Omotola: Women Tell me I'm their Role Model

"Omosexy: The biggest film star you've never heard of." That's how UK's The Sunday Telegraph's Stella Magazine introduces +Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde in a recent interview. The queen of Nollywood spoke to the publication's Ben Arogundade on her career, family, and humanitarian concerns. Below is the full interview.

Omosexy': The biggest film star you’ve never heard of 

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, aka 'Omosexy’, is the queen of Nollywood. She’s appeared in more than 300 films, pulls in 150 million viewers for her reality-television show and has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

She scores a zero on the Hollywood Richter scale. She has never starred in a major motion picture. Her most recent film, Last Flight to Abuja, means nothing to devotees of Netflix and LoveFilm.

"Again, Genevieve Misses the Point," Azuh Arinze Responds to Genevieve's Reaction

Genevieve with Azuh Arinze

My attention has just been drawn to the twitter handle of Genevieve Nnaji (@GenevieveNnaji1) where she alleged that she did not grant YES International! magazine the interview published in our Vol. 3 No. 15 edition with the caption: ‘I Want God To Bless Me With The Right Man & A Good Family’. 

First, I want to thank her for at least not also denying me. Or even saying that she has never met me. Secondly, I know she resorted to this for two reasons. One – because of the headline. And two – because she confided in a mutual friend of ours that she still hasn’t forgiven YES International! for making its debut on June 19, 2011 with a cover story entitled: ‘All The Men Who Dated And Dumped Genevieve’ which she considered displeasing.

Well, I have always made it clear that my brand of journalism is progressive-minded, not withstanding that I belong to the celebrity journalism genre. Without sounding immodest, I can say with every sense of responsibility that I first encountered Genevieve as a budding actress who needed encouragement at the time, which I gladly offered. And if I can still recollect very well, I don’t think any other journalist has interviewed her as much as I have.

Now, to the main issue: If at all Genevieve had taken time to read the full interview in YES International! instead of the disjointed and abridged ones ruling on the social media, perhaps she would have seen where it was clearly stated in the introduction that the interview was conducted ‘Long before super stardom beckoned’.

Nollywood's Funny Lot: Who's the Funniest?

We know these faces. We see them everyday on our television screen. Some call them clowns; others, buffoons.  But love them or hate them, we know that they're Nollywood's best, skilled and talented comedians, masters of their craft and role models in their own rights. They brighten our day and annoy us in equal measures with both their wit and idiocy. But we love to watch them "display." I stumbled on this old school picture from Azuh Amatus collection (ShowbizPlus with Azuh Amatus) and thought it worth sharing. Take your pick and let us know who your favorite is. (Postscript: RIP Baba Sam Loco Efe, Africa's best and consummate thespian.)

Genevieve Nnaji: "I Want God to Bless Me with the Right Man and A Good Family"

Long before super stardom beckoned, I had this innocent but interesting interview with +Genevieve Ifunanya Nnaji, recalls +AZUH ARINZE, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Yes International Magazine. I must, however, confess that I stumbled on the tape again only days back, while wading through my archives. I’ve transcribed and extracted some of her candid thoughts which she shared with me. Particularly those I consider to still be relevant.

Born on May 3, 1979 into the family of Benedatte and Theophilus Nnaji, Genny, like I enjoy addressing her, hails from Umuebi – Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State. The fourth of her parents’ eight children, she attended Kemstar Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos; Methodist Girls High School, Lagos and Girls Secondary School, Akwakuma, Owerri, Imo State. Dazzling and delectable, sumptuous and sexy, sweet and svelte, she is unarguably and indisputably the reigning pride of Africa in the make-believe world.

One of our biggest and richest, the single mother of one (Lily) who has in her kitty some of the most coveted award trophies and to her credit some of the most lucrative endorsement deals poured it all out to me. Trust me; you will definitely enjoy this…