Issuu

FALL ISSUE

MAGAZINE

NOLLYWOOD ON THE GLOBAL SCENE AFRICAN CULTURAL FILM FESTIVAL (AFFRICUFF) SET TO KICK-OFF

Tana Adelana

INDUSTRY INSIDERS SPEAK

TRAVEL DIARIES

ON HER OWN TERMS

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Editor’s Note

Dear Readers, I am thrilled to introduce the first issue of our long-awaited magazine dedicated entirely to the business of film making in Nollywood. I have always had a healthy respect for the Nigeria film industry and its meteoric rise over the past three decades has not surprised me in the least. In fact, back in 2003, I already knew that Nollywood was going to be huge and here we are today, celebrating so many good things about it. It gladdens my heart to see the industry grow and thrive, and I am honored to be a part of the movement. Together with a team of incredibly talented collaborators, we have poured our hearts into creating a magazine that we hope will supersede your expectations. Our goal is to provide a platform where Nollywood can be celebrated and its unique voice can be heard. In this issue, we bring you exciting insights into the world of film making in Nollywood, including interviews with industry veterans, behind-the-scenes looks at the making of some of Nollywood’s biggest hits, and much more. We believe that this magazine will not only entertain and inform you, but also inspire you to be a part of the vibrant and ever-growing Nollywood community. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for this incredible industry, and we are honored to be a part of its journey. Thank you for joining us on this adventure, and we hope you enjoy our first issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. Warm Regards,

Bola Aduwo

Editor-in Chief

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CONTENTS 2 4

Editor’s Note News & Views: AMVCA 2023 Best Dressed List

12 Up Close & Personal With Tana Adelana

Photos and info by famed photographer Hakeem Salaam on an interesting place he has travelled to

14 Industry Insiders 16 Taste the World

Mouth-watering cuisine by as she tantalises our taste buds with authentic African food

17 Travel Diaries

Photos and info by famed photographer Hakeem Salaam on an interesting place he has travelled to

20 Film Review:

Jadesola Osiberu’s ‘Gangs of Lagos’

22 Out & About 25 Nollywood Round Up

EDITOR IN-CHIEF Bola Aduwo CONTRIBUTORS Seun Olaniyan GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Naz Onuzo Uduak Oguamanam GRAPHIC DESIGNER Oluwole Aduwo

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PHOTOGRAPHY Hakeem Salaam CD Visuals MARKETING/ADVERTISING Lisa Ighegele APPRECIATION Bukky Ebun Emem Isong-Misodi Bode Ojo

2023

BEST DRESSED LIST

The Africa Magic Viewers Choice awards (AMVCA) is an event on the film circuit in Nollywood that is often anticipated every year and this year’s was no different. The event which took place in May of this year drew members of the film community together from all over Africa. The stars come out in full force we were treated to feast of who wore what and won what. Who was this year’s best dressed on the red carpet? We made a few selections, Do you agree?

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Juliet Ibrahim

Ini Edo

Funke Akindele

Enado Idigie

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Kie Kie

Bimbo Ademoye

Osas Ighodalo

Nse Ikpe-Etim MAGAZINE

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NOLLYWOOD AT

2023 ESSENCE FILM FESTIVAL

Essence Film Festival for the first time held a ‘Nigeria Day’ at the 2023 edition in July. The day was to serve as a catalyst to foster positive relationships between Nollywood talents and the film industry in the United States. This particular event was curated by Toyosi Etim Effiong of That Good Media a public relations and talent company in Nigeria.

Celebrities present were Richard Mofe Damijo, Stella Damasus, Daniel Etim Effiong, Ijeoma Onah, Yolanda Okereke-Fubara, Osas Ighodaro, Deyemi Okanlanwo, Mofe Duncan, Stan Nze, Timini Egbuson, Omowumi Dada, Shawn Faqua, Blessing and Stan Nze and many more bringing their immense talent and passion to Nigeria Day. 

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Richard Mofe-Damijo Omowunmi Dada Osas Ighodalo

Daniel Etim Effiong Stella Damasus Shawn Faqua

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ROYAL ARTS AFRICAN CENTER OPENS IN HOUSTON Residents of Houston have breathed a sigh of relief that a new African arts center has been opened in their community in June 2023. The center is being managed by Emem Isong Misodi the veteran film producer who has now brought the Royal Arts brand to the shores of America. On the 18th of June friends, well wishers and members of the film community in Houston converged in Katy, Texas to witness the historic event with much fun and fanfare. Present among the celebrities were Nollywood director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen who premiered his movie ‘For the Love of Isiuwa at the event. Other dignitaries present were actor Alex Ekubo, Grace Charis Bassey (formerly Belinda Effah) Thelma Okoduwa, Alex Mouth, Kenyan actress Ruth Maingi, Bola Aduwo, Anita Chris, Ijeoma Onah of Nigeria International Film Summit, Uche James Iroha, Arch Bishop Cletus Bassey of Destiny International Missions, Pst and Mrs Morayo Fagboro of Kingdom Life Assembly, Bode Ojo to mention a few. The center is also the venue of the much anticipated African Cultural Film Festival taking place in October 2023. Enjoy some lovely photos from the event.

l-r: Bode Ojo, Lancelot Imasuen, Emem Isong, Tijani Olaleke

Emem Isong

l-r: Emem Isong

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l-r: Lancelot Imasuen, Emem Isong

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH

TANA ADELANA

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and was produced by Emem Isong. In that film I played a stripper and I tell you that film really pushed me to beyond my limits and stretched me as an actor. It was very well received in the cinemas at the box office. The whole experience was quite amazing. That I can say was the films that changed the trajectory of my career, got me recognized for my work and began a very beautiful and rewarding film career for me. Hi Tana. How are you? Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you

Navigating Nollywood can be challenging. Care to share some major obstacles you faced and how did you overcome them?

Tell us a bit about what made you decide to go into acting? When were you bitten by the acting bug? TA: I went into acting because I have always loved acting. I used to visit my then best friend Kayode Peters at his department (Creative Arts) in University of Lagos an I always enjoyed what I saw. Then we did ‘Flat Mates’ – which is called ‘My Flat Mates’ now and it was quite interesting. Then however, I couldn’t give acting my all as I needed to focus on school as well as my then career as a TV presenter. It was a bit demanding at that time. In 2012 however, (actress) Yvonne Nelson called me to be part of her movie ‘Single And Married’ to play about 7 scenes. Just a few scenes but I tell you it made quite a huge impact in my career.People began to recognize me almost immediately. The movie did well in the cinemas too and then after that I got a call from DeCross (marketer) to do his film, ‘The Kingdom’. Quite a number of people saw it and loved it especially as the film came out on Christmas Day in 2012. That I can say was the beginning of a blossoming and beautiful year for me. As an actress what do you find most rewarding about your work? T.A: What I find most rewarding is living someone else’s life. The opportunity to

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put my feet in someone else’s shoes.. to act like them, be like them … I think about how they will react to certain situations and when I’m done with that to see the way people, my fans receive it and react to me, is so rewarding. It makes me so happy. It also helps me to keep pushing and never give up. Name some movies you have been in and which one can you say stands as a milestone in your career? T.A: I’ve been in quite a number of films but the two films that I will say were milestones and really stand out were ‘Purple Heart’ where I played a character who had breast cancer and ‘Body Language’ where I played the role of a stripper. For the role in ‘Purple Heart, it was quite surreal. .. I poured everything into that role. I was directed by the prolific Andy Amenechi and I won quite a lot of awards and got many accolades for that film. I got to travel to a lot for places including Kenya where it was screened at the UNFPA to much acclaim. The other film that was a milestone in my career was one called ‘Body Language’

T.A: I don’t know if I can call them challenges but in life sometimes something has got to give. You can not have it all your way. You have got to give something to get something. I started my life really early in that I got married early and had children early so I had to step back careerwise at a point to tend to them.This did affect me in a way though some might not have noticed. It did kind of slow me down not for a few weeks or months but for years as I needed to know what was important and how to balance my role as an actress, a wife and a mother. Well, I thank God I eventually figured out how to balance that. Here I was, a very young girl with two little children quite close in age but I won’t call it a challenge but my blessings. Looking back now I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I am super happy I had them. They are my world, my pride, my joy. For me it is never too late because every time you wake up it is morning and it’s what you want to do with that time that matters. Given the competitive and demanding nature of the industry how do you maintain a sense of authenticity and navigate the industry on your own terms? (continued on last page 19...)

INDUSTRY

INSIDERS In this segment we feature people/experts with Insider knowledge and advice in various areas of the film industry such as producing, casting, distribution, marketing, and financing. In this edition we feature Naz Onuzo, Founder, Inkblot Productions Ltd. Naz is a Producer, writer, executive producer and CEO, Ink Blot Productions and has produced several films in Nollywood. He writes from his experience as a film maker in the industry. This is titled ‘ A Thing on Nollywood Cinema Hits’.

The genesis of this article is a conversation on twitter about what changes King of Boys would have on the Nigerian cinema landscape. Whether or not KOB as it is fondly known changed the game? Here’s why the question came up: King of Boys hit the Nigerian Cinema like a tsunami. The film is selling out screens and earning rave reviews, whilst also establishing Kemi Adetiba as the second person (AY is the first natch) who can open a film to blockbuster box office success on the strength of their name alone. So did KOB change the game? Before I’d answer that, walk with me for a second. We need to discuss a few things first about making films for cinema in Nigeria first. It’s Fun To Make A Blockbuster The first point is that everybody loves to make a blockbuster. Any producer who says that they don’t is lying. I’ve made two of them and I can tell you that it feels great — even the one that received mixed negative reviews. For the purposes of this article I’m defining blockbuster to be anything that grosses over N100m at the Nigeria/Ghana box office. There are currently 7 such Nollywood blockbusters : 1.

The Wedding Party (2016)— Elfike (Ebonylife/FilmOne/Inkblot/Koga

2. The Wedding Party 2 (2017)— Elfike (Ebonylife/FilmOne/Inkblot/Koga) 3. Merry Men (2018)— Corporate World aka AY 4. 10 Days in Sun City (2017) — Corporate World 5. A Trip to Jamaica (2016)— Corporate World 6. 30 Days in Atlanta (2014)— Corporate World 7.

King of Boys (2018)— Kemi Adetiba Visuals

(continued on page 24...)

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INDUSTRY

INSIDERS

Uduak Oguamanam

To be able to play different characters, actors need to know these characters. And there’s only one way to do that, by learning. Either by studying a similar character, by travelling, by reading etc. Learning has to become a passion for actors if they want to excel. It’s a very competitive industry and it’s important to put your best foot forward once you get an opportunity, otherwise there are a million people waiting to take your place. The more knowledge you have, not just about people but things, places, culture etc., the easier it’ll be for you to interpret different roles.

Artist Spotlight Benjamin Olaye

Our fast rising star to note in Nollywood is none other that Benjamin Olaye Jr. Benjamin burst on the scene when he won a monologue challenge for Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s ‘Invasion 1897’ and since then he has not looked back, but has acted in films such as ‘Enakhe’, ‘For The Love of Isiuwa’, ‘Blood of Enogie’, ‘Home Coming’, ‘Holiday Affair’ and many more. His favourite actor is Ramsey Nouah and one of his big influences have been his late father Banjamin Olaye Snr and Lancelot Imasuen. He is single and loves playing football and dancing.

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Taste World The

A little twist on the jollof combo by substituting with spagetti. It looks delicious, doesnt it?

Spaghetti Jollof by Lois of YummyMedley blog

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS 1.

Blend the tomatoes, onions, and peppers until smooth.

2. Boil down the tomato sauce on in a pot on medium- high heat until the sauce is about half the amount, and has thickened significantly to look like a paste. This takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on how high the heat is. 3. Be sure to stir the sauce occasionally to prevent it from burning. 4. Once the sauce is reduced, pour in the stock, oil, thyme, curry powder and bouillon. At this stage, taste the sauce and adjust for salt.

1 lb usually 1 box thin spaghetti

2 3/4 cups chicken stock I used a home made stock

5 large about 2 lbs plum/ roma tomatoes

1 large onion

1 red bell pepper

2 scotch bonnet peppers

6. Cover and allow to cook for 5 minutes on lowmedium heat.

3 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tsp bouillon powder

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp curry powder

A small handful of basil optional

Salt to taste

5. Add in the spaghetti, pushing it down or breaking it to fit into the pot.

After 5 minutes, the pasta should be soft enough to stir. Stir, turn down the heat to low, and allow to cook for another 8-10 minutes.

8. After 8 minutes, stir, and the pasta should be cooked. If it is not, add in a splash (about 1/4 cup) of water and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. 9. If you choose to add basil, add it in at this stage, and then serve.  MAGAZINE

TRAVEL DIARIES

Malta

If you’re seeking an enchanting destination to explore, let your

Romans, Moors, French, and British, Malta boasts a treasure trove of

journey lead you to the captivating jewel of Malta. Nestled in the

ancient fortresses, awe-inspiring temples, and historic edifices that

heart of the Mediterranean, between the allure of Sicily and the

whisper stories dating back to an astonishing 4000 B.C. Embark on

mystique of the North African coast, Malta beckons with its rich

an adventure to Malta and step into a world where history comes to

tapestry of history and culture. A land steeped in the legacies of the

life. Unlock the secrets to an unforgettable journey in Malta with these captivating tips: 1.

Before you embark on your adventure, consult the skies and pack your bags accordingly. The weather in Malta dances with the seasons, and being prepared ensures nothing but smooth sailing.

2. As the Mediterranean sun shines bright, be mindful of bustling crowds, especially during the summer months in the enchanting realms of Valletta and the serene Blue Lagoon. It’s a treasure worth sharing, but timing is key for an unspoiled experience. 3. Traverse the charming streets of Malta with ease as reliable taxis await. To make your journey even smoother, strike a deal with your cabbie on a fixed fare to sidestep any travel hiccups. 4. In this captivating land, the harmonious languages of English and Maltese serenade your ears. English is your passport to communication, widely spoken and warmly understood.

Photo Credit: Hakeen Salaam

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5. Unveil the essence of Maltese hospitality with the official currency, the Euro (EUR), as your guide. Every coin is a key to experiences that will enrich your travel tapestry.

6. Dive into the deep blue adventure! Malta’s coastline boasts an array of pristine beaches and crystalline waters, perfect for diving and snorkelling. Keep your swimsuits close, for the sea beckons. 7.

Malta’s history speaks through the stones of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ensure your camera or smartphone is always at the ready, for each corner whispers tales of ages past.

8. Savour the Mediterranean fusion on your plate, where local specialties like pastizzi (savoury pastries), rabbit stew (fenek), and ftira (traditional Maltese bread) will dance upon your taste buds. 9. While you soak in the beauty, maintain vigilance. Guard your bags, purses, and pockets with a watchful eye to ensure a carefree and delightful journey. 10. Armed with these insights, set your sights on an unforgettable sojourn in Malta. 11. A Grand Adventure Awaits: With these elements as your compass, your visit to Malta promises to be a tapestry of memories woven with joy and discovery. Let your journey commence! 

AFFRICUFF 2023 SET TO KICK OFF THIS OCTOBER This year marks a milestone in Nollywood - the 31st year that the industry came to be and in what befitting way can it be marked than to commemorated in a festival known as the African cultural film festival (AFFRICUFF).

Emem Isong Misodi Founder, AFFRICUFF

AFFRICUFF 2023 is a 4 day afrocentric film festival from October 24th to 29th, focusing on celebrating African films, short films, animations and documentaries, all unveiling the cultural and artistic richness to a global audience. This momentous occasion will be taking place in cultural melting pot that is the city of Houston which will play host to powerful storytelling of not just African stories but those of other cultures. The convener of this event is pppular film practitioner Emem Isong Misodi, ably supported by other seasoned film practitioners in Nollywood and beyond. For further information on this, do check out their social media handles and website: www.affricuff. com 

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH

TANA ADELANA

(...continued from page 13) T.A: Very simple. I know who I am. Its better to keep trying and growing my originality than to be perfect in someone else’s shoes. Basically, there can never be two Tana’s. Any other one will be a counterfeit. A poor imitation of me. So, I try to understand better who I am, what I like about myself, what people like about me, how I can improve on it so I can better myself and career.

Favorite perfume? T.A: Gentle Fluidity by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Your skin as they say is always ‘reporting’! Care to share your skin care routine? T.A: Drink loads of water and mind my business! Hahaha! Just kidding. My routine is very simple. I exfoliate, drink loads of water, Though I have an occasional drink now and then I do not smoke as this can affect the skin. I also moisturize a lot and use my sun screen.

In this era of social media and the internet, how have you been able to shield your family from the glare of the limelight?

Fave travel destination spot?

TA: I figured it out early in my career. Back then there was no social media only soft cell magazines. Something happened that made me have to face a panel set up by family and I didn’t like that at all. Even though I was innocent of the allegations there and then I figured that my family was not prepared to take any nonsense from me and I also did not want to disappoint them either so I needed to tread softly. By that I mean I had to protect those my family members, those that I love. How do you do that? For me it is by leaving them out of social media or any kind of media for that matter. I have learnt to live two separate lives; one for my career and social media and the other, a private life with my family. I also wanted to give my children the opportunity to live their own lives and not steal from them. Yes, I call it stealing. I want them to decide for themselves when they are older by 16, 17 if this is the life they want. Let them make their own choices. Balancing personal life and a demanding acting and producing career can be challenging. How do you manage to maintain a health work-life balance? TA: I don’t joke with my health. Especially my mental health. What I do? I shut down, take a break to de-stress. I have learnt the hard way to take care of my health so I don’t play with it. I was down a few years back and I really struggled to get back up. Once I did I knew I had to schedule my time for work and rest.

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You are such a style icon! Who are your influences? Favorite designer? T.A: Really? I have never actually looked at myself as one. Anyway, as for style I wear what I’m comfortable in. I don’t deceive myself. I accentuate the positive side of my body and cover up what needs to be covered up, For style inspirations I have always like the Hollywood movie star Marilyn Monroe, singer Mariah Carey and bringing it closer to home, Rita Dominic.

T.A: Anywhere with water and white sand. I love the islands so the beach, peace and serenity; you’ll find me there. If you had to stay on a deserted island and were only allowed two things, what would they be? T.A: Two things? Ah, my man and food! Lol! 

FILM REVIEW

GANGS OF LAGOS Jadesola Osiberu’s

by Seun Olaniyan Before Jade Osiberu directed the movie, ‘Gangs ofLagos’ it had been highly anticipated for nearly two years. There really was a lot of expectations especially after watching some short clips posted of the film on social media which showed super cinematography and fight stunts, and some popular actors involved in the project. All these helped to raise the energy for the production in Nollywood. Cast The cast comprised of a vast array of talented actors such as Tobi Bakare (of the Big Brother fame), Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Chike Osebuka, Tayo Faniran (also of Big Brother fame), then revelation that was Olarotimi Fakunle, Bimbo Ademoye, Chioma Chukuma, Yvonne Jegede and some cameo appearances by Mr Macaroni, Zlatan Ibile, Pasuma, Maleek Sanni of Ikorodu Boiz etc. Storyline and Plot: “Gangs of Lagos” follows the lives of three friends Obalola, Ebun, and Ify – who were born and grew up in the ghetto in Isale Eko. The film focuses on their personal struggles, ambitions, friendships, power, betrayal, godfatherism and the choices they make that ultimately lead them down a treacherous path. The plot is gripping and keeps the audience engaged throughout. The film follows how they evolved from being mini terrors and petty criminals in Isale Eko before fate brought them to a

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FILM REVIEW mances reflect the complex dynamics of their relationships. Each actor brings their A-game, portraying the conflicts and emotional turmoil of their characters with conviction. Cinematography and Visuals: The cinematography of “Gangs of Lagos” is visually stunning. The film captures the essence of the city of Lagos with its vibrant colors, bustling streets, and gritty environments.The city was as much a character as the actors. The camera work effectively created a sense of immersion, making the audience feel they were part of the story. Writing and Dialogue: The writing in “Gangs of Lagos” was sharp and intelligent. The dialogue is authentic and reflective of the streets of Lagos, capturing the local dialect and slang. The screenplay effectively balances intense action sequences with moments of emotional depth and character development.

Jadesola Osiberu Producer/Director - Gangs Of Lagos

street king, Nino who at that time was the Eleniyan that took them in. He had a great future plans for them which however they never came to pass as he was unfortunately cut down in death. The kingship of Eleniyan was transferred to Kazeem (Superbly played by Olarotimi Fakunle) who never share same vision of Nino for the kids and the other people in isale Eko as they were largely used as pawns and were casualties in the the struggle for who controlled the power

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in the neighbourhood. The film delves into their personal struggles, ambitions, friendships, power ,betrayal, godfatherism and the choices they made that ultimately led them down a treacherous path. The plot is gripping and keeps the audience engaged throughout. Acting and Performances: The cast delivered stellar performances, bringing authenticity and depth to their characters. The chemistry between the lead actors is strong and their perfor-

Themes and Social Commentary: The film tackles various themes such as friendship, loyalty, power, corruption, and the impact of societal pressures on individuals. It sheds light on the harsh realities of life in Lagos and explores the motivations that drive individuals to join gangs. “Gangs of Lagos” provides a social commentary on the challenges faced by the youth in disadvantaged communities, while also highlighting the consequences of their choices. Overall Impression: “Gangs of Lagos” is a compelling and thought-provoking film that showcases the talent of Nigerian filmmakers. It offers a realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld, presenting an engaging story with strong performances and stunning visuals. The film successfully balances entertainment with social commentary, leaving a lasting impact on its audience. 

Out & About Entertainment promoter Bukky Ebun of Bee Star Entertainment & NollywoodView recently held a hang out tagged ‘AfroNetworking Night’ in Houston. It was a fun time for several entertainers, actors, actresses, producers etc link up, to chill, relax, showcase their talent in a chill, cozy atmosphere. There was lots to eat and drink. The event is quaterly so expect the next one to come up in the coming quarter.

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INDUSTRY

INSIDERS (...continued from page 14) So technically KOB hasn’t officially crossed, but given where it apparently was after ten days and the red hot word of mouth, crossing is a formality. In fact it is even possible that KOB could surpass the reported N163m total of 30 Days in Atlanta, but lets wait and see until then. Also, apparently if you add private screenings Isoken is the 8th, but that’s a decision for you the reader to make as to whether to include it or not. Anyway so those are the blockbusters. I’ve included the production companies by the side and it will make sense as we go along. o the first point that KOB reinforces is that you should try and make blockbusters. There’s no better feeling in the world as a creative than making a critically acclaimed blockbuster. It is Hard To Make a Blockbuster The other honest truth is that it is very hard to make a blockbuster. We’ve released over 200 films into the cinema since 2010 and only 7 have made N100m. That’s less than 5%. And if you take the top roughly 10% of Nollywood films released over that time period from a box office perspective — say the Top 20 films. You end up with the 20th film being Ije/Half of a Yellow Sun at N60m So the rest of the Top 20 hits are as follows: 1.

Isoken (2017)— Trybe 85

2. Okafor’s Law (2017)— Dioni Visions aka Omoni Oboli 3. Fifty (2015)— Ebonylife films 4. Ghost and the Tout (2018) — Toyin Abraham Production Company 5. Alakada Reloaded (2017)— Toyin Abraham Production Company 6. 76 the movie (2016) — Adonis Productions/Princewill’s Trust 7.

My Wife and I (2017)— Inkblot/FilmOne

8. Wives on Strike (2016)— Dioni Visions 9. Moms at War (2018) — Inkblot/Dioni

Visions/FilmOne 10. The CEO (2016) — Golden Effects 11. Banana Island Ghost (2017) — Biola Alabi Media/Nemsia Films 12. Ije (2010) — Xandria Productions 13. Half of a Yellow Sun (2014)— Shareman Media/Slate Films These figures aren’t adjusted for inflation etc, and there’s also an argument to be made that Ije making N60m on 8 or so screens means that it would have made well over N200m in today’s environment. However the figures are what they are, so manage them like that. However more importantly what they represent is that making blockbuster status as a Nollywood film is a total well done sah kind of moment. It also shows that if you made N60m you also deserve a very well done.

you can have big blow out dramas that are event films. I think people need to be reminded of this every year, and hopefully KOB has reminded people for good. KOB also has the honour of being the first drama blockbuster. However I strongly believe that it won’t be the last. Drama works if it big, just like comedy works if it is big. The key thing for the film is that it is an event, not necessarily what genre it is. It proves what I always say, make what ever film you want, make it as big as you possibly can, and then market the hell out of it. 3. The Matthew Effect Exists in Nollywood Cinema aka Brands Matter The Matthew Effect is based off the parable of the talents and it basically can be summed up as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Aka accumulated advantage.

There are also a few other things that looking at the top twenty shows you: 1.

The Nollywood cinema audience is very selective So just like only 7 movies of the 200 released between 2010 and 2018 made over N100m, only an additional 16 have made over N60m. And this is in this same time frame that Nollywood has grown from less than 5% of the total box office to around 25% to 35% of the box office. Yes more people are coming to watch Nollywood in cinema but they tend to mainly watch the big films. They also tend to spend a lot of money on the big films. If you look at the top ten films of all time in Nigerian cinema 6 of them are Nigerian films.

2. Genre Matters, but not a lot So broad strokes there are 13 comedies and 7 dramas on the list of top 20 films. The top 6 are all comedies. 7 of the top ten are comedies. So yes it goes without saying that the box office implies that Nigerians prefer comedies to dramas. However as KOB, Fifty and 76 proved

It seems that way a bit when you look at the top 20 hits in Nollywood. AY has 4 films. Inkblot/Film One have 4 as well. Ebony Life and Dioni Visions have 3. Toyin has 2. It seems that audiences reward familiarity. The name you know and all that. That’s why we all have — the makers of XYZW on our trailers. Being Mrs. Elliot, The First Lady. The Emem Isong stuff — Weekend Get Away, Knocking on Heavens Door, Lagos Cougars. Buzzed about films like The Meeting, When Love Happens, and The Arbitration (shameless plug here). All of these and more than I can name went a long way towards building the cinema culture we benefit from today. So did KOB change the game. It depends on where you’re sitting. I’d say that from where I’m sitting it’s part of a tradition of pushing the envelope of what is possible that is a part and parcel of Nollywood cinema.

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News, Tit Bits... So many great things happening in Nollywood right now. C.J ‘fiery Obasi ’s film “Mami Wata ’ has been submitted as a candidate for the Best International Feature Film in the 96th Academy Awards. The film was earlier made history in September at the Sundance film festival when it became the first Nigerian film to hold its world world premiere there and also won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for cinematography. Let’s hope it goes further to bring that trophy home. It has been a good year for the Yoruba film industry; a section of Nollywood that comprises of films shot in the Yoruba language of the people from the western part of Nigeria, Benin Republic as well as Cuba & Brazil. The films have been able to cross over and appeal to a global audience as can be seen from the acceptance and good reviews of Femi Adebayo’s Netflix Original Jagun Jagun’ - a tale about the intrigues and subsequent war between an blood thirsty, brutal warlord and an ambitious young warrior who only equally seeks power. The widely popular film will hold its first North American screening at the 2023 African Cultural Film Festival in Houston, Texas, USA. 

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