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.

Prologue to Azuh Arinze's Journalism Encounters

Encounters: Lessons from my Journalism Career

Prologue by Chijioke Azuawusiefe

      Human interactions generate memories and lessons. Positive lessons enrich and equip the individuals involved with a base for favorable future relationships. Not-so-positive ones provide them with insights on how to remodel similar experiences going forward. In Encounters: Lessons from my Journalism Career, Azuh Arinze captivatingly recounts some of the significant associations that made his career and shares the most inspiring takeaways of competence, dedication, hard work, tenacity, generosity, and gratitude which he has painstakingly teased out from those life-changing relationships in his close-to-three-decades outstanding profession as a consummate journalist. 

        For seventeen years, Azuh, whom I call “Igwe Journalism” because of the mastery and preeminent command he demonstrates in the exercise of his métier, worked at Fame and Encomium Weekly, two of the most influential soft sell magazines of their time and the Facebook and Instagram of their day. Who read Encomium in its heyday and did not eagerly look forward to Azuh’s “Potpourri” column to catch up with “the latest gist” on which celebrity showed up at which upscale hangout or club, did what, with whom, and then zoomed off in the latest model of their vehicle brand, with registration number XYZ? Yes, Azuh was (and still is) that thorough. He would go on to edit Encomium for eight years, after editing (from 1999 to 2000) its sister publication, Reel Stars—one of the first magazines dedicated to covering Nollywood and its stars, filmmakers, and marketers.

Journalists and Making of Nollywood Stars

Toni Kan

(By Toni Kan) - Celebrating Nigerian Entertainment Icons: A Tribute 

“That night the King could not sleep: so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.” Esther 6: 1 (NIV)

In ancient times, before Martin Luther and Gothenburg, there existed a select group of individuals whose duties were to record, dutifully and in painstaking detail, significant events that were taking place.

Their writings were called Chronicles or Annals.

Those men were called Scribes and they were an essential part of a King’s court. In today’s world, a Scribe would approximate to a personal lawyer who would prepare a man’s last will and testament or a Confidential Secretary who is privy to all that concerns his principal.

But above all, in the more democratic times that we live in, the modern day Scribe is the journalist, the man or woman who through his writings, records (almost always in a hurry) for posterity, the doings of the people.

Azuh Arinze Unveils The CEOs Bible in Style

Azuh with his wife, Edith

Azuh Arinze recently presented The CEO’s Bible to the public. The more-than-800-page, 2-volume compendium written by the publisher/editor-in-chief of YES! magazine was unveiled at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos in grand style.

Chaired by former APCON Chairman and GMD of SO&U Advertising, Mr. Udeme Ufot, the book reviewer was Dr. Tunji Olugbodi of Verdant Zeal while the Special Guest of Honour was the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, ably represented by NIMASA DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Yes! Magazine Celebrates 5th Anniversary in Grand Style

L-R: Bisi Olatilo, Azuh Arinze and wife, Nkoli, & Gabriel Ogbechie

(Yes)--Defying the early morning showers of Monday, June 20, 2016 as well as the gridlock that gripped Third Mainland Bridge and Ikorodu Road for hours on that day, some of Nigeria’s best and brightest still converged to celebrate with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine at 5.

The high profile event which held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, in fact, was packed-full – and with quality guests.

Yes! Magazine Counts Down to 5th Annual Lecture

The Centre of Excellence as well as the City of Aquatic Splendor (Lagos) has been thrown into ecstasy – thanks to the 5TH ANNUAL YES INTERNATIONAL! MAGAZINE LECTURE/COCKTAIL PARTY slated for Monday, June 20, 2016.

Below are details of the high profile event which has so far attracted the likes of Biodun Shobanjo of Insight Communications, Udeme Ufot of SO&U, Lolu Akinwunmi of Prima Garnet, Steve Omojafor of STB McCann, Taiwo Adeoluwa of Ogun State Government, Pat Utomi of CVL, Ausbeth Ajagu of AES, Leo Stan Ekeh of Zinox Computers, Dele Momodu of Ovation, Kunle Bakare of Encomium, Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase of Complete Sports, Simon Kolawole of TheCable,  Anselm Madubuko of Revival Assembly, Femi Adesina, Media Adviser to President Buhari,

Nollywood and Business Moguls Celebrate Yes! Magazine @ 4

The Azuh siblings, L-R: Arinze (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Yes! Int'l magazine), Lilian, Fr. Chijioke,
Amatus (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, DayLight newspaper), and Chibunna (Director, BuNna Fashion)

(Yes!)--YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, one of the leading and most respected soft sell journals in Nigeria clocked 4 years on Friday, June 19, 2015 – and on hand to celebrate and rejoice with them were business moguls, top government functionaries, showbiz stars, renowned men of God, friends, families, well-wishers, readers and advertisers. They all came dressed to the nines, ready and happy to say YES! with the celebrity journal which prides itself as being ‘More Than Just A Soft Sell’.

Ten Years On, Toast for Nkoli and Azuh Arinze

Nkoli and Azuh Arinze

(Sam Kargbo)--Oscar Wilde was definitely not a friend of the marriage institution. According to him, marriage is the best way to end a beautiful friendship. It is the road to lifelong loneliness and grief. He so despises the institution that he recommended it only for the cowards. In his view all men at heart do not marry. His parent's marriage may not have even made sense to him as he saw marriage playing the opposite of what love does for mankind.  

If Azuh Arinze ever read this mischievous character, then he must have done so long after he had developed a sixth sense that defines his manliness in terms of the allegiance he has for the first institution established by God after the creation of man (With due apology to non Christians). Contrary to Wilde's claim that the ideal marriage is the one of which the man is deaf and woman is blind, or that marriage is the last refuge for the impotent, Azuh must have enjoyed the good company of clear sighted and virile friends with successful marriages. With the likes of the Teco Bensons as friends, Azuh was sure to make his parents and the society proud.

Yes Int'l Announces 4th Annual Lecture

The fourth edition of the annual YES INTERNATIONAL! MAGAZINE LECTURE /COCKTAIL PARTY will hold on Friday, June 19, 2015.

The high profile lecture series, which made its debut in 2012, has Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, Group CEO, Prima Garnet, one of the leading advertising agencies in Africa, as the Guest Speaker for this year. Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, czar of advertising and Chairman, Troyka Holdings, will be the Chairman, while Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to the Ogun State Government is the Guest of Honor.

Themed RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN NIGERIA – My Experience, it will be anchored by A-list comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st and hold at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Kick off time is 11am.

Nigerian Politicians Spoil Actors with Money and Cars, Zeb Ejiro

Zeb Ejiro

In a recent interview with Yes! International magazine, respected filmmaker, Zeb Ejiro, accused Nigerian politicians for spoiling Nollywood actors with material gifts. 

According to Ejiro, "There are a lot of people who never dreamt of being what they are today. Suddenly, they found themselves there. People are running after them. I need to see you and all that. They start seeing themselves above God. That’s where they get it wrong. 

“The movie industry did not start with the stars that are there today. It started with others. People who suffered to make them who they are, they dump those people, they don’t respect them. You are doing something today, maybe a child’s naming ceremony, marriage or whatever, they don’t attend. They don’t come, they don’t need you anymore!

“Because the politicians are giving them so much money, the politicians are buying them cars; female politicians are buying the male stars cars, homes and what have you. The male politicians are buying the female ones whatever they want. So, suddenly, they don’t need the producers anymore. They can even make bigger movies than you now because one politician will give them N100 million and you are looking for N15 million to do a blockbuster.

"So, suddenly, they find out that they are bigger than you. Not just you; they are bigger than the industry. I think the bane of the movie industry is the Nigerian politicians. That’s the truth!"

Yes! Magazine Celebrates 3rd Anniversary

Azuh Arinze

Mr. Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL!, one of the leading and most respected soft sell journals in the country. In this interview with some members of the press, the affable gentleman shed some light on the 3rd anniversary of the magazine, which comes up on Thursday, June 19, 2014, his career as a journalist and more. Excerpts…

First, why did you resign as the Editor of Encomium Weekly?

I will go straight to the point – because it was about time. I edited Encomium Weekly for almost 10 years and after that I felt I needed a new challenge. It may also interest you to know that I remain the longest serving Editor of the paper – and the legacies I left there are still very, very visible. My two predecessors, their tenure combined, is not up to 10 years. I worked for Mr. Kunle Bakare for 17 years; 10, out of which I was his Editor. Again, I didn’t want to become a sit-tight Editor. I felt that having done about two terms, I should give way to others to also show what they can do.

Currently, what is your relationship with your former boss and mentor, Mr. Kunle Bakare like?

Point of correction – Mr. Kunle Bakare is still my boss and my oga at the top. My relationship with him is fantastic and will continue to remain so. As a matter of fact, I never get tired of saying this – all I have for Mr. Bakare is appreciation. Do you know what it means to entrust a young man of 26 with the editorship of your paper? Like I always say, I will be eternally grateful to him. I also thank God that when I clocked 40, he attended the surprise birthday party my wife organized for me, with this sweet wife, Madam Desola, where he said I didn’t do anything wrong and that he was only emotional about my exit because of his likeness for me. I truly thank and appreciate him.