Dominic, shone in 2008
No doubt, the just ended year was challenging as well as interesting in the Nigerian motion picture industry, globally known as Nollywood.
The year began on a good note for Nollywood and multi-talented entertainer Emma Edokpayi, the veteran actor who was hit by stroke a couple of years ago. He got a N400, 000 lifeline from Atlantic Overseas, the company, further promised to endow his talent with same amount annually in perpetuity.
In a related development, the Actors Guild of Nigeria, under the national leadership of popular actor, Ejike Asiegbu, finally secured and commissioned a befitting national secretariat, over 15 years after the body’s inception. The complex located in the heart of Surulere, Lagos was declared open at an elaborate ceremony in early 2008, with several dignitaries in attendance.
Perhaps, three of the biggest stories and events that kept making headline news in Nollywood in 2008, even in this New Year, were the Nkem Owoh’s death rumour, Enebeli Elebuwa’s attack and the lingering face-off between the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), and movie marketers, over the newly introduced Framework Distribution Policy by the former.
In fact, the Nkem Owoh’s death rumour was so intense to the extent that it reverberated beyond our shores. Not even the several public appearances by the leading comic actor, including a reception organized for him, at a popular hangout, O’Jez, could douse the tension and permanently put an end to the wicked rumour.
Also in the twilight of 2008, millions of Nigerians and even those in the Diaspora jointly condemned the vicious attack on veteran actor Enebeli Elebuwa, at a Filling Station, by a heartless car dealer.
The unwarranted attack left Elebuwa’s left eye badly battered, with concern that he might go blind, if not provided with urgent medical treatment abroad.
Again, the protracted war between the NFVCB and movie marketers was another low moment for Nollywood in 2008. The brouhaha generated by the crisis, nearly crippled activities in Nollywood, when it first began.
The face off climaxed with the arrest, detention and subsequent charging to court of some leading movie marketers by the board, for vehemently kicking against the policy and allegedly threatening Mr. Emeka Mba, the Director General of the board.
Painfully too, an officer with NFVCB lost his life while the crisis rages, with another miraculously escaping death by the whiskers.
Another crisis that nearly tore the industry apart was the lingering altercation between the leadership of the Actors Guild and the organizers of the Face of Nollywood (FON). The bizarre crisis succeeded in polarizing Nollywood by pitching erstwhile friends against themselves. Authentic information at our disposal has it that the crisis has not yet abated and both parties have vowed never to sheathe their swords.
The recurring issue of armed robbery attacks on some popular Nollywood practitioners was another incident that shook the industry in 2008. Popular names like; Kanayo O. Kanayo, Uche Jombo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Jennifer Eliogu and a few others were all victims with sad tales to tell.
Unfortunately, the duo of Jombo and Ekeinde, lost their automobiles in the ungodly attacks, lucky Jombo, however, recovered her SUV, some days later, though badly vandalized.
After several years of impersonating top actress Ini Edo as well as extorting huge sums of money from unsuspecting fans and admirers of the Akwa-Ibom State born thespian, the Lagos State Police Command nabbed a lady last year, and the suspect was subsequently charged to court. Speaking at a crowded press conference, immediately after the arrest, embittered Ini, now happily married, vowed to follow the case to its logical conclusion.
Asiegbu, President Actors Guild
The low and sad moments notwithstanding, Nollywood, also the third largest film-producing nation globally and the pride of Africa, also recorded some milestones in the areas of marriages, awards, festivals, summits/workshops, political appointments and increase in celebrity-child- births.
Popular names that found true love and finally said “I Do” by walking down the aisles include: Ini Edo, Saint Obi, Emeka Ossai, Emeka Enyiocha and Julius Agwu. Others are: Uche Elendu, Jim Lawson Maduike, Dauda, Ay, Tony Ani and a few others. They are currently the reigning husbands and wives in tinsel town.
High profile events like the AMAA, Abuja and Lagos film festivals, Zuma and the Tinapa film summit, all helped to further shape and reposition the industry for greater challenges in 2008.
Interestingly too, well-attended summits and workshops held in 2008 by the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Movie Reporters Guild of Nigeria (MORGON), Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), and the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), were all aimed at helping to move the stagnant industry forward and attract investors from within and beyond.
Several resource persons who were drawn from within and outside our shores delivered topical papers at the above events in 2008. In fact, the US Department of State, hugely supported the SWGN workshop, and flew in Professor Myla Churchill, from the New York Film Academy, as the main resource person at the event.
Nollywood, which is reportedly worth between USD 250 and 300 million on an annual basis, also got a big boost in 2008, when two of its leading names, Okey Bakassi and Richard Mofe Damijo, got political appointments from their states’ government respectively.
While the former was appointed an Executive Assistant on Entertainment to the Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, the latter was elevated from a Special Assistant, to the position of a Commissioner and cabinet member by Emmanuel Uduaghan, the Delta State governor.
Both historic appointments were widely hailed in Nollywood and beyond.
Top acts such as: Saint Obi, Chioma Chukwuka – Akpotha, Monalisa Chinda, Chidi Ihezie-Okafor and a host of others, further increased the population of “Nollywood kids” with the arrival of new born babies in their respective homes in 2008.
Elsewhere, Nollywood practitioners were openly booed, jeered and castigated for failing to send a single representative to the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival, the world’s acclaimed oldest festival, which held elaborately in Italy, in 2008.
Mixed reactions also greeted the shocking news of the face –off between erstwhile best of pals, Oby Edozich and Tricia Eseigbe, over who wins the love of ex musician, Danny Wilson.
Similar reactions further trailed the dirty and messy break up between controversial actress Shan George and her younger lover boy, last year. The scandal eventually landed the ex love birds at the Ikeja Police Area Command, where accusations and counter accusations were traded in full public glare.
Indeed, another incident that jolted the entire industry alongside its keen followers in 2008, was the announcement by top actress Eucharia Anumobi, that her only son- Joshua, had been diagnosed with Sickle Cell. Embattled Anunobi, is still struggling to save the soul of her prized possession, even in this New Year.
Meanwhile, many practitioners in the industry were disappointed when the annual Nollywood Gala Nite, organized by the Niteshift Coliseum, failed to hold last year.
Above all, several industry watchers are still dazed that Nollywood, which has been severally and severely criticized for churning out movies in large quantity, surprisingly, recorded low release of movies in the just ended year. And many have attributed this to the on-going re-organization and re-structuring of the industry aimed at consolidating production efforts for an even distribution.
Despite the several trials, tribulations and set backs recorded in Nollywood in 2008, the industry eventually triumphed with the presentation of licenses to film distributors and exhibitors, by the NFVCB, in the last days of the year.
Pundits as well as core practitioners and stakeholders are optimistic that the bold move would definitely bring in good tidings for Nollywood this New Year and beyond.
