NollywooD filM festiVal gerMaNy MourNs Peace aNyiaM – osigwe Mfr

Organisers of the Nollywood Film Festival Germany and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards have joined millions of fans and wellwishers to mourn the death of one of Africa’s notable film stakeholders, Peace Anyiam Osigwe, whose death was described as “sudden, shocking, and untimely.”

The condolence message released to the media and signed by Festival Director Isaac Izoya, NFFG/NEGA wrote: “I first met Madam Peace Anyiam Osigwe sometime in 2007 when she came for the famous Berlin Film Festival, popularly called Berlinale, and we attended a workshop together. Our meeting was through our mutual friend Dorothee Wenner, who has done plenty for African films and has been a supporter of our integration shows, which saw us ferrying Nollywood stars as well as Nigerian comedians and entertainers to meet with their Europe-based fans.

That meeting elicited interest so much that in 2008, she collaborated with us in the showcasing of Lagos, a city of excellence, under the Loving Lagos project with the premiere of our movie titled “Run! But You Can’t Hide” at our Nollywood Extravaganza featuring Mercy Johnson, Benedict Johnson, Charles Inojie, Gordon’s, and a host of others. “That event created a big bond between us that has lasted since then.”

“Aside from becoming president of the Association of Movie Producers, of which I am a member, she has followed our events until they translated into the Nollywood Film Festival and the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards.”

“During our 20-year event in 2022, Madam Peace MFR sent us a short message of commendation for holding onto the dream of celebrating Nigerian film practitioners even without support from corporate Nigeria.”

She wrote in that message, “Congratulations, @Izoya, on your 20th anniversary.” It’s not easy to sustain events.

“You have always had my maximum respect; tenacity is not easy.”

I had planned seeing her on my trip to Nigeria, but the shocking news of her death has stopped me. Her contributions to the growth and sustenance of Nollywood are unmatched in the history of the industry.

Peace Anyiam Osigwe’s efforts towards unifying African films can never be forgotten.

I pray that the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), the African Oscars that she instituted, will be sustained. African has lost an iroko.

On behalf of Nollywood Film Festival Germany and Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NFFG and NEGA), I offer my condolences to the Anyiam Osigwe family, the AMAA, the Association of Movie Producers, and indeed friends of African films, and pray that God will provide the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

May her soul rest in peace.