not be of help on that because I think its all God. S.O.: Another question from the website: Rattlesnake 4, is it going to be released anytime soon? And are you still in it? S.D.A.: I’m still in the part 4, yes. But I don’t know when they’re going to release it. I have no idea. Amaka Igwe will be able to answer that question. I shot a lot of things and it is not all of them that came out in the part 3, so I’m thinking that they’re going to put all that in a part 4. S.O.: Okay. Can you tell us about your African shop? S.D.A.: Yes, Monafrique. I like to make things. I like to create things and design things. And I’m also someone that I don’t know how to buy gold or silver or diamond or things like that, but I like a lot of beads and I like African fabrics, so I just started traveling to Cotonou, Ghana, Lome, and I just buy fabrics from all these African countries, come back and design things – bags, table clothes, earrings, moccasins – you know things like that. But I found out that when I started wearing them, a lot of people liked them and they would come to me: How did you get this? And I’m like I made it. And they say instead of buying all these boutique clothes that they tell you buy one for 15 – 20,000 Naira, why don’t you make something simple for me, something nice, and make an African handbag that will go with the fabric. And I started making it for some of my friends. Before I knew it, a lot of orders started coming in and things like that. As I am now, I don’t even know how to satisfy all my customers because so many people have been calling me and I don’t know how many I can make at a time. S.O.: You’re having a very busy life. What’s a typical day like? S.D.A.: Frankly speaking, I don’t have a typical day. I know that from the time I wake up in the morning till about 10-11, I must make sure that in that space of time, I try to see my kids for at least one hour. The rest of the time, I’m either shooting a movie, I’m at the office working for Synergy or I’m designing one thing or the other for clients of Monafrique or I’m doing a write up for something I want to send on the ‘Net, because there are some people that sent me mail from London and tell me I want you to write this for this magazine or things like that… I work on my computer. I’m always busy. I always have one thing to do. And it’s not just about the money. I think I’m a very restless person. I can’t stay in one place a long time and I always want to do something to keep my mind working and keep busy. I buy a lot of books… I don’t have a routine life. I’m a very spontaneous person. I can wake up and say okay, I’m going to Ghana to buy fabrics. S.O.: The movie industry in Nigeria is growing and that is a good thing. But from all you have said so far, one can tell that if anything happens to the movie industry, you have so many other options, so many things you can do… S.D.A.: You can say that because I have a thousand and one other things that I do on the side, but believe me, if you asked me, deep down inside, I would tell you that the one that I really really really think I love most is the acting and that’s the movie industry. I really wouldn’t want anything to happen to it and I doubt if anything is going to happen to it cos I want to be part of it. Really really grow big and go international, you know… If you asked me to choose between acting and everything that I do, I probably will choose acting, although acting is the one that doesn’t guarantee a steady income per se. But it’s the one that I love most. At the same time, I get regular income from the other things that I do, more than the acting thing. The movie industry is very peculiar and I don’t like to slot myself in every movie, so I try to do one in like two months so people don’t get tired of seeing my face on every poster. So when I do that, you know the income is not going to be as regular as the next person who does movie after movie after movie. S.O.: What does the future hold for Stella the actress and Stella the singer? S.D.A.: Stella the actress and Stella the singer is really going to be big by the grace of God. I want to be a source of inspiration to everybody. I want to come to London and say I want to do a show and people will say Oh God, Stella is having a show, I must see the show. It’s not just about popularity. I want to be able to affect the life of people positively. I want to be able to affect the life of the youth. I still see me being someone who is looked up to, someone who does things just to better the community, the society and things like that. Of course I want to be rich. Believe me, I want to be rich. If not for my sake, at least for my children. I just want to go all over the world. I want to be remembered as that person who was really really really good. I just want to be a good person. S.O.: When you say you want to be rich, what is your definition of wealth? How much is rich? S.D.A.: I can’t tell you in numbers, but I know that wealth to me is being able to afford anything that I want. I’m not naturally a materialistic person. I’m not flashy, I’m not extravagant or anything. I’m very simple. Rich to me means I can sit down and a thousand and one people can come to me and say we need to pay school fees, I need this, I need that… I want to be able to say oh, take money. Do whatever you want with it as long as it makes you happy. I want to be able to take care of my parents. I want to be able to take care of my cousins. I want to be able to spoil my kids. I want to be able to tell my husband happy birthday and give him the key to a car that he has been dreaming about or talking about, you know? Things like that. I want to be able to surprise my sister and tell them I’m giving you – your husband and your children – an all expense paid trip to Hollywood or Disneyland or something. I just really want to make people happy. I like to be happy and I like people around me to be happy, that’s it. S.O.: Stella, I try to give every star I interview a chance to react to stories in the media or anything that’s been written or said about them that they feel is untrue and they want to give their own side of the story. Is there anything that has been written about you that you would like to react to? S.D.A.: I don’t really like to respond to such things because my life will definitely go on. People won’t think about me every day. I got tired or trying to defend myself. Like a few weeks ago, there was (a publication) that came out that said that on the 11th of December (2003), I was at the Bar Beach and I was making out with Richard Mofe-Danijo. And I thought that was so crazy because it was on the front page and they gave date and time. That date that they gave, my husband was with me at the beach. He was there with the driver and (lost in phone static). They needed to fly to Abuja and he called me and asked me where are you? And I’m like, I’m shooting at the beach o. Will you come? And he said no problem. And he came there. On that particular day, I was there with all our friends and I didn’t enter this particular car that they were talking about and you know there were a lot of people on set. You had the director, you had the cameraman, you had the technical crew, you had the other artistes on set. …Where was the town that we did whatever they said we did? My lawyer wrote them a letter demanding a retraction or we would take them to court and I just turned to the lawyer and said how many do you want to fight? After that one, other magazines picked up on it and started writing rubbish. And people just expected me to break down or cry or things like that. Eventually we got home and laughed over it because it was so crazy that the day they decided to pick was the same day that my husband was with me all through. People will always talk about. Be good. Be bad. They will still talk about you. And it looks like they need me to sell their magazine, well fine, if they think that I’m that important. All I just say is that I’m glad that the people that matter most to me know who I am and they’re always supportive, they’re always behind me. Things will come, temptation will come, the devil will try to use people to bring you down and destroy you. If you’re a child of God, as long as your conscience is clear and you know that God sees all, just put everything in the hands of God. As long as your husband needs you and knows that whatever it is, you’re in it together, and he supports you, I don’t need any other person to vouch for me or anything. Because it will continue, not matter what I do or what I say or how many court sessions I go for. They will still write whatever they want to write. You can’t kill them and you can’t stop them. I think it will be easier moving on. And believe me, since that publication came out, I’ve been twice a popular as I ever was. Nowadays, people are coming to me wit scripts, with jobs… I’ve had people from London telling me they want me to be their representative, they want me to provide local programs for them. I’ve had people telling me I want you to be my editor in chief, I want to start an entertainment magazine. You know people said they read about this thing and everybody wanted to know who Stella was. And when they met me, its like ok I want to do something with you actively. So it actually opened doors for me that I didn’t expect. So I’m like okay God, if this is the way this has turned out, I’m grateful. Sola Osofisan: Thank you very much Stella.
Charles Okafor: Background My name is Charles Ezechukwu Okafor. I was born on the 23rd of July, 1960. I hail from Umuleri, <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/anambraadv.asp?blurb=193">Anambra State</A>. I am the fourth in a family of six. I attended Araromi Primary School One, Olodi Apapa, Lagos after which I proceeded to <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/category2detail001.asp?itemCategory=ST.%20Gregory´s%20College&sid=165">St. Gregory College, Ikoyi</A>. I read Theatre Arts at the <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/category2detail001.asp?itemCategory=University%20of%20Port%20Harcourt&sid=16">University of Port-Harcourt</A> and graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in 1993. After that, I proceeded to the <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/alumni/category2detail001.asp?itemCategory=University%20of%20Lagos&sid=19">University of Lagos</A> to pursue a masters degree in Political Science and International Relations. I worked briefly with the Security and Exchange Commission, following the completion of my national youth service. After spending six years in S.E.C., I resigned voluntarily and went into full time acting. Journey into acting (Hmmn…) You see, acting is a tiny compartment of a larger world of art. So, I tried not to be pigeon holed into acting. I ‘d rather prefer you asked me what motivated me towards the arts to which acting belongs. Art is an innate sensibility. In other words, we are configured by God that creates and builds the sensibility of the artistic. We are born with a talent inside of us. So if you ask me, I will actually say that I was born with the talent. But if you talk about professional acting, I have been in this for over a decade and two years. Who led me into acting? It is very unfortunate that people have that impression that they are led into the arts. I hold a different view. My position is, however, predicated on the fact that for one to be a success from whatever venture, he/she must easily identify the divine propelling force. Such an individual must ask himself, Where is he being led? Has God created him to be in this or that? So, my involvement in acting has been divinely inspired. I could see some people who are role models but I made up mind to become an artiste long before they began to influence me. It might be a complex thing to understand but I will break it down. I remembered that when I was young, I was told by my uncle that I will gather children and tell them stories. I cannot remember when I did that because then I was very young. My Uncle would also tell me that he knew that I would end up a dramatist. I am a career actor and I see acting as an extension of social commentary and I am a social commentator. I am going to correct a cliché that somebody must be a link or a motivating factor. It is wrong. We seem to be giving the glory to man, whereas the glory is supposed to go to God. Actors are not made but born. That is why there are people who have been in the business of acting long before my father was born yet they did not make any success of it. Why? Because they did not decide, identify or determine if they were called. We are not all called to be actors and that is why I insist that I am a career actor and not an ordinary actor. As a career person you are focussed; you have your training; you have everything clearly defined and you want to build on it. Career is developmental. It is not like because someone burnt down my spare parts shop in Alaba, I should, therefore, end up in acting. There are many cases like that, and that is why mediocrity thrives in the industry. You might have spent 25 years in the acting industry only to discover in the 26th year that you are in the wrong profession. It is not all about the link but the fact that one has not identified his or her calling. First day on location? Beautiful! Exciting! Interesting! It was like when you have read for an examination, burnt the midnight oil and walked into the examination hall. One feels confident. So, for me it was a mixture of excitement and confidence because the opportunity came for me to practicalize all that I have learnt. You see, I featured in 142 stage plays from my first to my final year. Stage is the real thing. Television is a plastic thing as they say. I looked forward to when I was going to be on the tube but I played a lead role in Memorial Hospital, a soap opera, while I was still in the Security and Exchange Commission. After I have done all that, I looked forward to a time when I would join the movie industry. Nollywood Nollywood is an ambitious drive; an ambition driven on a weak leg. Nollywood is a statement of the copycatism that is affecting every Nigerian which explains why we are finding it very difficult to penetrate Nollywood with quality works. For Nollywood to really come to stay, one must deal with the mediocrity in the system. Mentors I might have people whose works have inspired greater challenges in me, I prefer saying it that way. So, when I acted in an epic film titled Igodo, I actually put myself in the hue of Charles Elston when he was banished from the presence of Pharaoh. In chains, he walked out of the courtroom. If you noticed his strides, and the manner in which he walked, that was exactly what I did when I played the role of Agu in Igodo. The truth remains that there are acting styles that are recognised universally. As a graduate of Theatre Arts, I should identify with and reconcile the job with the universal principle of acting and also be judged on that principle. Movie that made me popular I must confess to you that it will be difficult to remember the first one. But I can give you a range of three, Journey Hell, Oracle, Obsession by Zeb Ejiro and Rituals. I think these were my very first movies. A millionaire actor? I am very comfortable by the grace of God. I won’t count myself among the rich and I won’t call myself a millionaire. But cumulatively, I have made a multiple of millions but I have never been paid a million naira for any job. I have never received a million for any job and it does not make sense to lie. When I read it, I laugh because we know the tricks that go underneath. People in their estimation or strategy give themselves publicity so that marketers would think that they are up there. But that is all false living. I know that I have never been paid a million naira for any job neither do I have a million naira in in my bank account. My absence from Nollywood. At a point, I stopped accepting acting roles because a time comes in one’s life that you have done quite a sizeable chunk of everything and you suddenly decide to be doing something different. What am I talking about? In 2000, I think this is the first time I am giving an exclusive revelation. In my outfit C&E Productions, on a particular night, I woke and asked myself what have I done? I was under the tutelage of late Professor Ola Rotimi. He was my teacher and in many ways, my mentor. I recalled one of those days when I was in my final year, we started talking about Aristotle’s poems and somewhere along the line, the discussion changed. At a point, he just told me, you have to take charge. He also said something that is very eternal and that is why we have to wipe off mediocrity from the industry. He said that creativity is elastic and that is why you can kill an actor if you ‘type’ him. There are people that you would see in 35 movies last year, it is the way you would have seen them in 2000. I decided to go beyond entertainment acting to what we call advocacy acting. Advocacy acting is about using the instrumentality of play nay methodology to advance the cause of conflict resolution in Africa and in the world. That was what brought about my advocacy movie entitled: Called by fire which I produced in Accra, Ghana. I took featured artistes from Nigeria, Ghana, Britain and Australia. The project received endorsement from Ghanaian government. It was a dream project in which I invested everything that I had. However, Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, supported our cause with a million naira. Any plan to do another movie? Yes! The work we do are capital intense because it is advocacy-driven. When you are doing something beyond entertainment, there are messages couched in it, it is a research kind of work. If I want to talk on cancer of the liver, I will meet with experts not just gloss over the topic, it is like doing an indepth story. The synopsis? I can not! And that is not to say that I am scared of giving it to you but you see, the work have to go through four drafts before the final copy. Before the end of the year, I promise that I will be able to give it to you. Are you back to acting? I did not go on sabatical, I have always been in acting. I went to do serious work, Called by Fire (laughs). Beyond Called by Fire, I have done other works in the realm of acting. There are three Ghanaian projects which I was involved in. Marriage Marriage is a gift from God. The Bible says: “ He who findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord." Thank God for Jesus. I will be getting married next month. Can you tell us who she is? She is not an actress, that is all I can say for now. I need to respect her privacy and not divulge information that she might not like. She is a very good company, we found ourselves. How we met? Incidentally, she was in my premiere at the Muson Centre. I won’t say that it was love at first sight. I did not meet her at a singles forum as some would think. Even the singles forum is one of the lies of the devil to pull Christians down. We met and I think I liked what I saw, and I fell in love with her. Future actor turned preacher Every Christian is a potential preacher. As an actor, I am a preacher. It is just that everything I do now must glorify God. My vision and mission My mission is to distinguish myself within the environment, culturally, socially, historically. We can make a statement of conviction due to the talents God has deposited in us. That is why I quarrelled with the word, Nollywood. It’s a product of our subservience to other people’s culture. Visit Hollywood and see how things are going on, every department is handled by professionals.
Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze: Until 2002 when they had a chance meeting during an audition, neither Osita Iheme nor Chinedu Ikedieze knew he had a lookalike who equally shared his acting career and small physique. The two short but matured comedians had gone to a popular hotel in the heart of Enugu for audition only to start glaring at each other in the presence of other artistes. And like Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author, the duo of Osita and Chinedu formed the centre of attraction during the audition. They in fact turned into living characters for the directors present, even as a smart producer shortly afterwards invented a script featuring the two with a title, Aki na Ukwa (Two Mischievous Kinds). The movie expectedly launched the two into the entertainment world and ever since then, they continued to rise with an increasing record of movies both locally and abroad. Recently, Daily Sun visited the actors at their Enugu home where they shared their experiences. Chinedu is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu while Osita is currently a second year student of Mass Communication at Enugu State University. Although they have so much excelled in comedy, these talented actors now crave for more challenging roles, noting that mischief is not the only thing they dramatise: Background Chinedu (Aki) I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs. Michael Ikedieze Ogbonna. I hail from Iluoma Nzeakoli in Bende local government area in Abia State. After my primary and secondary education, I proceeded to IMT Enugu where I studied Mass Communication. Acting is a talent that God deposited in me right from the cradle. For example, during my secondary school days, I was a member of the Art and Dramatic Society. My greatest opportunity came in my first year (August, 1998) at IMT, where I met a friend whom I told about my desire to become an actor and to discover more about the Nigerian movie industry. I told him about my desire to be part of the industry and as God would have it, our discussion coincided with an audition slated somewhere the very next day. He promised to take me to the place and the following day, we went to the venue of the audition at a popular hotel on Ogui road in Enugu. The audition was for a movie titled Evil Men, One and Two and luckily for me, I got a role. That was exactly how I started and since then I have been actively involved in it. Role model The first time I watched Living in Bondage, I was so much inspired by Kenneth Okonkwo’s true to life acting. Although his role elicited so much hatred from members of the society, due to the terrible things he did to Merit his wife, something in me kept asking me, "how did this guy turn this make-believe to something close to reality than fiction?" I was really bothered for a long time and after a while, my admiration became a source of challenge, which made me to enhance my own acting skills. Other talented artistes who inspired me include Nnenna Nwabueze (who hails from my town and who played the role of Merit) and Andy Okonkwo Auditions Immediately I joined the industry, there were some artistes who paraded themselves as tin gods. Going for an audition then was like writing Cambridge examination. First we were asked many questions in the presence of big stars and we were bound to feel very intimidated. And after going through the rigours, one would be asked to call back in the evening or some other day for the names of lucky actors. Oftentimes, one would get a role in the crowd scene as a Waka-pass. This is all because one wanted to get involved. I remember the first time I took part in a movie, I went to town, telling all my friends to watch out for the movie because they would see my face in it. Sometimes too, while on location, one may have to continue shooting and due to spill-over from previous shots, you are told to go and come back later on another day. While doing this, one was spending so much on transportation and feeding, all for the meager artiste fee that would be paid. Breakthrough I had my major break in 2000 with The Last Burial. After the movie, I went to Port Harcourt and people wanted to literarily steal me. This was before Aki Nu Ukwa, which eventually brought me to limelight. Osita (Pawpaw) I hail from Mbaitoli Local Government area of Imo State. My parents are Mr Herbert Iheme and Mrs Augustina Iheme, I come from a family of five; four boys and a girl. I attended College Primary School in Abia State. I am presently studying Mass Communication at the Enugu State University. My role model in Nigeria is RMD and on the international scene, Al Pacino and Will Smith are my role models. I am working on my musical album, which would soon be rounded off in the studio. I am also into modeling and stage performances. The making of Aki Na Ukwa (Aki) Recently, Prince Emeka Ani told me how the story came about and that he was supposed to have been the person to have produced and directed the movie but somewhere along the line, Amayo Uzor Phillips came in and convinced the Executive Producer that he could use as little as N700,000 to do the film and for that, Amayo got into it and I can recall that from time to time, whenever I see Amayo, he used to tell me that he had a story for me. He kept saying this to me until the movie Aki-Na-Ukwa brought us together and it was a huge success. How we met We met for the first time, about three weeks before the shooting of Aki Na Ukwa and I believe God ordained it. We met at Macdevous Hotels in Enugu a place where actors usually go to for auditions and other information. On the first day we set eyes on each other, it was so dramatic that every other person in the Hotel left what they came for and started looking at us. We felt the same way too and I think it was during that first meeting that a smart person thought about the concept that finally led to Aki Na Ukwa. Cheating For anyone to succeed in life, the person must make room for people to cheat on him here and there. Each time we remember how much we were each paid for Aki Na Ukwa, we felt cheated but we are also consoled by the fact that it was the same movie that paved the way for the success that we enjoy today Advice to younger artistes (Aki) You have to be the best of what you are; what makes a man is self-control. A man must be dedicated to whatever he is doing, you must be ready to tolerate a lot of things because without all these, you are heading to nowhere. I remember those days, even as a student there were many times I had to sneak out from lectures to go and attend auditions – although I know exactly how to catch up with whatever I missed while away. Most often, when I was on campus, I usually buried my head in the library and also read ahead of my mates, knowing that there may be times that I would not have the time to come for my lectures. Despite all these sacrifices on my part, there were still many times that I will go out for auditions and come back empty handed. But despite the above, I did not give up, I persisted, I insisted on being part of Nollywood, I insisted on living above the frustrations. So I kept going from one audition to the other. We are just unique People don’t make fun of us because you know, we are just unique in our own way, we dress well, we are good looking and we go the extra mile to take care of ourselves so anywhere we go, people just want to be our friends. They come to us, "Edu, Osy how far now?" And even the producers and directors court us to their side. People jostle to have us come to their rooms. We have not forgotten and will never forget how much love we have received from such people. Worth We cannot say that we are rich but we can confidently tell you that we are comfortable. New York Academy We wanted to make a successful switch over. Here in Nigeria, producers and marketers were complaining that our films are too many in the market and that people are complaining (although this is a way of bargaining) we do not want to be caught napping. So we took out time to go NYFA to prepare ourselves for a possible switch over to Hollywood. Why did we go to school if we cannot prepare ourselves for any unforeseeable circumstances. We resolved that we are not going to end up like other stars in the past that were used and dumped. So when our manager suggested that we should go to NYFA for a crash programme in acting, we accepted it. We are too mature to be tossed around so we decided to prepare for the rainy day even though our sun is shining right now. Two sides of a coin There is no way you can know a person by the appearance of the face. People are wicked, and the devil you hear of everyday, don’t be deceived, is a human being. We know that a lot of people have made moves to see how they can come into our midst and tear our friendship apart. They wish they can create enmity between us, but we believe that when God says yes, nobody can say no, because our coming together was destined by God and God made it at the appointed time. Aki: If this stardom had come when I was a student, it would have retarded my academic progress. But God in his infinite wisdom made it all to happen at His own appointed time and again the day I met Osita, I was already considering leaving the country, so God made everything to be possible at his own chosen time. Ukwa: Although I am still in school but by the grace of God, I am coping. How old We are in our 20s, let’s leave it like that. How producers arrested us In 2003, we were arrested by some producers at 1.00 a.m and detained at a Police Station here in Enugu till the following morning. What led to the whole problem was very simple. Producers would come to us with an offer and when we tell them that we already have jobs at hand, they would say that they wouldn’t mind to wait until we were free. So they made some advance payment as a kind of commitment fee. It was not that we refused to do the jobs. No, but in between the jobs, we had a show that was to take place intermittently for about five days in Ghana and you know the Ghanaians to an extent are more organised than us. We have been paid six months in advance before the show and we have signed all relevant contractual agreements. So, when some of them heard that we were travelling to Ghana, they teamed up to embarrass us. We pleaded with them that we are Nigerians; and that we were not running away. We were only going out for a few days. We also told them that when we return, we would do their jobs. These were the same people that begged us to take their deposit and that they would wait till it was their turn on our schedule. Before we traveled, we lost count of days and even the months. It just dawned on us one day and we asked, ‘is this September?’ And they said yes and I exclaimed, ‘God, we have a show in Ghana!’ So we called them and told them that ‘please, we were going to Ghana for a few days; when we return, we shall finish your movies.’ To our shock, they gathered themselves and accused us of trying to run away. They took us to the Police Station and at the end of the day, we spent the entire night at the station, they made us part with N900,000 as compensation. They insisted that their films have stayed for too long in our hands. They also claimed that the show we were going to in Ghana was going to fetch us N13million and for that they said we should pay them N3 million as compensation. It was our lawyer that negotiated for N900,000. On arrival, we did their job and there was none of them that paid us more than N300,000. If it were not because of the legal implications of our not going to Ghana, we would have insisted on not paying that money. It was a clear rip off. The films were Village Boys and Husband Wahala for Vaseco and Maurry’s Not by Height ‘1 and 2’. Solid’s movie was Big Daddy 1 and 2’ despite the fact that we did not sign for parts one and two in our contract agreement. A – Z’s own was Shine Your Eyes. It was strange that when they heard that we were going to Ghana, they all teamed up to see if they could stop us from going there. All these are now stories but we can never forget it because it keeps piercing our hearts. Although they did not ban us, you see sometimes they do all sorts of things and nobody is there to ban them or even caution them. They see themselves as the Alpha and Omega of the industry but it should not be so. We are all supposed to work like a team. Nigerian marketers You can imagine producers banning an artiste because according to them the artiste demanded for certain privileges when on location and that they don’t come for recording on time. I know that we are not Hollywood actors but for Christ sake, we are the very best in Africa and it is appalling that our marketers don’t value us. In South Africa and Europe, we are superstars. Outside Nigeria, some ladies do flung their breasts and beg us to sign autograph on them! When we went to Ghana, there were so many beautiful ladies carrying banners at the airport to welcome us; old men and women, children and top government functionaries. They all trooped out to welcome us. The same thing happened in Sierra Leone and USA (Virginia, where I went to spend time with my uncle after my studies). If we are paid about $8,000 here for a movie, it is really nothing. As far as we are concerned, what we receive in Nigeria as actors is among the poorest in the world, although we are not complaining. You see, when we go for shows outside this country, they pay us up between $20,000 and $30,000 for only some few minutes on stage or for a product endorsement. I mean, there is no way you can compare this with the peanuts we receive as Nollywood actors. We know that the Nigerian producers made us but it is better we all see it from the point of yam and oil. We made each other; it is a vice versa achievement. Instability in Nollywood The industry is somewhat shaky; most of the marketers are complaining that movies are not selling as they did some few months ago. We pity them but one way or the other they are the cause of the present state of the industry. You see, it may sound strange but the producers pirate one another’s movies and how do you expect the other person to make money from his work if his own is pirated by his colleagues? Besides, the distribution network is so poor. We have 36 states in Nigeria. Why should they restrict themselves to just Lagos, Onitsha and Aba.? They should open up to other major towns and even in other countries in Africa. Nobody can pirate them if they have outlets in many places and release their movies on the same day in all these cities. We have over one million video rental clubs in Nigeria. If the marketers get their acts right and make sure that each buys from them directly, they would make their money instantly. Prospects We are presently working on our website and the floating of our foundation. Presently, arrangements have reached advanced stage for us to take part in a Hollywood movie and we know that with God, all things are possible. If we can get into Hollywood, we hope to influence Hollywood producers to come and invest in Nollywood. We need to learn from Hollywood. Greatest regret (Aki) I think that was when I lost my grand mother and another time was when some producers arrested us. The incident was so painful. Imagine the humiliation, taking us to the police and detaining us there. Marriage (Aki) I am not married. Although I am in a serious relationship, I am not yet married. My marriage is only in the figment of a junk journalist’s imagination. They just want to write and sell their magazines. I have enough money to marry whenever I wish to and there is no way I would get married without letting the whole world know.
Liz Benson on her new life at 40: Her appearance in the television serial, Fortunes, in 1993 changed the course of her life. The TV soap brought her fame and fortune. At about the time of her spectacular rise to stardom, the Home Video as a medium of entertainment had become popular. Coming to movie prominence with Glamour Girls in 1994, Liz Benson has appeared in so many home videos that her face is better known than that of any other actress. Some of the movies where she played the leading role include True Confessions, Shame, Yesterday, Evil Men 1 and 2, Trial, Pureman, Scores to Settle, Izaga, Chain Reaction, Sunset in Africa, Stolen Child, Burden and many more. A resolute and courageous lady, Liz lost her husband when she was in her mid-20 and unlike some women whose world would crash after the demise of their husband, she has faced life struggles and successfully raised the three children all alone as a single mother. She has made a huge name for herself in acting. In this revealing interview, which took place at the Kensington Hilton Hotel in Holland Park, West London, Liz Benson bares it all,from her life as an actress, a widower at a tender age, her children, her acting career, to the rumours about her true age. You have been away from acting for a while. Why? I have not really been away from acting. I am still there. What happened is just that I haven't been playing what will be termed as a lead role. I've been very busy. But once a year I try to do one film. Give a rough estimate of the movies you have starred in ? May be fifty and above. Can you let us into your production experience in Morountodun and Banking and You? Oh God! Morountodun I have found a sweet thing! It was a sweet experience. It's something I did for my association then, that's NANTAP- National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners. The experience was awesome. I played the role of Titubi. (She laughs) that was the lead and it had to do with the Agbekoya's, the warrior groups. I have done a lot of productions but that one was great. Talking about Banking and You, it was a finance programme I co- presented. It was another experience completely. The programme kept me in tune with the corporate world. It was a totally new experience for me. How was it when you started out in Fortune? The pilot episode was shot in 1990. And the first episode was aired (I think) on the 3rd of October 1993. It was very good. What about your first acting role? It was Circle of Doom. But I played just a minor role. It was produced by Paul Oke Ogunijofor, alias Paul O who acted in Living in Bondage. After that came Glamour Girls, which was the first major home video thing I did. That was in 1994. How and when did you interest in acting begin? It began as a child. From a time I realised who I was and people can ask me: "who are you and I could answer Elizabeth '. That should be at what age? I am 39 now. You could imagine when that would be. May be when I was five year old. What is the highest money you've ever been paid as an actress? I don't think I want to discuss that? Do you derive fulfillment in acting? Oh! Greatly. Yes, I do or else some of us wouldn't be in it. Why are we not seeing your face frequently in movies anymore? Because it gets to a certain stage in ones life you need to take a break, take stock, recoup and refocus. Would you take off your clothes in front of a camera and what would it take? Never. Genevieve Nnaji seems to be the hottest things in the Nigerian movie industry today.Do you feel threatened by her dominance? Oh no! She is a wonderful actress. Like I keep telling people when I came into the movie industry, I never felt threatened by anybody because there were people there. That was the notion a lot of people who are coming into the industry now need to get out of their head. The sky is actually large enough to contain as many stars as possible. Even if we don't have stars in Nigeria yet, she is one person that is good at what she does. She is just herself. And there are just few of us like that in the industry. You have done well for yourself:did you see yourself getting here when you set out? I saw myself beyond where I am now. If Nigeria were to be like Britain, Europe or America of course, you know what would have been happening by now.But with God's grace we are getting there gradually. What sacrifice did you have to make to get where you are today? For me everything has been perseverance and strong will to pursue what I believe in and where my interest lies. Have you bee sexually harassed or pressurised by a producer or director? No. When you know what you have and you believe in yourself I don't think you have to submit yourself to that. No I wasn't. What are the downsides and advantage of being a celebrity? Well, it brings you fame but fame without the finances is nothing and that is what happening in Nigeria. So you have to be very focussed to be able to gather the finances and make something out of it while the heat is still there. Of course we enjoy good and bad press. I think it all comes with the job. As you know everything in life comes with both the good and the bad. Apart from acting what else do you do? (She laughs) I used to be very active in business but a Iot of things changed so I am just watching at the moment. If you were to change a specific thing about yourself; what would it be? I don't trust people that easily: I don't make friends that easily, then I would want to change the way I try to reach out to people. My perception of civility is really not what a lot people view it to be. 1 would probably want to change that. So that when I get into a place and somebody is talking to me, I will know where to draw the line. I am very much into myself. But my job has made me to open up a lot more. 1 wish I can change that, that is, go back into myself and just be me. How do you like to dress ? Mine comes with mood. With colours 1 am very subtle. I am not a loud person. When it comes to dress, 1 like casuals a lot because they make me very comfortable. I could go for a formal dinner in the State House in my Jeans and T -Shirt, if I had my way. What do you do when you are off set? I take a walk. How do you feel about bad press? It hit me hard sometimes ago. Like 1 said earlier on, you just have to live with certain things. That is one of the things 1 have to live with in the industry l am in, I have taken it that for those who know me, my family and those who call themselves my friends, they know me better and they can draw the line about what is written about me. What was ever written about you personally that hurt you most? I think it is the perception about my age. The first time that I was hit by bad press was when they wrote that I was 36 and was dating someone who was 26. That wasn't correct at all. The guy was in his 30s and I was in my 30s as well. That was long time ago. Who was the guy? Abbey, he used to be a musician. 1 think this misconception about my age has to do with the role played. I remembered that in True Confession I played the role of an elderly woman. But it seems they forget that I also played a young woman in roles. There are so many things that have been written about me that are untrue, about pregnancy, about marriage. 1 think a lot of people just open their mouth and say things that are not true. There was once a story about my being dead. And of course I wasn't dead.I am still alive, 1 think it is better to clarify things before going to the press. Take the robbery incident that happened sometimes ago.1 was taking my mother to the church, when it happened. People were there and the police recorded it. But surprisingly a national newspaper came up that 1 was coming from a party. Yes, I could have been coming from a party, but this day I wasn't. This is something that happened on a Sunday morning in Apapa between 8.00am. What the reporter needed to do was go to the police station and get the fact. That report gave people different view and perception about what happened. I felt really bad about the report. Did you ever perform any secret marriage with Greg (real name Mike Nwankoni) as it was once reported? I never did. At this age I want to believe that if l should get married it wouldn't be a hidden affair. There was nothing like that. How best can you describe yourself? Crazy! I am crazy. I know a lot of people will be wondering what she means by that. I am just me. I get very upset. I can be very temperamental. I think I have been able to sort that out. My mother told me that you should talk more when you are upset. Talk to people about it instead of bottling it up. Before, I could bottle it up and just avoid the person and continue with my life. These days I open up more. I think I am a very friendly person. But because of the job I do some people feel threatened by my presence. So you've got to warm up to me first or else you will find me as cold as ice. Away from acting, how do you relax? I like travelling. So I travel a lot because it is when I travel that I have time to relax. I also go to the beach and stay in water. For me, staying in the water is like a therapy. When my children are around, I like to cook. I enjoy reading. I do a lot of films and barely have the time to watch them but whenever I can, I watch one or two our movies. Who are your close friends in acting? I have none except Rosemary Ingbi. What has been the most challenging period of your life? I have many.1 view myself as a single parent. And there are times even after so many years I could wish that I have my late husband around, especially when I need to make decisions about the children. To be honest, it is difficult and challenging. Trying to bring my children up single-handedly is the most challenging period of my life. Every other things that happened to me apart from my children I just take it as part of life. How was it then when you became a widow in your mid 20s after the death of your husband,Samuel Gabriel Etim? You know when you are young you really don t know the weight of certain things. You can't comprehend certain situations you find yourself You just try to carry on with the reality. It is normal to cry. It's normal to be cheated by in-laws, its normal for people to want to take advantage of you, but there again if you were brought up to be independent like I was, you stand on your feet and say no, my kids are going to be where I am. And you can do anything you want to do for them through me. I knew the person I was married to could help any and everybody. He was a very open- minded person. With that I know he loved his children so much and he loved me equally. That gave me the strength to go on and go through every thing and be there for the children. How are the children doing now?Is it true that Roseline will be pursuing her university education in UK? Yes, Roseline will be studying law at the University of Essex and the other two are in school at the Republic of Benin.I feel feel wonderful about the children. They have been fantastic. Excellent I must say. I don't have any regret at all. I will go to any length I to make sure that they whatever they want in terms of education. How come you never remarried after the death of your husband? Marriage is not something I want to play with. I respect the institution very much. And I don't want to rush into any. I had a fantastic relationship with my late husband and I don't know how I would have handled it. Moreso, the children have been uppermost in my mind. So I just don't want to gamble. The man will want attention, likewise the children. But my children come first before anything. Are you fulfilled as an actress? Yes I am. And as a mother? Very much Are you in any relationship? Yes l am. Who is he? Very personal. You are 39 but it seems you are only in your late 20s,what is the secret of your looking young? It is God's grace.I exercise a lot.Without exercise I probably would have been three times this size.I exercise not because of my weight but to keep fit.I have a trainer and I jog round the estate three times a week very early in the morning.My trainer wakes me up at 6 am. You will be 40 in April,what are you doing for your birthday? I don't know yet.
Chico Ejiro: Agric-Economist turned Movie Director: Chico Ejiro’s love for movies seems ingrained from birth. Right from his childhood days when his mother used to take him and his elder brother Zeb Ejiro to the cinemas, he knew that his love for the cinema would be long lasting. Over the years, Chico has emerged as one of the best directors in the Nigerian movie industry, aptly tagged “Nollywood” by movie lovers. With over 80 movies to his credit, he has carried the nickname “Mr. Prolific”. So, lights, camera, action, Mr. Chico “Prolific” Ejiro is my guest on Vista today. And as I walked into his office situated in Surulere, I couldn’t wait to fire on all cannons. We were both in high spirits; after the effect of Super Eagles victory over Benin Republic in the on-going Nations Cup. The interview was actually delayed because of the match. I later found out during the interview that Chico is a soccer afficionado. Okay, in simple English, a “football fan”. Well, I got down straight to business. How did he get into movies? “I give thanks to God and my elder brother Zeb Ejiro who gave me the opportunity, right from the days of “Ripples”, as far back as 1988. Then, I was still at Ife. During the holidays, I used to come to assist them to shoot “Ripples”. So, from a production assistant to cameraman, to director. But from time, I have had the interest in movies, my mother used to take my elder brother Zeb and I to go and watch movies way back in Equatorial Guinea. So, from that background of NTA, Ripples and Zeb and other directors, like Fred Amata, Andy Amenechi, to mention a few, over the years, helped out too. It was great working under those directors”. Did he ever, even in his wildest imagination think he would end up in movies? “I never”. So what was it he wanted to be? “I read Agric-Economics in Ife. Along the line in life, one just discovered that one had interest in other spheres of life or professions. I worked with people who have been very, very encouraging, people like Alex Usifo, Richard Mofe Damijo, Babara Soky, Liz Benson, Victoria Iyama and my wife Joy, has been behind me. She gives me the push. And the audience have been great to appreciate what we do”. What were the challenges he faced when he started and what are the challenges he is currently facing? “When I started, the first episode of “Ripples” I directed had Barbara Soky and Alex Usifo, then they were big stars, I was scared and nervous working with people who I’ve been seeing over the years on screen. They tried a lot to encourage me, not to be too nervous. But now, I am more relaxed because I’ve made a name through the help of God and people. These days, we are trying our best, but we still have problems, in terms of professionalism in this business; technically, equipment-wise, even finance, so we are praying to God and hoping that with time, we would get better. Hollywood was not built in a day. And Bollywood in India too. With time, our own Nollyhood would get there. In Africa now, Nigeria number one. They should give us time.” With over 80 movies to his credit, which movie is his most memorable? I don’t have any particular one, but I have a few I can count. “Silent Night” was one movie I loved because it was a very emotional story where a father had to sentence his own son to death by firing squad. There is another one entitled: “Festival of Fire”. I won an award with that one in Geneva, Switzerland. I also like “Full Moon”. To make “Full Moon”, I had to travel to many parts of Nigeria. I went to Jos, I went to Abeokuta, I went to a cave in Onitsha, I went to Oshogbo, I went to Sango Ota, I went to about six states of the federation to shoot just one movie. “Dutcast”, is another good one. There are so many that I can mention now.” How does one start out as a director in the industry? “You must be focused. As far back as 1988 when there was no movie industry, I’ve been there. Then they paid us fifty Naira per episode. From there, I moved to Megafortunes, where I earned two thousand per episode. So, I’ve been there. If you don’t have the spirit to fight, and you give in any time you face an obstacle, you can’t succeed in this industry. You must have a dream”. Viewers complain about the constant repetition of stars, they ask can’t we get fresh actors, new stars, why does “Nollywood” face that peculiar problem, and also there is this bandwagon effect when it comes to themes in Nigerian home videos? “I don’t agree with the public. Even in America, you still watch Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Julia Roberts, you still watch Eddie Murphy, etc. So, you still have those old stars. Let’s come back to Nigeria, we have new stars, Jim Iyke is a new star, Rita Domnic is a new star, Stephanie Okere that just won an award started last year. There are lots of them like that. But again, this is business. The marketer or producer is a businessman. In Hollywood, you have big corporations like Banks, when you want to shoot a film, you send in your proposal and they finance it. Do you know how we shoot films in Nigeria? If you are my uncle and you have money, I would walk up to you and say, borrow me 2 or 3 million. Let’s be sincere with ourselves, how many banks would loan you that kind of money. Like Ameze, she sold her mother’s land to shoot “Flesh and Blood”. So, if your dream in life is to be a movie producer and your mother gives you your father’s land and you sell it, use the proceed to produce a movie and you bring back the money, what would you do? Would you go and use greenhorns? No. You will go for Ramsey Noah or RMD or Genevieve, because you’re sure the people would first buy movies featuring those stars, so that you can recover your money. So, what I’m trying to say is that, we are businessmen as well, despite the fact that I want to make a new star, I would look for people too that would make me recover my investment at the end of the day. We don’t have big corporations that would finance us. Sometimes, when you use new actors, viewers may not patronize the film. Again, when you complain that we keep repeating the same stories, there is a bandwagon effect, which stories? We mirror our society. There was a time in America when people were shooting movies like “Independence”, “Armageddon”, “Asteriods”. They were all the same kind of movies, during the era of “Titanic”, they were shooting that kind of movies. So, it’s like that all over the world. When it is love stories,70% of the movies that would come out would have love as its theme. When it was rituals, it’s the same. Please Hollywood has existed for about a hundred years, we just started. I know we have problems, like professionalism, no manpower, no finance, no government support, piracy, no structures. So, the viewers should give us time. There was a time it was so difficult for Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup until people like Keshi went abroad and developed their skills and knowledge. So, it is like that all over the professions. We are not perfect. We are trying our best”. What attracted him to his wife, Joy, whom he described as his pillar? “Her drive in life. For instance, there were moments when I felt like giving up. Like when I shot my most expensive movie “Full Moon”, I spent N6 million to shoot the film. It was a big budget movie. When I released the movie into the market, it didn’t sell the first week. So, I was scared. But my wife assured me to take things easy, that it would succeed. So, you need someone who would encourage you in such moments. Life is all about understanding. She has been very understanding and encouraging me”. Is it true that movie directors ask young girls to sleep with them to get roles? “It is not true. Let me take you to sports. If you run 100 meters under 10 seconds, you will be chosen. If you are good at acting, you would get a role. Again, I said it is business, you have to be extremely good, because if I put an audition here, you’d have more than a thousand people who would come for it. If you want to sleep with them, how many will you sleep with? It is people who are not sure of themselves who would do that. So, if you are really good and you come for an audition, you will be selected. It is the truth”. What’s his typical day like? “I drop my kids at school before coming to work. But at weekends, I watch football. I am a die-hard Arsenal fan”. Being a successful director, does he face pressure from female admirers? “I do. Sometimes they come and tell you give me a role, I will give you anything. But that is not what life is about. When a man mixes business and pleasure, he will fail. Business always comes first for me.” Infinity merchants Has he ever gotten to a situation in his career when he felt like giving up? “Yes. During the shooting of the movie “Slave”. In “Slave”, a lot of things happened. It was a big budget movie I shot in Abakaliki. I spent three million Naira to shoot it with Infinity Merchants. At the end of the day, one actor died on set. After shooting, the actor jumped into the river and couldn’t come out again. From day one, I had problems with the family of the deceased. And also the film did not do well. I lost my total investment. But that is life for you”. So, how can people get into acting? “Submit your pictures, come to auditions, or you join the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).” What would he not want to be caught dead in? “Pyjamas in public”. Is he a fashion freak? “I just wear anything that comes my way, but I try to dress good”,. What puts him off in people? “Arrogance. And also people who talk too much and are not God fearing. I admire humility and I like to listen to people a lot”. Years from now, where would he want to be? “I pray that some day, I would shoot a movie that would have international recognition, a movie that would get me Oscar nomination, or Cannes nomination. That’s my dream. Where my work would be recognised all over the world.
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Modupe Ozien Ozolua: Miss Modupe Ozien Ozolua was born in Benin City, Nigeria in October 10th 1973. She is the youngest of four siblings born to Chief J.I. and Chief Mrs. M.S. Ozolua. She had her early education in Nigeria, attending University of Benin Primary and Secondary schools, and Queen Idia Girls College in Benin City. Her secondary education was completed at Apata Memorial High School, Isolo, Lagos. After her secondary education, Miss Modupe Ozolua left for the United States of America. She went to South Western College, San Diego and Devery International University, Los Angeles, California. In both schools Miss Ozolua was on the Dean's list for being a student with exceptional performance. Modupe studied Graphic Design and Business Administration. She was also recognized in the 1994-1995 edition of the NATIONAL DEAN'S LIST. This is a publication that list all the acclaimed students all over the United States of America, that constantly make the Dean's list in their universities. Her interest in Cosmetic and Reconstructive surgery was awakened after she went through some Cosmetic Surgery procedures. As a woman born in Nigeria, she knew the importance of a woman wanting to look and feel good about herself. And hence, she decided to make Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery available in Nigeria. Miss Ozolua was still residing in Los Angeles with her husband and son when she initially opened Body Enhancement in Lagos, Nigeria. From Los Angels she ran her office in Lagos. Making regular trips to attend to clients. After her divorce and the death of her mother, she relocated to Nigeria with her son. Modupe Ozolua has received numerous awards which include, NIGERIA WOMEN AWARDS, DAME INTERNATIONAL for PIONEERING ACTION AWARD 2003; CITY PEOPLE for FEMALE ACHIEVER IN THE BEAUTY SECTOR 2001; MOREMI HALL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, OBA FEMI AWOLOWO UNVERSITY for AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2002; CITY PEOPLE for BEAUTICIAN OF THE YEAR 2001. She has been featured in many press publications which include the acclaimed Ovation International Magazine, Pride magazine of the United Kingdom, Tell magazine, ThisDay Newspaper, Guardian Newspaper, Society International Celebrity Journal magazine, Afrikan Beatz magazine, The Empress magazine, Reality International magazine, etc. Several Radio and Television stations have produced media coverages of Miss Ozolua's activities at Body Enhancement. Some of these are the reputable CNN, BBC Television and Radio, NTA 2 Channel 5, Minaj International Television and NTA Network Service Television. Official Website: http://www.modupeozolua.com
‘Omotola, you are our long, lost daughter’: Hello diary, how would you feel if you just woke up one morning without nightmares and there’s a knock on your door with a delegate of about 6 people, with the mission of claiming you? I see eyes narrowing… What on earth does that mean? Wait until you read this letter from a family claiming I am their long, lost daughter: The Family of Adeyemi Silifat 29/03/2004 Dear Mrs Omotola Jolaade, Quite an age, how are you, your husband and your children? The motive of this letter is to inform you that, we the family of Adeyemi found out that you’re Silifat Adeyemi our daughter we have been looking for since October, 1985. If you could remember, you had your elementary education at Ansar-Islam Primary School Alla in Alla, area of Kwara State and Woko-Womu Girls Secondary School, Omuaran, Kwara State and when you finished secondary school, you went to sister Yinka in Lokoja, when you got there, it was not up to 2 weeks you were nowhere to be found in Lokoja. It was then your mother, Onibipe Abegbe went to Lokoja herself to look for you and she took you down to Lagos. On getting to Lagos your brother Rasaq Adeyemi asked you to stay with him at Savage Street in Orile Iganmu. Meanwhile, during that fateful period, your stepmother came from Ife to stay with you and your brother for a short while, it was 3 days after which was on Saturday we could not find you, so since then we’ve been looking for you but our effort to see you was to no avail. Your mother, Onibipe Abegbe who lived at No 3 Alubomimu Street, Isale Eko, tried her best in looking for you to the extent that in the process, she had an accident and after 3 years she recovered and later had stroke till this moment. We have come to your house at Ipaye about 3 times but we were not allowed to enter by the gateman. I Kuburat Adeyemi your sister, I’m appealing to you to please come and see your mother because she thinks a lot about you, so in order not to lose her untimely you have to come and see her. I’m still at No 23, Muri Ojora Street, Amukoko, Lagos and you can call me on these numbers 01-4820104, 08035522426, 08033023374. The names of your brothers and sisters are Kuburat Adeyemi, Muritala Adeyemi, Fausat Adeyemi and Taofeeq Adeyemi. Till I see you, cherio. Your lovely sister Kuburat. NB: One of your old passport photographs is enclosed. My dear diary, now in developed countries when celebrities go paranoid we think it’s because they are on drugs. How about people driving you N-U-T-S! I was at Enugu doing what I love doing when I got a call from my hubby, intimating me about this letter. As soon as I saw the letter, I freaked out. This was coming on the heels of about two or three other such claims but this one was mind blowing. Earlier, March I got a call on my way to location, that I had to be at the National Theatre by the A.G.N president. It was an emergency he hollered. I did a runabout turn on Eko bridge and on getting to the National Theatre, I met a scene, where a young girl Rhoda Okafor, insisted that after her parents of a Nigerian father and Cameroonian mother took her to Cameroon and subsequently their death years after, she asked her only brother who their families are in Nigeria and how to locate them. Her only brother, then told her that the only family of theirs he knows in Nigeria is OMOTOLA. Una see me see trouble? This is crazy. There are also two cases that are too funny to be published. Now this! I concluded in my heart that as long as none of them comes near me or my home, I was just going to ignore them. Then it happened. June 22nd there were vicious knocks on my gate. I was about driving out so, I decided to find out myself what the problem was. Standing in front of me were about four people, an old man and probably his wife, and two other people who immediately started begging me that they came all the way from Ilorin and that I should reconsider and come back home. They asked me to please check for a birthmark on my stomach that they all have in their family and showed me the picture you see in this publication as me before I left home. Hmm. If this people’s child ever gets to read or see this publication, I beg her to set her parents free. Let me categorically state here that I know my family and my siblings. I certainly do not have any Okafor blood neither do I have any Adeyemi blood etc. I am not looking for my family and will definitely not take it easy with any claimers from now on. Thank you. Dear Diary, I hope to be here with you for as long as I am fit so let’s hope some claimer doesn’t take me away (Not so funny after all). I remain OMOTOLA JALADE EKEINDE Till next week, lots of love. N/B: Watch out next week for the newest hottest tricks in town. They’ve tried it on me, you don’t want to miss this one. By [ Omotola 3@yahoo.com ] Saturday, July 10, 2004
Games women play: Once again, I must apologize for my inconsistency in sustaining this diary column. It all boils down to my busy acting schedule. I must confess it hurts me each time I am not able to fulfill my part of this covenant of writing every week and connecting with my fans through this medium.   For quite some time now, I have been away from Lagos. I am writing this diary from Asaba where I am shooting two explosive films. Yes, explosive. And I mean every word of it. They are two films set to take the nation by storm. Don’t start telling me: "They have come again o. Na so-so promise." Take my word that these two films are blockbusters. I know you are wondering what are the titles of the movie. Wait a minute. I would tell you. But it is worth noting that producers are secretive about hastily naming the titles of their forthcoming movies. Producers keep their titles secret for fear of it being stolen from them. As an actor or actress, you could be starring in a movie and you don’t even know the title of the movie. The producers would keep it in wraps from everybody. The producers would keep it secret. If you leak your title, someone else can stage a coup on you and take the title from you. Long after I acted in a film and even forgotten about it, I could be driving along the street and see my face on a poster with the title of the film supplied. And I start dreaming and asking myself: When did I get involved in this project? Most films I am involved in, I don’t usually know the title until it is out in the market and noise is being made about it and they mention Omotola on television or radio advert on the film. But these films acted in Asaba, I know their title and I can boldly announce them without incurring the anger of the producers. The movie titles are: <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/video/ad1.asp?blurb=22" target=_blank name="Games Women Play">Games Women Play </A>(GMP) and Masterstroke. These movies parade powerful casts and beautiful scripts. We hope you’ll love them. Games Women Play features three of the so-called G-Five. The three G-Fives are namely: Omotola, Stella Damascus and <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/member/content.asp?CatId=255&ContentType=Gallery" NAME>Genevieve</A>. And there are three deep role interpreters namely: Zack Orji, Bob Manuel and newest entrant Desmond Elliot. Getting excited already? Masterstroke parades powerful method actors: Justus Esiri, Alex Osifo, Gloria Young, Bob Manuel and my humble self, Omo-T. Waoh! And Asaba played host to all these stars. Can you imagine how our presence transformed this quiet town? I personally found Asaba quiet and void of activities, save for the Grand Hotel where we lodged. Let me seize this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff of the hotel who made sure that there was no dull moment for us. I thank Lizzy especially. She was just a fantastic hostess.   We did not quite feel the warmth of government during our stay in Asaba unlike other states we visited. Like when we visited Enugu and Calabar. In all, Asaba is not a bad place to visit. It is a nice place to bring your family for relaxation. The people are warm. And there are beautiful hotels to accommodate you. To go to Asaba, you have to hit the road. There is no airport yet there. From Lagos, I went through Benin and the whole thing takes between three to four hours, depending on your speed. As soon as I got to Asaba, I was rushed to hospital, cause I was so ill. I was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. And there to attend to me was Dr. Mike Modebe and his staff who were very ecstatic to see me even in my condition and couldn’t resist the urge to touch me. In my pain, they pumped me with volleys of injection. Enough to last me a lifetime. The doctor and his staff later confessed to me that they are my fans. Wow! What a way to show their love! I love you all. Let me also thank the staff of Asabana Hotel. I love them all. On June 9, I was on board the plane via Benin back to Lagos, a place I call Eko Ile. Once again, sorry for my inconsistency in keeping this column. I’ll try hard to meet up. Catch ya next week. By [ Omotola<A href="mailto:Omotola3@yahoo.com">3@yahoo.com</A> ] Saturday, July 3, 2004
Its a woman’s world: While I was making movies in Asaba, it occurred to me that some things have indeed transformed for the better. I don’t know how men arrived at this conclusion, but back then, the slogan was that it’s a man’s world and so women were told that their place is in the kitchen and in the bedroom! I don’t know who arrived at it but statistics already say that there are more women than men, so how can a few men still call the world theirs? My saying that right now it’s a woman’s world is stating the obvious and I am sure that a lot of men will not argue with me on this issue. I don’t know what could have triggered it off, but I am sure that a group of women woke up one fine morning and realised that they had seen enough of the kitchen and bedroom and needed to move on to a better life. Today, the result of that in the Nigerian perspective is that you will no longer find women who are satisfied with just cooking and warming beds, you will find women in corporate organisations standing out above the men. You find them asserting that what a man can(t) do, a woman can do better. Look all around you and see these women of substance… in the movie industry, yes we got men but check out these babes, the ageless Liz Benson, Aunty Joke Jacobs who stand tall above ten men, there’s Stella Damasus-Aboderin whom I am yet to find a man to match her skills. There’s Eucharia Anunobi-Ekwu and of course good old me who tries to be the best. I may not call all the names, but believe me that if there was a contest between male and female in Nollywood, you be sure the women would stand out. Let’s turn our searchlight into the government circles. Look at the Minister of Finance, she’s a woman who has a CV that would make most men go green with envy. Anytime a woman in a top position is being criticised, it’s not because she’s not doing her job, its because she’s doing it too well! Let’s go into media… most of the popular talk shows have as their anchors women, I don’t watch New Dawn everytime, but I have seen it once and Funmi Iyanda promises to do more. We have women taking the bull by the horns in journalism, check Susan Eyo-Honesty, Iretunde Johnson, Ruth Osime, Betty Irabor, Stella Dimoko-Korkus, et al… These are women who stand tall in the so-called ‘man’s job.’ When I boldly say that it’s a woman’s world, I also mean to say that I am proud to be a woman, I am proud to do the job that I do despite the criticisms I receive. I am sure the menflok in Nigeria cannot come to terms with the fact that women have woken up to reality. If you are a Nigerian girl or woman and you still believe that your place begins in the kitchen and ends in the bedroom, please wake up and think of what you can do for your society to make it better. Think of what the men have tried doing and failed and try to make a difference. I know a lot of guys (including editor of Daily Sun) might not find this piece particularly interesting, but I know they know the truth. When a woman gets all the attention for doing it bad, she better just relax. It’s because when a woman is good she throws the men into a panic. Maryam Babangida woke up one morning and said hey, it’s not only Ibrahim that can do something for Nigeria and thus she glamourised the office of the president’s wife in Nigeria and since then all first ladies have followed suit, realising that it’s the right thing to do. It may take a donkey years to happen, but one day I know that a woman president will emerge from this great country. This write-up is not to bring the men down, it’s just to let them realise that it’s no longer their world, so they should let their wives work if that’s what she wants. This is a big salute to all women of courage, who have endured the sufferings and who have realised that it’s time to grab the tiger by the tail!. If you are a woman, a Nigerian woman, it doesn’t matter whether you are still in the kitchen or bedroom, please give yourself a pat on the back for being feminine. Enjoy your time at home this weekend… woman enjoy your world. By Genevieve Nnaji [www.genevievennaji.com] Friday, June 25, 2004
Is Hollywood ready for Genevieve?: The recent article of Bovi Ugboma on RMD’s column made quite an interesting read for me and I had to go inside myself and think about this Hollywood brouhaha. Mr. Bovi thinks I would make quite a success in Hollywood (I do too) but he actually raised some mind boggling questions which I think only me can find answers to. I don’t think he was talking directly to me but he nevertheless made his thoughts known so I would like to reply him on some of the issues he touched. Before I go further, I have seen lots of articles on why I should not be a columnist and I am so surprised by some people’s outburst. I think everyone has a right to express him or herself, and If anyone has a grudge with what I write then the simple thing to do is flip over my column when you see it. I don’t think I have in anyway expressed vanity or presented myself in a way that would give me the name arrogant, but for no reason I can think of, some people just don’t like my column. I am consoled by the fact that not everyone must like me. I do try my best to be nice but if my best is not good enough, it’s not my fault, ok? In Hollywood, a musician can be an actor, a columnist, or whatever else he decides to add to his profession, why should it be different here? I am quite flattered that Mr. Bovi would single me out for Hollywood if he were given a chance to choose an actress and to this, I say thank you to him for recognising my talent and appreciating me. Now to the point he raised. Would I be able to stand the heat in Hollywood? Hollywood is not better than Nollywood, it’s just that they have better tricks to make the movies look real but anyone that can survive the heat of movie making here and make a name, can make it anywhere else. Here, we deal with real-life stories, Hollywood is make-believe. Of course, it’s not easy climbing up the ladder in Hollywood but is it easy anywhere else? Will I be able to cope with their professional standards? Will I be able to cope with the beauty rave and madness of Hollywood? Will I do my nose, do my chin, have breasts implant or enlarge my lips? Hmmm, questions that need answers! I am an African woman and if Hollywood needs me because of my African heritage, wouldn’t it be so silly to change it all when I get there? Would it be wise to change it all and not be able to fit back into the society that made me? I do agree that Hollywood is the dream of every actress, but I don’t agree that losing ones head in the madness is worth it. Oh yes, I will go on diets, (I do here too) and do every physical exercise to get my body into shape but that’s all I can say for now. I couldn’t help laughing when Mr. Bovi almost concluded by asking me if I would be able to handle the press. What a question!… I am sure that every person who has ever been written about in Nigeria would agree with me that if you can survive the war with the Nigerian press, you have a thick skin to see you through the press anywhere else in the world. I am not boasting, but I think I have had more than my fair share of press coverage and it’s done me more good than harm. I have African skin which is thick so comparing me to the likes of Elvis Presley, Benny Hill, Marilyn Munroe and many others who were depressed by press coverage would be a mistake. Mr. Bovi concluded in a rather dramatic way and I said AMEN when I got to that part, quoting him he said, “I believe if Genevieve goes to Hollywood, her prowess would speak for her and eventually she would make it to the top to become perhaps the second black woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Also the second African woman but most importantly, the first black African. All these I believe can come to pass if Genevieve goest to Hollywood!” What I want Mr. Bovi to think about is not if Genevieve goes to Hollywood, he shouldn’t bother himself with the if’s and the what’s, the GOD I serve doesn’t sleep on me and if he wills it, I will go to Hollywood and if he lets me get there, it’s to make an African statement with my African-ness. The question should be “IS HOLLYWOOD READY FOR GENEVIEVE?” By Genevieve Nnaji [www.genevievennaji.com] Friday, July 23, 2004
Face of Lux -Genevieve earns N20m: This is the best of times for sultry actress, <A href="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=763&z=3">Genevieve Nnaji</A>. A global brand, Lux is now having her beautiful face on its wrappers. With her new status, the world stardom that Genevieve so much craves through the sliver screen may have just fallen on her lap, wrapped on a tablet of Lux. According to the Managing Director of CMC Connect, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, for the first time, a Nigerian has emerged as the new face of a global brand like Lux soap. He says: “Lux, a global brand is for women of passion and beauty. Having Genevieve, an actress as the new face of Lux is a challenge to the entertainment industry. It is a new dawn, a fresh start which will take the industry to the next level.” For Genevieve, it is an opportunity of a lifetime to model for a soap that is sold in over 100 countries of the world: “I thank God, my parents and the press for this great opportunity. I feel honoured to be selected as the new face of Lux. I am neither the best actress nor the most beautiful woman in Nigeria. I am representing not only Nigeria but also Africa. It’s a great responsibility. I promise to be a good ambassador.” Now, Genevieve has joined world acclaimed divas like Catherine Zeta Jones, Marylyn Monroe and Patti Boulaye whose pretty faces have graced the wrappers of Lux. But Genevieve has not only embraced international stardom, she has also hit fortune. Blockbuster learnt that the soap deal had fetched Genevieve a whopping N20 million
Omotola J. Ekeinde: Biography of Omotola J. Ekeinde: complete with pictures: "I dedicate this website to all my fans,if it wasn't for you; I wouldn't be where I am today!!!. Thank you for your love and support throughout the years I have been in the entertainment business". <IMG height=300 alt="Omotola J. Ekeinde" hspace=5 src="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/articlefiles/776-omo1.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=0>   NAME Omotola J. Ekeinde PROFFESSION Actress STATUS Married with four kids HUSBAND Capt. Matthew Ekeinde CHILDREN Princess, M.J, Meriah and Michael I am from a family of five (5); Mrs & Mrs Shola Jalade (both late) and two brothers Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. I attended Christland Nursery School, Opebi, Lagos and Oxford Children School Santos Layout. I then proceeded to Kaduna for my Secondary education at Command Secondary School. I am currently undertaking an HND course in Estate Management at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos. I got married at the Ikeja registry on the 23rd, March 1996, then later had a beautiful white wedding on board a DASH 7 Aircraft flying from Lagos to Benin, on the 19th April, 2001. Besides acting, I also sing and have an album soon to be released. I feature as a writer for the Saturday?s SUN ( Omotola?s Diary). Occasionally I get involved in Social Services for women and the homes. -- -- <IMG height=300 alt="" hspace=5 src="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/articlefiles/776-Omo2.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=1> omotola movies  <DIV class=film align=center> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/1.gif')">Thorns Of Rose</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/37.gif')">Angel of doom</A>  </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/13.gif')">Oyato 1 </A><A></A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/4.gif')">Reckless heart</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/36.gif')">No Rival (1&2)</A>  </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/8.gif')">Day Break 1</A>  </TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/14.gif')">What I Want</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/3.gif')">Maniac 1</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/9.gif')">My Best Friend</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/10.gif')">Venom Of Justice</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/11.gif')">Working For Love </A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/6.gif')">Iva</A>  </TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/7.gif')">I Will Die For You</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/14.gif')">The Outside</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/21.gif')">The Prostitute</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/16.gif')">The Oppressor</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/17.gif')">Society Lady</A>  </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/18.gif')">Slave</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/19.gif')">The Silent Book</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/20.gif')">Mid Night Scream</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/22.gif')">Scores To Settle</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/24.gif')">Pretty woman</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/26.gif')">Okosisi</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/27.gif')">No one but you </A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/29.gif')">Market sellers</A> </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/31.gif')">Two faces of evil</A>  </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/30.gif')">Rescue</A>  </TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/25.gif')">Out of love</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/28.gif')">Mortal inheritance</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/32.gif')">Lost kingdom</A>  </TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/33.gif')">Final step</A> </TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/34.gif')">Blood sister 1</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/35.gif')">Blood sister 2</A></TD></TR> <TR> <TD> <A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/9.gif')">Day Break 2</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/4.gif')">Maniac 2</A></TD> <TD><A href="javascript:popUp('graphics/film/12.gif')">Oyato 2</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV> <IMG height=300 alt="" hspace=5 src="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/articlefiles/776-omo3.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=1> <DIV align=center><IMG height=300 alt="" hspace=5 src="../articlefiles/776-omo4.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=1>     </DIV> <DIV align=center><IMG hspace=5 src="../articlefiles/776-Omo5.gif" align=middle vspace=5 border=1>     </DIV> <DIV align=center><IMG height=300 alt="" hspace=5 src="../articlefiles/776-gallery2.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=1>     </DIV> <DIV align=center><IMG height=300 alt="" hspace=5 src="../articlefiles/776-omo6.gif" width=226 align=middle vspace=5 border=1>  "This is one of my favorite images"  </DIV> This is my column Where I play god and you are my subordinates. Sorry, what that means is that I will not hesitate to make my views felt in this page and of course it's mine so I'll say what I want. Dig? Any way don't get violent on me because I will be lenient but frank It is the page where I tell you the true situation of things against what's been written in the papers, both about myself and my other colleagues. To my Family:- What will I do without your support, never complaining always encouraging...I love you all Media:- sometimes sweet Sometimes bitter, but you have been there fore me when I needed you the most, and sincerely I appreciate you. I wouldn't be here without your help. My Fans:- What can I say about you guys?. You have made me a better person and I strive to please you all the time. I love You. Culled from:http://www.iredia.8m.com/photo6.html--
Stephane Okereke: Stephane Okereke She is one of the newest actresses who has emerged as one of the best in the movie industry. This chocolate-skinned star actress won the Best Actress Of The Year Award and Best English Actress of the year 2003 of Reel Awards. A graduate of English from the University of Calabar, she is endowed with a nice height and sexy figure that draw stares. No wonder, she was the 1st runner-up in the 2001 Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria pageant. Very emotional, she is said be at her best when her story lines are centred on love.She drives a Toyota sports car and a convertible Golf.
Genevieve Nnaiji: <IMG alt="Genevieve Nnaiji: She is rated today, as one of the best actresses in the Nigeria home video industry. She is also probably, the sexiest and one of the most beautiful actresses in the English movie genre." hspace=5 src="../articlefiles/763-GenNnaji.gif" align=middle vspace=5 border=0> Genevieve Nnaiji She is rated today, as one of the best actresses in the Nigeria home video industry. She is also probably, the sexiest and one of the most beautiful actresses in the English movie genre. Although she swims in controversies every now and then, but that has not in anyway negatively affected her performance. This dark-complexioned star actress has been dominating the movie industry since 2001 and somehow,she has managed to sustain the tempo till date. Infact, any movie released without her face on it's jacket is accepted with skepticism. No doubt, acting has been good to her. She now powers a Rav 4 Jeep and lives in an eye-popping duplex at Victoria Garden City (VGC).
Omotola Jolade Ekeinde: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde: She is another actress who has proved that she is also one of the best around. She hit the limelight with her role in "Mortal Inheritance" years back and also proved her worth in Kingsley Ogoro's movie, "Prostitute", This mother of four is endowed with a good height and good figure. She drives a BMW with a personalised number plate, "Omotola 1" and a Chevrolet Jeep with a personalised number plate- "Omo Sexy ". She lives with her husband in their eye-popping mansion at Iba Estate. She is from a family of five (5); Mrs & Mrs Shola Jalade (both late) and two brothers Tayo and Bolaji Jalade. She attended Christland Nursery School, Opebi, Lagos and Oxford Children School Santos Layout. She then proceeded to Kaduna for her Secondary education at Command Secondary School. She is currently undertaking a HND course in Estate Management at Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos<IMG height=300 alt="Omotola Jolade Ekeinde" hspace=10 src="http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/articlefiles/762-Omotola.gif" width=226 align=left vspace=10 border=1> <A href="http://www.onlinenigeria.com/member/content.asp?Catid=254&ContentType=Gallery">Photo Gallery</A> <A href="http://forums.onlinenigeria.com/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=14&MessageID=434">Forum</A>
The rise 'n' rise of... Oluchi: Not only has she boost the face of Africa event, she has made New York based modelling agency's take keen interest in Nigeria in their source for leading models. Three years ago, Sunday Times tipped her off as being the new black hope on the catwalk, with her highrising profile she may be fufilling that prediction. Since her life turned into fairytale come-true four years ago, there has been no stopping for this young girl. Seeing her, you would almost believe she has been an uptown girl all her life. Indeed, this young girl has achieved a phenomenal success for her age. At 21, she has sashayed down the runway for some of the most prominent names in the world of fashion. Big names like; Gucci, Gian francofere, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Gap, DKNY, Victoria Secrets, Feregamo. Tommy Hilfiger, Channel, Jean Paul Gaultier,Gian Versace have hustled to have her do their campaigns in order to capture more attention for their designs. Oh yes, only the sleek svelte look of our dear girl can beef up those designs and give them the attention they deserve. Her whirlpool career only means one thing, this girl is making mega-bucks from her busy schedule. There never seems to be a low season for her, she is still very hot-hot-hot. If she is not being branded as the face of Gap today, she is being happy for Clinique. She is straddling her tall elegance for Banana republic these days, displaying outfits for the fashionable boutique on the pages of IN-Style magazine. Its not surprising to turn on your television sets these days and see her as guest to leading talk show host like Oprah winfrey. The elite model star has turned into a most sought after model and is being ranked with such big names like Naomi Campbell and Alek wek. Will she be another icon like Iman? Designers like Frank Osodi who have worked on the international scenes are willing to place their bet on it. He opines that, "as long as she keeps a clear head, and stays humble she will stay on top. Oluchi has a face that will withstand all the challenges of the catwalk , from her face you can get ten other faces, she has a face that can be transformed, you can change her looks to achieve whatever look you want to achieve, which is what the other face of Africa girl Bevinda Mundenge did not have. Oluchi has an enduring look that will see her through. " He confidently says. Today in Nigeria, young girls are aspiring to wear Oluchi's shoes, the reigning Miss World Agbani Darego had attest to her being one of her role model's. Indeed this youngster has made a mark not only in the international scene but in the hearts of the teenage girls in her country. She has proved that, it is indeed possible to rise to the top in a white dominated runway and her success has given hope to many young Nigerian girls. Despite her busy schedule, she is still very much a home girl. She sneaked back home last month to take a break from the catwalks. But, rebuffed every attempt for an interview, saying she was home to rest. Lets hope the soaring heights of her career has not gone to her head. The next moment she was on the catwalk again for the London and New York fashion week which took place barely three weeks after her visit in Nigeria. Must be a real tough job jetting across continents. From being a school girl in a surulere grammar school to being a paragon of elegance showcasing haute couture for Christian Lacroix and the likes. Without any doubt, our dear girl is a bonafide star for the new generation model. S-h-i-n-e on girl.

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