Okposalebo: Of Famed Palm-Wine and Braggart Drinkers

“It had happened on the festival day that as Obika and Ofoedu drank with the three men at the market place, one of the men had thrown a challenge to them. The conversation had turned on the amount of palm-wine a good drinker could take without losing knowledge of himself. 

     'It all depends on the palm-tree and the tapper,’ said one of the men. 

     ‘Yes,’ agreed his friend, Maduka. ‘It depends on the tree and the man who taps it,’ 

     ‘That is not so. It depends on the man who drinks. You may bring any tree in Umuaro and any tapper,’ said Ofoedu, ‘and I shall still drink my bellyful and go home with clear eyes.’ 

     Obika agreed with his friend. ‘It is true that some trees are stronger than others and some tappers are better than others, but a good drinker will defeat them both.’ 

     ‘Have you heard of the palm-tree in my village which they call Okposalebo?’ Obika and Ofoedu said no. 

     ‘Anyone who has not heard of Okposalebo and yet claims to be a good drinker deceives himself.’ 

     ‘What Maduka says is very true,’ said one of the others. ’The wine from this tree is never sold in the market, and no one can drink three hornfuls and still know his way home.’ 

     ’This Okposalebo is a very old tree. It is called Disperser of a Kindred because two brothers would fight like strangers after drinking two hornfuls of its wine.’

Unoka: Self-Indulgent Fellow, Rapturous Artist, and Wretched Farmer

“[Okonkwo’s] fame rested on solid personal achievements. … [Okonkwo] had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had had no patience with is father. 

     Unoka, for that was his father’s name, had died ten years ago. In his day he was lazy and improvident and was quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow. If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine, called round his neighbours and made merry. He always said that whenever he saw a dead man’s mouth he saw the folly of not eating what one had in one’s lifetime. Unoka was, of course, a debtor, and he owed every neighbour some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts. 

     He was tall but very thin and had a slight stoop. He wore a haggard and mournful look except when he was drinking or playing on his flute. He was very good on his flute, and his happiest moments were the two or three moons after the harvest when the village musicians brought down their instruments, hung above the fireplace. Unoka would play with them, his face beaming with blessedness and peace. Sometimes another village would as Unoka’s band and their dancing egwugwu to come and stay with them and teach them their tunes. They would go to such hosts for as long as three or four markets, making music and feasting. Unoka loved the good fare and the good fellowship… 

     Unoka, the grown-up, was a failure.

Peter Obi Embraces Nollywood Affiliation

(By Kelvin Okojie) – Obi Accepts ... ‘Nollywood Actor’ Title 

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has accepted the Nollywood actor title … given to him by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai of Kaduna State. 

    Reacting to questions on his plans for the country and sharing his experience during his nationwide tour canvassing for votes, the former Anambra State governor, who appeared as a guest of Arise TV on Sunday, said that he felt honoured to be referred to as a Nollywood actor. 

Change the Narrative: Open Letter to Nollywood

(By Adeolu Adefarasin) – An Open Letter to Nollywood 

To the industry I love dearly, 

    Now more than ever, I believe Nollywood is on the precipice of greatness, the eyes of the world are facing you and you have a great opportunity to speak, to be seen and to be heard. For far longer than I have been an active member of this valued industry, many before me have dreamt of the day that the reach and influence of Nollywood would go far and wide. I know there is so much to be proud of. 

    In the same breath, I am aware that with such great influence comes a weighty responsibility that cannot be ignored. Amongst the many lessons of 2022, I have learned that it is harder to speak truth to power when you seek the help that power can offer. So, at this moment, I lay down my personal aspirations and hopes for what I believe is the greater good, not just of the industry but the many people it influences. 

    As Nigerians, we have not always been set the best example, not by our elders, not by our leaders – political or otherwise, and not even by our peers. In the midst of that, we managed, for a long time, to maintain hope and a sense of moral integrity – two things I believe are waning under the pressure of present circumstances and the everyday realities of most Nigerians. I believe it is your responsibility to restore hope and a moral core to the masses,

Nollywood: More Screens, More Money

(By Usoro Glory Esther) – More Screens, More Money for Nollywood 

The entertainment industry, particularly Nollywood, which is regarded as one of the fastest-growing industries in the country, is facing slow growth in cinema screen investment. 

    The success of blockbuster films showing during the holiday season was limited as cinemas were unable to show the movies to a wider audience due to the low number of screens in the country. 

    This led to low ticket sales for some movies, as well as a slowing of such movies’ publicity and the ability of producers and directors to make sufficient profits. 

    According to a report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in late 2021, the number of cinema screens in Africa is 1,653, which is one screen per 781,402 in population coverage, compared to the United States, which has a total of 44,111 cinemas, translating into 7,503 per screen. 

    Nigeria, Africa’s largest country, and Nollywood, the world’s second-largest movie industry, has 251 screens compared to the United States, which has over 40,000 screens, China has over 34,000, and Japan has over 5,000. 

Impact of Streaming Platforms on Nollywood

(By Tofarati Ige) - How streaming platforms are redefining Nollywood with million-dollar investments 

The movie industry has apparently grown over the years, but it has largely been through the huff and puff of individual efforts. Though the lack of a viable structure is one of the heaviest albatross around the neck of the industry, it is hard to deny that by sheer dint of hard work, persistence and ingenuity, Nigerian filmmakers have, over the years, built a vibrant creative ecosystem that has churned out several woks; albeit under excoriating conditions. 

    However, with the world even now more of a global village than it used to be, the country’s movie industry is gradually opening up to international investors and audiences; just like many stakeholders had hoped and prayed for. 

    The presence of global video streaming platforms in the country has undoubtedly raised the stakes, and is contributing to the growth of Nollywood. Indeed, it is a new and exciting vista of boundless possibilities. 

If Titanic Were Nollywood Movie

(By Meyimi O.) - 11 Things That Would’ve Happened if “Titanic” Was a Nollywood Movie 

Titanic is a story of forbidden love between two young people separated by social class but brought together by fate. It might as well be a Nollywood production, with Kunle Remi as Jack and Osas Ighodaro as Rose. Here’s what would happen in that version. 

No iconic railing scene 

What will carry Kunle and Osas to the railing? The rescue scene would’ve been different because Osas (Rose) would choose death by poison, and Kunle (Jack) would bring out juju from his pocket to raise her from death. 

They’d meet at a wedding 

The meet-cute would be at an owambe. Rose would be on the bridal train, and Jack would be a waiter. He’d rescue the drunk Rose from her older lover who’s trying to take advantage of her. 

Rose would have a clique 

What’s a Nollywood rich girl without a group of spoilt rich friends? They’d make snide remarks whenever they see Jack, and because they’re jealous of Rose — and secretly want her rich fiance for themselves — they’d help him find and kill Jack. 

On Pope Benedict Emeritus: Life and Legacy

As the Catholic Church and the world bid farewell to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Thursday, 5 January 2022, I was on TVC News where I spoke on the life and legacy of the pontiff. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let you perpetual light shine on him.

On Christmas and Its Significance

I was on the one-hour Indepth program on Rivers State Television, Port Harcourt, Wednesday, 21 December 2022, to discuss Christmas and its significance. Had a most genial and engaging conversation with host Lilian Okonkwo and fellow guest Venerable Goddey Eleeh of the Diocese of Ikwere, Anglican Communion.

Again, on Friday, 23 December 2022, I was on NewsHub, the Silverbird Television breakfast show to also discuss the significance of Christmas. Anchors Mercy Frank and Seun Oyedeji engaged me in a profound and thought-provoking conversation on the topic.

Toward Educating an Ethical Journalist

I spoke to Africa Independent Television at the one-day workshop on "the Roles of the Public and the Press Towards Peaceful Elections” hosted Tuesday, 13 December 2022, by the Center for the Study of African Culture and Communication (CESACC) at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), in collaboration with the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace and the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Center, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. I represented and presented an address, “Towards Educating an Ethical Journalist,” on behalf of CIWA Rector Fr. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe:

We live in interesting times; the era of fake news and alternative truth. The effect of living in a globalized world - with access to modern communication technologies, the internet, and the social media - is that even though these phenomena started in distant lands/far away places, they eventually get to our clime.         Today in Nigeria, with our elections coming up in early 2023, these issues have become our realities too.

Round Table: Nollywood, Religion, and Media

In collaboration with the Nollywood Media and Research Center (NOMAREC), Lagos, the Department of Communication Studies at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Nigeria, hosted a most engaging and insightful virtual round table on Nollywood and the media, Wednesday, 30 November 2022 to explore the rich and deep relationship between cinema and religion by discussing, on the one hand, Nollywood and the impact of religion on its films and filmmakers and, on the other hand, the place and role of the media in reporting the industry.

Of Hats and Representations of Culture

It's been more than a year now since I got back into the classrooms. Within this period, and without meaning to, I have made the wearing of hats my sartorial signature. I wear hats to lectures. I wear hats to school events. I wear hats everywhere. Colleagues have teased me about the hats. Some joke that they almost do not recognize me without my hats. Trust the students to always come up with the most clever comments about the hats. They admire my collection as well as how I mix and match them with my outfit. But some of them want to know which culture I represent in particular with the hats. "Multiple cultures," I always respond, because more is usually better than one. There's no method to my hat preferences though. I just enjoy wearing the hats and repping the culture.

#ForChristAndForCulture

#SmilesAMDG

Cinema and the Media Create Movie Stars

A Book Review of Azuh Amatus's Famous Faces: Interactions with Nollywood Stars and Stakeholders

 

Cinema creates movie stars—i.e., individuals who, through the masterly interpretations of their make-belief roles on the screen, enjoy a stellar level of admiration from the audience. Nollywood – the cinema of Nigeria and the second largest film industry in the world – parades such individuals in cosmic proportions. 

    Without doubt, Nigerian cinema had been engaged in the enterprise of creating movie stars before the advent of Nollywood. Actors like Adeyemi “Ade Love” Afolayan, Moses “Baba Sala” Adejumo, and Herbert “Osetura” Ogunde, for instance, gained prominence in the mid 1970s from Ola Rotimi’s Ajani Ogun (1976). 

     However, it is Nollywood’s pioneer movie, Living in Bondage (1992), that revolutionized the star culture of the Nigerian cinema, with its sleek Hollywood-style, full-color jacket. The glossy sleeve had the faces of the film’s key characters emblazoned on it. 

     Although some of the actors (like Francis Agu, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, and Kanayo O. Kanayo) were already popular on television, Living in Bondage launched them, and the myriad others who have come after them, into the stratosphere of stardom. 

In Memoriam: Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, MFR (1969 - 2023)

Filmmaker, entertainment executive, founder of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)