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Nollywood Store

We are glad to introduce to you our brand new Nollywood Store in affiliation with Amazon.

With the Store you have a choice selection of genuine DVD’s and Books from the trusted Amazon.

Hurry and order you next Nollywood DVD and Books from our Nollywood Store.

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Nollywood comes to Kenya

As part of the events marking the Nigeria Democracy Day celebration come May 29th, 2011; which incidentally is the inauguration ceremony for the winners of last April general elections in Nigeria.

The Nigeria high commission in Kenya in collaboration with the Nigeria Export Promotion Council is bringing the creme de la creme of Nollywood to Nairobi to celebrate with Kenyans and to give them opportunity to wine and dine with their favourite Nollywood Celebrity.

The ‘Nollywood Road Show’ is part of the week long activities that starts on the 25th – 31st of May 2011 will include workshops, seminars, presentation and other interactive sessions.

The ‘A’ list expected from Nollywood includes- Ini Edo, Nkem Owoh, Uche Jombo, Ramsey Nouah; others are 2Face Idibia, Mama G (Patience Ozokwor), Desmond Elliot, etc.

All Nollywood lovers in Nairobi and indeed Kenya are implored to come out en-mass and enjoy the best of Nollywood in Nairobi.

Mercy Johnson weds Prince Odi Okojie

Nollywood’s Mercy Johnson is ready to walk down the aisles with her millionaire heartthrob – Edo State-born Prince Odi Okojie.

The Nollywood celebrity long awaited wedding is billed to happen between August 25th and 27th. The court wedding would take place at the Ikoyi Registry on August 25 while traditional wedding would take place on 26 and the white wedding on 27th August at Christ Embassy Church in Oregun, Lagos.

Nollywood WATCH wishes Miss Johnson a wonderful wedding and a blissful future together.

Stella Damasus Arts Foundation (SDAF) kicks-off

The first set of applicants that scaled the keenly contested audition stages of the Stella Damasus Arts Foundation (SDAF), are expected to begin a free three-month training next week. The 43 students, who were selected based on their audition performance, will receive intensive training from volunteer professionals in drama, singing and fine arts.

In a bid to give back to the society and help Nigerian youths discover their potential, actress Stella, under the auspices of SDAF, had held a three-day audition at Zamunda, Ologun Agbaje Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to the multiple award-winning actress, the free programme will train and equip young people in various areas of arts, ensuring that at the end of the training, participants will have better exposure and opportunity to become professionals in their chosen fields.

The free creative arts audition was open to young people of between the ages of 16 and 30 years and from all walks of life, regardless of their educational background.

SOURCE – Vanguard.

FUNKE NI ORUKO awan OBIRIN© – Press Release

BIG DADDY OF NOLLYWOOD FILMS ADEBAYO SALAMI approached by London independent film production company to star in new project: FUNKE NI ORUKO awan OBIRIN©

Sword of the Spirit Film & T.v a small Christian production company based in London has approached BIG DADDY OF NOLLYWOOD FILMS ADEBAYO SALAMI to star in their new project: FUNKE NI ORUKO awan OBIRIN©.

We are starting talks on the role and castings said Ms Obisanya a graduate of Raindance Film Academy and Goldsmiths College .

The owner of the Christian Production company whose last film was a docu reality IT WAS FURTHER ENACTED©(2nd best documentary BOOMTOWN FILM festival 2011.) continued- ‘I think this role would be very good for big daddy as it will bring him to another level in the industry’ we are very excited.’ We hope to kick start filming soon.

Best Of Nollywood Awards 2011 tagged [11.11.11]

Lagos-Just as the year is fast running to an end, its without doubt that the race for who wins what at the the 2011 edition of the Best Of Nollywood Awards has also started.
Just last Wednesday, May 11, organizers of the award, which is facilitated by amiable Mr. Seun Oloketuyi, CEO Best Of Nollywood group, announced what could be tagged the beginning of another race by thespians, producers, directors, marketers, radio and TV presenters and stakeholders in the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.

In the words of the lanky publisher cum CEO, “We have officially released the nominess of some of the categories that would make up this year’s edition of the annual BON awards.
“Topping our release today is the lifestyle category. We are releasing nominees for this category and others mainly because they are special caegories that do not need movie screening, as a result, they would be determined mainly by the votes of fans and ardent movie watchers, who would be voting online,” Mr. Oloketuyi informed.

These categories as announced are the fresh and scandal free (yoruba&english), which would see the winners getting US$2,500 each and an all expsenses weekend in Doha.
Others are TV presenter of the year, radio presenter of the year, most promising act (male&female).

Nominees for thes categories are stated as follow:

Fresh and Scandal Free (English)
Nse Etim Ikpe, Chioma chukwuka Akpokta, Queen Nwokoye, Chika Ike, Bhaira mawizu and Mbong Amata.

Fresh and Scandal Free (Yoruba)
Sola Asadeko, Mistura Asunramu, Eniola Badmus, Taiwo Aromokun, Biodun Okeowo and Sola Kosoko

Radio Presenter of the year
Matse, Tootlz, Gbemi and Freeze

TV presenter of the year
Efe Tommy Adabamu, Adams Ibrahim Adebola, Teju Babyface and Tee A.

Most promising act (male)
Yomi Gold, Gbenga Animasahun, Seun Akindele, Trybson and Zubby Micheal.

Most promising act (female)
Bola pius, Bidemi Kosoko, Moyo Lawal, Ivie Okujaye, Ejiro Okurame and Uru Eke.

Meanwhile, sources at the Ogba head office of Best Of Nollywood group, disclosed that film producers have been jostling to submit their movies for screening and eventual nomination.
Mr. Oloketuyi, who stressed that transparency has always always been the watchword of the organizers of Best of Nollywood awards, also noted that this year’s edition won’t be different as voters, nominees, movie buffs and critics would be privileged to know the judges, who remain incorruptible.

“This year, our procedures would be made as transparent as ever, even though we have always been transparent, we would be going a step further to announce and unveil our incoruptible judges this year,” said Mr. Oloketuyi.
While rounding off his unvealing, Mr. Oloketuyi and his team also used the opportunity to announce this year’s hosts of the BON awards.

Though the duo of Deji Falope and Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha had made the show a success last year, the duo of Yemi Blaq and Ini Edo are expected to compliment and surpass their achievement come this year.
The event which is billed for the 11th day of November has been aptly tagged 11:11:11!

Genevieve Nnaji And Daughter….?

Genevieve Nnaji is 32 years old and she had a well attended celebrity birthday bash in far away London to mark the elegant entrance to the thirties.

It is not without controversy though. At the peak of it was the interview she granted and talk about being pregnant at 17 without knowing about her condition till after seven months.

In the light of the above, the net is now awash with a purported picture of Genevieve and her daughter.

Please Genevieve, help us confirm this picture; we at Nollywood WATCH are interested in the original. We have taken the liberty not to publish the picture that is about until we have an authentic picture.

Over to you…. Genevieve !!!

Why celebrity marriages crash – Folake Shadare

Folake Shadare is by no means an unknown face in the Nigerian movie industry. A former beauty queen, an actress of note and producer, she started acting in 2005 and stayed on the screen for four years before she travelled abroad with her man. Now back to the country after her sojourn in the United Kingdom, she’s set up a Film Academy where she hopes to train young and aspiring actors and actresses. She recounts her success story in the industry.

You started out as a model before you veered into acting

Yes. I was once a beauty queen and I have five crowns to my credit. I succeeded Kate Henshaw as Miss Lagos State and went ahead to win Miss La-Tropicana and Miss Vicina. When I got married, I needed the break to have my babies. If you say your entry into the movie industry was an accident, does it mean you didn’t plan to go into acting in the first place?

Oh yes, I studied History and International Relations, at the Lagos State University. But meeting a friend Bukky Wright, in a boutique changed my career plan. Our chance meeting and my decision to follow her to a movie location got me my first role. The movie KKK, produced in 2005 was my first.

You’ve been off the scene for sometime, what happened?

I took a break to attend to my family. But I’m coming back to the industry very soon. You know when you are newly married, you need time to nurture your marriage. That’s what I did. I travelled out of the country with my husband in 2007.

And since you return . . . ?
I shot a film titled “Oluwajomiloju” where I featured popular fuji musician, Pasuma Wonder and Hip-Hop act, 9ice. I had the feeling that having Pasuma and 9ice on the same set would help boost the film.
I also shot another film titled “Ile ka si wo” (What do we do) and the film is receiving finishing touches.
At the moment, I’m planning to set up a Film Academy, with the support of my husband. We hope to train young and aspiring actors and actresses when the academy kicks off.

Omoge Campus was one of your most challenging movie roles, how were able to excel?
Omoge Campus was not the film that launched me into mainstream movie worlds. It was “City Girls” where I acted about two scenes and three sequences in the movie. That was the movie that brought me into the limelight.
Most actresses dictate what roles they play in movies. Are you one of them?

Before I got married, I used to feature in any movie. But after marriage, I started selecting the roles I play in movies. As a married woman, you are expected to be decent in your lifestyle.
What would say stands’ you out among your contemporaries?

Folake Shadare is Folake Shadare. I will never be Ronke Oshodi either will I be Funke Akindele. I remain myself.

After eight years, in the industry what would say has been your driving force?
I’m a very humble person; I humble myself a lot. And that’s why most producers always want to get me on their sets. Nothing moves me and I’m amenable to any situation while on location.
People talk about the ill-treatment, harassment and all that in the industry…
I am not aware of such things happening in the industry. When I came into the industry, I maintained a status quo. I’m scandal free.

Should there be disparity between the Yoruba and the English movie industry?
I don’t really understand the discrimination that goes on in the industry. There were a couple of times, I’d wanted to star in English films. I went for auditions but I was not given a role. The English sector has this rigid decision of featuring faces that are familiar to them. Yes, the industry is one, but I don’t see it as one. This is because, the English sector is refusing to be part of us, just as we are part of them. Most Yoruba producers star actors and actresses from the English sector but they rarely star us in their on own films.

How’s marriage?

Marriage is fine because I married my best friend and he’s everything to me. I met him through one of my friends and the rest is history. My dream is to become successful in life.

What could you attribute for being responsible for crash in marriages of celebrities?
I don’t really know, but I think everything depends on luck. Everything depends on luck. Some of the celebrities whose marriages crashed were not only unlucky, but they probably married another person’s husband.

SOURCE – Vanguard Entertainment

Joseph Oguchi Jacobs [Saro – Wiwa] the Bongo musician

Joseph Oguchi Jacobs, alias Saro-Wiwa.Saro-Wiwa’s story reads like a novel. He started his music from the scratch without a mentor, and today he is a strong force to be reckoned with, when you talk of highlife Read more

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