Entertainment
AGN Mourns Late Veteran Actor, Bruno Iwuoha
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has mourned the death of veteran Nollywood actor, Bruno Iwuoha who died in the early hours of Saturday after prolonged battle with diabetes.
The Director of Communication AGN, Monalisa Chinda-Coker confirmed the news in a recent press statement issued on behalf of the entire members of the AGN as the national president Ejezie Emeka Rollas commiserate with the immediate family, members, friends and fans.
He prayed that God may comfort them at this moment of grief and may the soul of all faithful departed rest in peace. The statement read.
The veteran actor went public about his ailment, during an interview with Berekete family on Human rights 101.1 in Abuja 2015. According to the talented actor, he never knew he had diabetes until a violent armed robbery attack that landed him in hospital.
He was quoted as having said, “I’ve gone to some places within the country and outside the country for treatment until finally the thing (diabetes) claimed one of my sights (eyes). As I look at you now, I’m using only one sight (eye) they call it glaucoma and gradually it is affecting the other one.
“I discovered that this thing (the illness) is a lifetime something and it has robbed me of the job (acting), and now, if I get a script, it will be hard for me to read it very well, and if I read it, I strain my eye for so long, it would look as if someone would lead me around the house or any where I want to go because it will affect the only one (eye) so that’s my problem.
At the time, he said he needed to be transferred to a US based hospital, where he required to pay N3.5 million shortly after, the CEO of Morgan Entertainment, Emeka Morgan Ogu Ejiofor, reached out to him and footed his bill to us as well as his medical bills, Mr Iwuoha was diagnosed with glaucoma and diabetes.
In January 2021, the AGN launched an appeal fund aimed at providing urgent medical intervention to ailing Nollywood actors and assisting families of late actors. The late actor, Iwuoha was listed as one of the beneficiaries of the appeal fund.
Prior to Nollywood, he was a principal, registered contractor with National Fertilizer company of Nigeria (NAFCON) Onne, Port Harcourt. His debut movie role was in ‘Lost Kingdom’ which was shot at Aba by the late Ndubuisi Okoh.
His foray into Nollywood was an interesting one, the producers of movies needed someone who could play the role of an old man, they wanted someone with natural grey hair and not artificial one. After several recommendations, his friend, a certain Christopher, brought him a script and a letter of introduction stating that he was needed at Wilcox Memorial School at Aba, the rest they said is history.
The late actor won the Best supporting actor at the African movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2007 for his performance in the movie ‘Sins of The Flesh’. A prolific actor, he starred in several award winning movies like ‘World Apart’, Magic Cap, Keeping Close, Another Bondage, Faces of Love and Days of Hatred.
Other are: Two Bad Boys, Double Mind, Eagle’s Bride, Forever Yours, Jealous Lover, My Own Share, My Portfolio, Occultist Battle, The Prince and the Princess and Sons of the Flesh.
In his life time he starred in over 509 movies with the most recent movie being ‘Silent Prejudice’ (2020) which was produced by Chris Kalu. The 68-year-old actor is survived by his wife and six children.
Entertainment
Davido Narrates How His Song Became President’s Ringtone
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.
Entertainment
Funke Akindele’s New Film Premiers, Dec
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.
Entertainment
Halliday Attributes Collaboration Hindrance To Sentiments, Others
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.
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