Entertainment
Intimidating Profile Of Genevieve Nnaji, Africa’s Most Revered Actress
Genevieve Nnaji has
frequently been hailed as Africa’s own answer to the likes of Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and the rest of Feminine Hollywood Stars, this is according to Forbes who has ranked her as number 19 of the 40 most powerful celebrities in Africa.
She started out in her acting career over 24 years ago at the age of 8 playing a supporting role in a Nigerian TV series. Today she is arguably Africa’s most revered actress and the poster girl in Nollywood, Nigeria’s burgeoning movie industry. She has featured in over 80 successful blockbuster movies.
Genevieve Nnaji was born in Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria, but grew up in Lagos. She is the fourth of eight children and was brought up in a middle class environment. Her father worked as an engineer and her mother as a nursery teacher.
She attended Methodist Girls College Yaba Lagos before transferring into University Lagos, while, at the University, Genevieve began auditioning for acting jobs amongst the many Nollywood projects. She started her acting career as a child actress at the age of 8 in the then popular television soap opera, ‘RIPPLES.’
In 1998, at the age of 19, she was introduced into the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie “MOST WANTED.’ Her subsequent movies include “LAST PARTY,” “MARK OF THE BEAST” and “IJELE,” in 2010, she starred in the award winning film “IJE,” the journey, Gene as she is popularly called by fans and admirers is considered to be one of the best paid actress in Nollywood.
In 2004, she signed a recording contract with EKB Records, a Ghanaian record bale and released her debut album one Logologo line, a mix of R&B, Hip-Hop and urban music Nnaji has featured in several commercials some of which include pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 2004, she became the “Face of Lux” in Nigeria in a highly lucrative sponsorship deal. Also 2008 said Nnaji launching a clothing lines St Genevieve which donates its proceeds to charity.
In May 2010, Nnaji was appointed to be the official face of MUD in Nigeria, in June 2012, she was unveiled as the brand ambassador of Range Rover Evogue. Genevieve has received several awards and nominations for her works, including the best actress of the year award at the 2001 city people awards and the best actress in a leading role award at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The super Nollywood actress has also sealed a corporate deal with Amstel Malta as ambassador, alongside international football star Michel Obi. She is also one of the ambassadors of Airtle, a deal that fetched her multi millions of naira.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
Nancy Briggs
