ECHOES OF HOPE FROM THE FESTIVAL OF INDIGENOUS AFRICAN FILM

BY DAVID AJIBOYE

Even without a major sponsor and government’s support, this year’s Behind The Screen, a building capacity workshop in the Nigerian film industry which has now transformed to the Festival of Indigenous African Films was a huge success in all ramifications.
Organised by one of Nigeria’s foremost films and records production companies, Remdel Optimum Communication, Akure, the festival, which ran between Sunday, 23 and Thursday, 28 August provided a better platform for stakeholders in the thriving movie business in Nigeria to rub minds, charter a good cause for the development and improvement of the industry which only known enemy is piracy!

L-R Dir Gen.NFSB, Mr Emeka Mba, Pa Adebayo.

The theme of the well organised festival; “Impact and Survival of African Indigenous Languages Films”, according to its director, Pastor (Mrs.) Biodun Ibitola was deliberate. “As we all know, the ultimate survival of any culture depends largely on the survival of the language through which it is transmitted from generation to generation, as well as to other cultures for assimilation. Regrettably, colonisation has not only intruded into African indigenous languages, but has eroded it so much to the extinction. If we are not careful, we Africans may in the near future have to learn our own languages as we do to foreign languages at the moment,” she said.
The festival director urged for a drastic change of attitude to the study and use of our indigenous languages in Africa, and Nigeria being the undisputable big brother of the black race, must take a lead in this direction.

L-R: Mrs. Biodun Ibitola,Adebayo Feleti,Proff.Akinwumi Ishola.

 “This is the reason we have chosen, through what we know how to do best, that is, film production, to take the lead in our efforts to contribute our quota to the on-going efforts at re-branding Nigeria, through the effective packaging of Nigerian indigenous languages in films to other parts of the world.”
All the participants that contributed to the four-day festival collectively challenged the governments at all levels to pay more attention to the entertainment industry which is capable of generating enormous resources to their coffers in the face of dwindling resources from the federation account. The participants also urged the government to give out soft loans to practitioners in the entertainment industry just as it has been doing in other

Proff Akinwumi Ishola,Latoya Aduke,Orlando Julius.

sectors of the economy while equally noting that the sector has so far thrived through personal efforts of stakeholders as the government even failed to combat piracy which has eroded the scarce and lean resources of individual investors in the industry.
Delivering a lecture entitled “The Impact and Survival of Indigenous Languages in Films”, the Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof. ‘Tunde Babawale  concluded that African Indigenous languages constitute the golden pot of  our heritage and positive attempts and strategies to ensure their survival should be encouraged and supported.

 According to him “language confers on films an enduring visual character, for

Latoya Aduke,David Ajiboye,Orlando Julius

 it is language that drives the action. During the silent film era, the audience was left to interpret actions to create meaning. But with the introduction of sound/language, words could now be matched with action and communication among the cast is enhanced.
“One major impact of indigenous languages films is the preservation of such languages. Production of films in Africa indigenous languages therefore helps to save such languages from total relegation. When it is realized that at least one language out of the world’s 7,000 languages disappears every two weeks according to UNESCO, then the importance of preservation cannot be overemphasised.”
Prof. Babawale argues further that the use of African Indigenous films is also a means of propagating African tradition, culture and norms. “Language serves as a memory bank for the tradition, culture, norms and aspirations of a people. Films in indigenous African languages therefore serve as electronic database for the preservation and propagation of such languages.”

Remdel,Decon, Remi Ibitola,meka Mba,Mrs. Biodun Ibitola Feleti,Ishola

In his goodwill message, the Governor of Ondo State who was represented by a renowned visual artist and the State’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Tola Wewe said the state is working on film village to boost culture and tourism in the state. He commended the organisers of the event for taking the

lead and also for the bold step which would also put the state into focus. “The government welcomes genuine initiative from individuals that will put the state into global reckoning. We appreciate what Remdel is doing and we promise to support genuine initiative such as this,” said the Commissioner.
Renowned filmmakers, Pa Adebayo Faleti and Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola urged the government to embrace similar initiative such as Remdel’s. “Remdel is doing government job, it is the responsibility of a responsible government to organise forum like this for professionals to come together and rub minds on the way forward for their respective sectors.” They also commended the singular effort of the organisers for their foresight and the struggle to promote indigenous language through their productions.”
Other keynote speakers at the four-day festival which was held at the Cultural Centre, Adegbemile, Akure includes Chief Joseph Sanya Oyinsan who spoke on Indigenous Languages in Modern Day Broadcasting, Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma spoke on the Grassroot Mobilisation in The New Distribution Network while Barrister Ajibola Bashir Suraj spoke on the Key Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Industry.
Remdel Optimum Communication (ROCOM), has produced and marketed world-class movies such as Afonja, Odidere, Owo Eje, Ogiri Oko, Ofinga and several others. The company has also produced outstanding documentaries for some government parastatals and started a capacity building workshop in 2007 known as Behind The Screen Workshop which has now transformed to a full fledged film festival.

NOLLYWOOD MOVES TO CANADA

BY DAVID AJIBOYE

It is no longer news that Nollywood is being rated as second largest film industry in the whole world. But what is currently news is the fact that the industry is steadily on course to capture the world. 
The latest effort in this regard is the forthcoming Nollywood North America Film Festival slated for next month in Munich, Canada. The festival, from all indications, is not only a celebration of Nigerian movies in a distant land but a display of the beauty, culture, and the creative ingenuity of Nigerian film makers.

 Ahead of the festival which holds between this September 24 and 27 under the theme, “Bridging the Gap”, various stakeholders of the industry, including film makers, make-up artists, costumiers and Nollywood stars alike are expected to explore the opportunity provided by the festival to showcase the best of Nollywood to the world.

 Ace film maker and director, Mr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, representing the organisers at a press parley held early in the week, informed that the festival, heavily backed by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada, is conceived as a direct response to the idea of popularising Nollywood movies, especially in North American countries. Imasuen, whose ideas gave birth to the festival, said it would further reposition and help put Nollywood on the global map of leading film making nations.

 According to him, the festival became necessary following the successful premiere of the documentary on Nigeria called “Nollywood Babylon’ made by some Canadian film makers, which allowed Nollywood to present itself without any distortion to the world.

 “The festival is connected with the documentary called ‘Nollywood Babylon’ made by some Canadian film makers, where I happened to be the leading figure concerning the phenomenon that is called Nollywood,” the Edo born internationally acclaimed film maker recounted. Continuing, he said, “ When the Canadian film makers arrived the country, I took them to Abuja where the documentary was recorded and presented very well.

 And after the documentary, I was invited to Canada for its world premiere, attended by the second in command of the Nigerian High Commission in Canada, Ms. Ifeoma Chinwuba. After the premiere, I took the floor to debunk some of the mis-presentations about Nigeria as contained in the documentary .

 That was what led to the CNN’s Screen Room where I spoke extensively about the huge potentials inherent in Nollywood and what makes the second largest film producing nation globally very unique.” ‘Thereafter, the Nigerian ambassador to Canada, Professor Baba, who was impressed by the outing, later invited me for a talk in his office. After the talk, he endorsed the Nollywood North American Film Festival.

 Thatâe™s how the idea of the festival came about,” Imasuen explained. However, the exponent of Edo language movie, recently honoured by City People Magazine at his native Benin, Edo State, for his immense contributions to the nation’s home video scene, noted that aside showcasing the best of Nollywood, the theme of the festival is borne out of the need to get Nigerian movies into the consciousness of the movie bluffs in North America, where according to him, the local movies are heavily pirated.

 The historic event, according to the well-travelled film director, who just returned from a global tour/premiere of Ebuwa, his latest language film, in the US, UK and Canada, will be featuring amongst other things, screening of over 10 Nollywood movies, in addition to parading about eight top rated Nollywood stars.

 Besides, there will be a gala night, where awards and recognitions will be given to deserving individuals and institutions for the promotion of Nollywood. Imasuen, with over 200 films to his credit, advocated the need for film makers to use their art to promote language movies.

 He posited that the Ebuwa tour, which spanned over three months, was very successful and has further propagated the ideals of language movies to the rest of the world. Speaking in the same vein, Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board(NFVCB), Mr. Emeka Mba, represented at the event by Mr. Cornel A. Agim, Head, Community and State liaison, pledged to ensure that the festival records a huge success.

 The board is mandated by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada to select the films that will be screened during the festival. On her own, Mrs. Franca Aernan, renowned actress who represented the embassy, called on both the public and private sectors to proudly support this festival.

 Meanwhile, as a film maker with bias for topical and contemporary stories and issues, Imasuen will soon be hitting locations for a movie on Breast Cancer, in collaboration with the publishers of Genevieve magazine. The big budget project, expected to be completed this year, he said, would be used as an awareness/advocacy tool to further help fight the scourge of the disease that is ravaging Nigerian women.

I NEED A WIFE SERIOUSLY, SAYS GHANAIAN STAR ACTOR, KOFI ADJORLOLO
 
By David Ajiboye
 
How Kofi Adjorlolo wished that he had a woman he could call his wife by his side at this time that fame and fortune are beginning to knock on his door.

Doubtless, the 52-year-old popular movie actor, with two failed marriages behind him and two children to raise, has been through some rough times on his way up.
Anyone listening to Adjorlolo’s life story would agree with him that indeed he deserves a break from the hustler that he has been for the most part of his adult life.

“I was a common civil servant earning a meager salary at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. I worked as a radio presenter from 5.00 am to 5.00 pm and at certain time; I was compelled to do two jobs to make ends meet.

Then I met Metro TV’s Talal Fattal. He was not into his own television station then but financially he sponsored us to come out with a programme, TV Market, by Media Number One”, he said in a chat with www.africanmoviestar.com recently..

That was one of the interventions which taught Adjorlolo that there was light at the end of the tunnel. “Now as an actor, thank God, I’m financially sound as compared to 10 years ago. I’m not emphasizing only on the monetary aspect but now I have the luxury of working under less pressure and less stress than I did in those days”, he said.

Being a successful actor has its own peculiar challenges. “For example,” he said, “I face the challenge of going to town and being immediately noticed. My private life has somewhat been very much reduced and I am obliged to relate to people in a particular way. But my biggest challenge and regret at the moment is not having a wife by my side.”

Recounting how he came into acting, Adjorlolo said it never occurred to him that he will be an actor. “After my sixth form education, I became a professional musician playing with a number of bands including that of Nigeria’s Victor Uwaifo of Joromi fame.

“In between my stay at GBC and working for Media Number One, I was offered a job as a Marketing Manager at Peace FM. After eight months, I was called by the current Ambassador to Benin, Mr E. K. Adu to assist in the establishment of another radio station, now Channel R.

“Later my cousin, Richard Prempeh, the Executive Producer of Taxi Driver asked me to write scripts for the series and possibly join the cast. That is how I entered acting.”

Sounding content with himself, Adjorlolo said judging from his ability to work his way up from the days of Taxi Driver to become one of the most sought after Ghanaian actors by the Nigerian film industry, “I’d say that I’m a good actor. After being in the industry for about six years the reactions I get from my fans and the general public has been encouraging.”

Talking about his film roles and how he gets them, he said he is not auditioned before he gets the roles. “Producers have realized that some of us can do more than we are usually given.

For instance, I did a comedy with Osuofia and Mr Ibu and it worked well, though I don’t see myself as a comedian. I don’t normally audition for roles at this stage of my career. I can play any role given to me and I do it to the best of my ability.”

Adjorlolo would not talk about the financial harvests that acting films in Nigeria has brought him but he disclosed that he was offered as much as $5,000 about a year and a half ago in Abuja to act in one film. “It was a wonderful experience”, he said.

Adjorlolo is the son of Mr Johnny Adjorlolo and Madam Matilda Johnson and the second of three children. Keta is his hometown where he had his early education at AME Zion School, Keta Secondary School and later to Ebenezer Secondary School where he had his sixth form education.

In total, Adjorlolo has featured in about 60 movies within the last six years. These have included Ghanaian titles such as God Loves Prostitutes, Mummy’s Daughter, My Mother’s Heart, Official Prostitutes and Ghana-Nigeria collaborations such as My First Experience, Golden Adventure and Power of the Gods.

He has played alongside renowned actors like Ini Edo, Genevieve Nnaji, Patience Ozorkor, Ramsey Nouah, Emeka Ike, Olu Jacobs and Nkem Owoh aka Osuofia.

Wondering what he does in his free time? Kofi says he enjoys watching movies, playing his guitar and reading. He confesses that nothing will stand in his way to enjoy Akpele and Fetri detsi whenever he can.

He hates flying for many hours or riding in a speeding car. His favorite advice to everyone, especially the youth is “Don’t give up on your dreams or be deterred by the challenges that come your way, but keep your eyes on what you want to achieve.”

By David Ajiboye
 
Popular veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie has been kidnapped by unknown kidnappers in Onitsha, Eastern part of Nigeria. The famous actor was kidnapped on Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 around 3.
 
Three people were confirmed dead on the spot and about 20 injured people were taken to the hospital. Details of the kidnap was still foggy at press time, although the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka confirmed the development, he, however, said that the state police command was still trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.
 
It was gathered that shortly after the kidnap, somebody called his sister in-law, Mrs. Rita Edochie, who is also an actress, asking her to call her Edochie’s number, adding that the number rang several times, but was not answered. It was then that the family got the information that three people were allegedly shot during the scuffle to kidnap him before the kidnappers were able to take him away.
 

Pete Edochie

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Uzor Amankulor said in a telephone interview that he immediately relocated to the area with a view to rescuing the popular actor, adding that he and his men have started combing the bushes in the area to rescue him.
 
Edochie, a devout Catholic, is considered one of Africa’s most talented actors, by both Movie Awards and Movie Magic’s Africa Magic Cable network. Although, a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s all time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart .
 
Edochie descends from the Igbo-speaking part of Nigeria. He has two sons that take to his acting traits; Linc and Yul Edochie.He got into radio broadcasting in 1967 as a junior programmes assistant after which he was elevated to the level of a Director. He was director of programmes, but doubling sometimes as Deputy Managing Director and occasionally acting as Managing Director. He quit ABS because the government decided to politicise the affairs of their FM station, thereby resulting in the entire management being asked to move out, including him. He was to be the immediate successor to the MD but had to leave and enrol into the movie industry.
 
Prior to that, he had featured in Things Fall Apart and had won an International Award. The BBC flew into Nigeria to interview him for his role in Things Fall Apart . He lived with his wife and two sons in Enugu, Enugu State in south-eastern Nigeria. In 2005 the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria placed Pete Edochie and several other actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Noah, Stella Damasus Nzeribe.TO BE CONTINUED…