Entertainment
Nollywood Set For Greater Heights In 2017 …As New Movies Storm Cinemas, Soon
Nigerian entertainment and culture were highlighted in the news of 2016 from several parts of the country backed by music, film, art and show biz. It was a great year for Nollywood as the industry witnessed various achievements and the release of block-buster movies. Some of the highlights of the industry include the Toronto International film festival. Eight Nollywood movies screened at the festival.
There were also box office success of movies like “Wives on Strike,” ‘A Trip to Jamaica” and “The Wedding Party.” The year also witnessed the release of other outstanding movies, including the ‘Arbitration’ ‘76’, ‘Green White Green,” ‘Ojukokoro,’ ‘93 days’ etc.
While it is too soon to predict what the movies industry would offer in 2017, one thing is certain, there would be overthyped movies, outstanding movies, underrated and box office winners among others.
Below are some of the movies, viewers are expecting to hit the cinemas and movies shelves and they are excited about them. They are:
Okafor’s Law
The movie will probably be a box office winner. It is a controversial one with Jude Idada’s theft accusations surrounding it. It screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The star studded movie features Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Toyin Amakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Ufuoma MC Dermott, Kemilola Akindoja, Yvonne Jegede, Halima Abubakar, Mary Lazrus and Uche Nnaji. Others include Betty Irabor, Tinamba, Afolayan and Funke Bucknor.
Synopsis
Chuks (aka Terminator) is an ardent player with the ladies, he enjoys the attention of women including girl friends from the past, he believes that once a man has had a woman he forever has access to her. When challenged by his friends to see if he can prove the veracity of that theory with three ex-girl friends from his school days within 21 days, he accepts it.
Turning on his best charm, he sets off to try and prove himself, but his guest brings him to three women, Ifeoma, (FiFi), Kemi and Ejiro whose stations in life have changed drastically since school days. This challenge of their various new statuses make his guest to win the bet more and more insurmountable as he tries to prove the immutability of the age old law, Okafor’s Law.
Something Wicked
It is a psycho drama, it has talented actors. It is Okey Uzoeshi and Isioma Osaje’s debut as producers. The movie which is directed by Yemi Morafa is scheduled for release on Februrary 13, 2017 and features: Gabriel Afolayan, Iretiola Doyle, Ivie Okujaye-Egbo, Adesua Etomi, Beverly Naya and Oke Usoechi.
Synopsis
Something wicked is the story of a widow (Hauwa), whose recently orphaned nephew Abel, moves into her home from the violence riddled Northern Nigeria after the murder of his parents. Abel has a difficult time fitting into his new family, while Hauwa struggles with the challenges of balancing a failing business and single parenthood.
This family bond is tested when they are thrown into a life threatening situation and we see how easily his understanding led to misconceptions and premonitions are sometimes the only warning we get in this game of life and death.
Industrieet
It is produced by Funke Akindele-Bello. The upcoming series is a music oriented TV drama based on the African entertainment scene and will focus on survival in the entertainment industry and on the hustle in the ghetto.
It stars K. Switch, Charles Okocha, Mo-Easy Freez of Cool FM, Lydia Forson, Linda Ejiofor, Tina Mba, Kunle Coker, AkahNnani.
Mami wata
It is a film by C. J. Fiery Obasi who helmed the 2014 horror film ‘Ojuju. Mami wata is a genre blending revenge thriller based on the mami wata (mermaid entity), folklore of Western Africa.
The feature film which is a female driven story will star: Lucy Ameh, Blessing Ese Samuel, Paul Utomi, Kolade Shashi, Brutus Richard and Bolaji Ogunmola as mami wata.
Catcher
It is a Walter Waltbanger Taylaur film. The movie stars Kiki Omeili, Blossom Chukwujekwu Ghenre Ajibade, O.C. Ukeje, Beverly Naya, Tope Tedela, Omawunmi Dadda, Alexx Ekubo and Wofai Dada.
Lost in London
It is a comedy and features Ime Bishop Umoh (as Okoro) who is considered by many as a comic relief. It also stars Alexx Ekubo (as Bona) and Velerie Okeke, written and produced by Uduak Isong Oguamanam and directed by Sunkamni Adebayo.
Dance to my beat
It is a star studded movie directed by Paul Igwe who helms the hilarious sitcom clinic, matters the upcoming movie stars Joseph Benjamin, Mary Lazarus, Mary Remmy Njoku, Kehinde Bankole Justice Nuagbe (Ush bebe), Toyin Aimakhu, Oma Nnadi Uzor Osimkpa. Blessing Onwukwe, Lilian Afegbei etc. Dance to my beat is set for a 2017 release.
Dere
It is an Africa adaptationof the popular Cinderella story produced by Mo Abudu. The upcoming miniseries revolves around Dere named Cinderella by her eccentric paternal grandmother. She is the precocious beautiful, naive, indulged and only child of Kosoko who graduated with a first class from St Andrews University in Scot land and studying law and international relations.
She is an avid social media user, reader and film enthusiast, once back in Nigeria her long time boy friend dumps her, increasing her sense of isolation, desperation and desolation.
Dere stars Gbenro Ajibade, Weruche Opia, Keppy Ekpeyong, Emmanuel Ikubese, Shaffy Bello among others.
Directed by Asuri Oluseyi, the movie stars Toyin Aimakhu, Frank Donga, Ali Nuhu, Maryam Booth, Ibrahim Daddy, Isa Bolloja, Rahama Saduu and HAdizasoja.
Hakkunde is an intriguing story of young graduate who battles everything including love family discrimination, drug, abuse, tradition and insecurity. It follows his journey to self discovery and actualisation.
The story is characterised by actions and reaction that defines the everyday Nigerian society, with its ups and downs ad with a particular focus on the life of a job hunting graduate Akande who found himself in totality, while seeking for a job and better life. The movie was shot in Kaduna and Lagos.
Nigerian megastar, Davido shares how his father recognised that his music was getting big.
Davido says his hit single ‘Dami Duro’ was the president’s ringtone
During an interview with newsmen, Davido spoke on the early days of his career and how he eventually got his father’s approval to make music.
The Grammy nominee shared the familiar story of how he left school in Atlanta and returned to Nigeria to pursue music without his father’s blessing which later led to his business mogul dad getting him arrested.
“I don’t think he did not want me to do music, he just wanted me to be successful as whatever I did because he got a blueprint for me already,” Davido said on his father’s early reaction to his decision to make music.
“He is so supportive and he checks on everything…My dad picks my album. When I am done, I send him all the tracks and my dad goes through all the records and gives me a paragraph each,” Davido narrates the personal interest and support his Dad gives him.
“My dad gave me the name Davido…The first show I did, he arrested me, the fans, the promoters,” Davido said laughing as he narrated the story of how his father got him arrested after he returned to Nigeria without his consent and had his first show as a 17-year-old. “He just wanted me to finish school,” Davido added about his father’s insistence that he get a university degree.
The three time Grammy nominee was asked when his father recognised that his music was getting big and he revealed it was when his hit song ‘Dami Duro’ was the president’s ringtone.
“When my song was the president’s ringtone,” Davido said.
While he did not mention the president or the country, Davido is likely referring to the exploit of former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan who was the head of state between 2010 – 2015.
During the interview, Davido also mentioned his plans as a businessman beyond music. He revealed he had a production house called Coco House which he describes as a media house for creatives. He also added that he intends to get into crypto.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele has announced that her upcoming film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, a spinoff from the Jenifa franchise will premiere in December.
“Been long you saw Jenifa!!!!” Akindele said.
While a December premiere is confirmed, details on the film remain unknown. However, the new title, Everybody Loves Jenifa, suggests a potential return to the core elements that have made the franchise popular. With Akindele leading the creative team, viewers can anticipate the return of familiar characters and humorous storylines.
The sitcom, Jenifa’s Diary has been a major Nigerian television show since its debut in 2015. The series centres around the main character played by Akindele, and has featured Folarin “Falz” Falana, Lolo, Juliana Olayode, Lota Chukwu, Paschaline Alex Okoli, and late Aderounmu Adejumoke.
The Tide Entertainment reports that it has also had spin-offs and sequels like Aiyetoro Town (2019), which is set in Jenifa’s village, and Jenifa on Lockdown (2021).
Akindele played Jenifa in the first film in the franchise, Jenifa (2008), a village girl who travelled to the city in pursuit of fortune. Muhydeen S. Ayinde directed the movie.
The movie was nominated for four Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009 including, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, and Best Nigerian Film. For her performance in this movie, Akindele took home the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The convener, South South Media Week, Tammmy Halliday has attributed the lack of unity and collaboration in the PortHarcourt entertainment industry to sentiments, baggages and trust issues.
He made this known yesterday, during an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to him, some things that spur baggages are family background, personal experience with colleagues or other people, saying that when someone has been reaped or used by any of his colleagues or someone else, he might not want to work with some other persons because of trust issue.
This goes along with baggages, where he now sees his other colleagues as one and same with the one who used him and so this continues to hinder collaborations in the industry.
He advised that as an entertainer you should get better, visible and exposed as the industry required.
He said that the key factor that can help collaboration is growth, explaining that growth would make entertainers live beyond baggages, adding that if you are good at what you do, and know what you want and where you are going with it , then you are good to go.
“You can seek an advice from a legal practitioner, professional or a senior colleagues to ensure that you (entertainer) get it right.
It is not a bad idea to serve or work with someone, because you serve to rise in the industry. You have to be well rooted, but, you should be able to know want you want and where you are going with what you do, this will help you move on, when it is no longer working for you, otherwise, you will remain there and keep complaining and then it gets to that point where you begin to see that person as a reaper,” he said.
Mr Halliday who also do corporate social responsibility award via his platform, South South Media Week stated that critical communication is important in any situation, with a critical approach, no doubt you will always be on the right track.
Speaking on criteria for awarding awards, he maintained that it is on numbers, affiliations, fanbase, followership, association and sales of the person or organisation in question, saying that these also works for collaboration with an artiste, because they are factors that facilitate growth in the industry.
Categories of award that are awarded through the platform includes, entrepreneur award of the year, innovation award of the year and others.
Nancy Briggs
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