Francis Oladele.
The Best Nigerian Films from 1970 - 2016
In the history of Nigerian cinema from when I started going to the movie theatres in 1970 (following my great father Sunday Eke, who loved movies) to date, I have not seen up to 20 Nigerian films that I can call great movies.
Francis Oladele produced "Kongi's Harvest" in 1970, directed by the African American filmmaker, Ossie Davis with the screenplay by Prof. Wole Soyinka adapted from his 1965 play of the same title. Oladele also produced "Bullfrog in the Sun" of 1972, the film adaptation of the great Chinua Achebe's two classic novels, "Things Fall Apart" and "No Longer at Ease" directed by Hansjürgen Pohland of Germany whom I contacted in 2012, before he passed away on May 17, 2014 in Mandelieu-la-Napoule (Alpes-Maritimes, France).
He was a member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1965. Oladele passed away on Monday, June 22, 2015.
The following are Pohland's emails.
Dear Michael Chima,
yes, My name is Hansjuergen , but also called JASON POHLAND.
I directeted this movie.
But I myself are looking for a print of the movie.
Where is Francis OLADELE now?
If you find one, please inform me, so we can secure the material.
Also if you find posters etc.
Good to have contact with you.
Best JASON
www.POHLAND-JASON.com.
Dear Michael Chima,
please give my best regards and wishes for his birthday to Francis:
If you get hold of a print try to make a file and send it to me.
The BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL has strong interest to show the film during
its festival.
Thank you for all the informations you wrote, very interesting.
Hope to see you in the future.
Warmest regards,
JASON
"Shaihu Umar" in Hausa
by Adamu Halilu, Epic Drama, Nigeria, 1976, 142', Hausa with English Subtitles"
https://www.africanfilm.com/products/shaihu-umar
Dr. Ola Balogun, Nigeria's greatest filmmaker since 1970 to date, directed the first Igbo language film, "Amadi" in 1975 and the Yoruba language film, "Ajani Ogun" in 1976.
Dr. Ola Balogun as a young filmmaker directing one of his films.
Ossie Davis directed "Countdown at Kusini" in 1976, produced by Ladi Ladebo.
"Bisi Daughter of the River" in 1977 directed by Joseph Abiodun Babajide, aka "Jab Adu" and produced by Ladi Ladebo is one of the best films in the Nigerian film industry.
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Ola Balogun directed "Ija Ominira" in 1978 for Adeyemi Afolayan, popularly known as "Ade Love".
Chief Hubert Ogunde, the greatest dramatist in the history of Nigerian drama produced a great film, "Aiye" in 1980 directed by Ola Balogun who directed his own war film, " Cry Freedom" in 1981.
EFUNSETAN ANIWURA
The Return
Synopsis
A story about a successful but arrogant and ruthless business woman, who dies prematurely and returns to earth as the reincarnation of her own deceased housemaid Elo, to whom she had shown little or no compassion in life.
Obi Emelonye (born 24 March 1967) is a Nigerian film director. He is known for directing award-winning films such as Last Flight to Abuja (2012), The Mirror Boy (2011), and Onye Ozi (2013).
by Adamu Halilu, Epic Drama, Nigeria, 1976, 142', Hausa with English Subtitles"
https://www.africanfilm.com/products/shaihu-umar
Dr. Ola Balogun, Nigeria's greatest filmmaker since 1970 to date, directed the first Igbo language film, "Amadi" in 1975 and the Yoruba language film, "Ajani Ogun" in 1976.
Ossie Davis directed "Countdown at Kusini" in 1976, produced by Ladi Ladebo.
"Bisi Daughter of the River" in 1977 directed by Joseph Abiodun Babajide, aka "Jab Adu" and produced by Ladi Ladebo is one of the best films in the Nigerian film industry.
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"The Rise and Fall of Dr. Oyenusi" - A Film by Eddie Ugbomah
Eddie Ugbomah (19 December 1940 – 11 May 2019) was a Nigerian film director and producer. He directed and produced films such as the Rise and Fall of Oyenusi in 1979, The Boy is Good and Apalara, a film about the life and murder of Alfa Apalara in Oko Awo, Lagos. The plots of some of his films are loosely based on real life events, The Rise and Fall of Oyenusi is based on the career of a notorious robber, Ishola Oyenusi.
Sociopolitical Representations in African Cinema: Paulin S. Vieyra, Djibril Diop Mambéty, Eddie Ugbomah and Ola Balogun in the Footsteps of Ousmane Sembène | Africa Development
https://www.journals.codesria.org/index.php/ad/article/view/644
Ola Balogun directed "Ija Ominira" in 1978 for Adeyemi Afolayan, popularly known as "Ade Love".
Chief Hubert Ogunde, the greatest dramatist in the history of Nigerian drama produced a great film, "Aiye" in 1980 directed by Ola Balogun who directed his own war film, " Cry Freedom" in 1981.
The film adaptation of, a historical biography of Efunsetan Aniwura by Prof. Akinwunmi Ishola was shot on celluloid by the popular Yoruba dramatist Ishola Ogunshola in 1981 after the stage plays by Ishola Ogunshola's I Sho Pepper travelling theatre group in Oyo state, Lagos state and other places in the south west of Nigeria.
EFUNSETAN ANIWURA 1981, directed by Bankole Bello.was the only Nigerian film in the Official Selection for International Competition at the 1982 Festival of 3 Continents in France and later selected in 1986 special focus on Nigerian cinema at the same film festival."
http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2018/01/retro-efunsetan-aniwura-classics-of.html
Adeyemi Afolayan's "Kadara" of 1980 and "Taxi Driver" of 1983 are classics.
Afolabi Adesanya's "Vigilante" of 1988 and "Ose Sango" of 1991 are fantastic films. Ladi Ladebo´s "Pariah" of 1994 is also worthy of note.
The emergence of the home videos of Kannywood and Nollywood in the 1990s have not given us as much great movies as the Nigerian films of the 1970s and 1980s.
Living in Bondage 1" of 1992 directed by Chris Obi Rapu and produced by Okechukwu Ogunjiofor still remains the greatest Igbo movie, followed by "Living in Bondage 2" in 1993 directed by Chika Christian Onu, PhD.
Majority of the movies in Kannywood and Nollywood are best defined as teleplays. Many of them have been hurriedly produced with poor researches, weak plots and amateurish cinematography.
The great Nigerian filmmaker and Nigeria's best Director of Photography, Tunde Kelani is not a Nollywood filmmaker and should not be classified or mistaken for one. His "Ti Oluwa Nile 1-3", of 1993 and "Koseegbe" of 1995 are timeless masterpieces of Nigerian filmmaking. Followed by "O Le Ku" of 1997, "Saworoide" of 1999, "Thunderbolt: Magun" of 2001, "Agogo Eewo" of 2002, "Abeni" of 2006 and "Maami"of 2011.
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Issakaba, a 2001 Nigerian film directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen. Loosely based on real events, it depicts a group of vigilantes called the Bakassi Boys fighting crime as well as the alleged sorcerer Eddy Nawgu, who terrorized the Nawgu community in Anambra State.
EFUNSETAN ANIWURA 1981, directed by Bankole Bello.was the only Nigerian film in the Official Selection for International Competition at the 1982 Festival of 3 Continents in France and later selected in 1986 special focus on Nigerian cinema at the same film festival."
http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2018/01/retro-efunsetan-aniwura-classics-of.html
Adeyemi Afolayan's "Kadara" of 1980 and "Taxi Driver" of 1983 are classics.
Afolabi Adesanya's "Vigilante" of 1988 and "Ose Sango" of 1991 are fantastic films. Ladi Ladebo´s "Pariah" of 1994 is also worthy of note.
The emergence of the home videos of Kannywood and Nollywood in the 1990s have not given us as much great movies as the Nigerian films of the 1970s and 1980s.
Living in Bondage 1" of 1992 directed by Chris Obi Rapu and produced by Okechukwu Ogunjiofor still remains the greatest Igbo movie, followed by "Living in Bondage 2" in 1993 directed by Chika Christian Onu, PhD.
Majority of the movies in Kannywood and Nollywood are best defined as teleplays. Many of them have been hurriedly produced with poor researches, weak plots and amateurish cinematography.
The great Nigerian filmmaker and Nigeria's best Director of Photography, Tunde Kelani is not a Nollywood filmmaker and should not be classified or mistaken for one. His "Ti Oluwa Nile 1-3", of 1993 and "Koseegbe" of 1995 are timeless masterpieces of Nigerian filmmaking. Followed by "O Le Ku" of 1997, "Saworoide" of 1999, "Thunderbolt: Magun" of 2001, "Agogo Eewo" of 2002, "Abeni" of 2006 and "Maami"of 2011.
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"Igodo:The Land of the Living Dead" a 1999 Nigerian adventure film that was produced by Don Pedro Obaseki and directed Andy Amenechi.
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Kunle Afolayan, the son of Adeyemi Afolayan has followed the golden footsteps of his father as a fantastic filmmaker whose " Irapada " of 2006, "The Figurine: Araromire" of 2009 and "October 1" of 2014 are masterpieces of modern filmmaking.
A scene in Kingsley Ogoro's "The Return".
Simisola Opeoluwa's "Battle of Love" of 2002 is a very good film. The film was produced by Kingsley Ogoro. Kingsley Ogoro's "The Return" of 2003 is a great movie.
Simisola Opeoluwa's "Battle of Love" of 2002 is a very good film. The film was produced by Kingsley Ogoro. Kingsley Ogoro's "The Return" of 2003 is a great movie.
The Return
Synopsis
A story about a successful but arrogant and ruthless business woman, who dies prematurely and returns to earth as the reincarnation of her own deceased housemaid Elo, to whom she had shown little or no compassion in life.
"Changing Faces" by Faruk Lasaki
Synopsis
Synopsis
Changing Faces a metaphysical drama is a classic tale of good versus evil. Somewhere in Africa flighty journalist Lola exchanges spirits with buttoned down business man Dale, but only one of them wants to go back to the way things have always been.
Michelle Bello (born Michelle Aisha Bello; 30 September 1982), the outstanding British Nigerian film director and film producer has made remarkable movies, including "Small Boy", 2008 and "Flower Girl", 2013.
Obi Emelonye (born 24 March 1967) is a Nigerian film director. He is known for directing award-winning films such as Last Flight to Abuja (2012), The Mirror Boy (2011), and Onye Ozi (2013).
"Tango with Me", a 2010 Nigerian romantic drama film written by Femi Kayode, produced and directed by Mahmood Ali-Balogun and starring Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin and Joke Silva. The flm was nominated for 5 awards at the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Izu Ojukwu, one of the best directors in Nollywood directed "Across the Niger" of 2004, produced by Kingsley Ogoro and "76'" of 2016 produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa. Jeta Amata's "The Amazing Grace" of 2006 and "Black November" of 2011 are great films. Chineze Anyaene's " Ijé: The Journey" of 2012 is a fantastic Nollywood film. And Biyi Bandele's "Half of a Yellow Sun" of 2013 based on Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie's historical fiction on the Biafran war is a great film.
Writing on the best Nigerian films is challenging, because of insufficient documents on some of the films without extant copies or good archival sources. And the so called guilds don't have libraries for the records of the movies of their members. There is an urgent need for a national library or museum for Nollywood and Kannywood to preserve the achievements of all the practitioners and stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael China
Izu Ojukwu, one of the best directors in Nollywood directed "Across the Niger" of 2004, produced by Kingsley Ogoro and "76'" of 2016 produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa. Jeta Amata's "The Amazing Grace" of 2006 and "Black November" of 2011 are great films. Chineze Anyaene's " Ijé: The Journey" of 2012 is a fantastic Nollywood film. And Biyi Bandele's "Half of a Yellow Sun" of 2013 based on Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie's historical fiction on the Biafran war is a great film.
Teco Benson, Kenneth Gyang, Steve Gukas, Lancelot Imasuen and other Nollywood filmmakers have done some good movies.
"Confusion Na Wa", a 2013 Nigerian dark comedy drama film directed by Kenneth Gyang, starring Ramsey Nouah, OC Ukeje, Ali Nuhu and Tunde Aladese. The title of the film was inspired by the lyrics of the late Afrobeat singer Fela Kuti's song "Confusion". Confusion Na Wa won the Best picture at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, it also won the award for Best Nigerian film.
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The film tells a story on how so many interconnected separate events come together to complicate the lives of people.
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"Fifty" is a 2015 Nigerian romantic drama film, directed by Biyi Bandele and released on 18 December 2015.
"Falling", a 2015 Nigerian romantic drama film written and produced by Uduak Isong Oguamanam, and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. It stars Desmond Elliot, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Adesua Etomi, Kunle Remi, Tamara Eteimo and Kofi Adjorlolo.
"The Wedding Party" is a 2016 Nigerian romantic comedy drama directed by Kemi Adetiba. It premiered on 8 September 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and on 26 November 2016 at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The film was released worldwide on 16 December 2016.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael China
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013.
Affiliate Partner,
Cinewav of Singapore
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi
©2017. Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. All rights reserved. No copying, duplication or reproduction without the authorization from the author and publisher.
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013.
Affiliate Partner,
Cinewav of Singapore
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi
©2017. Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima. All rights reserved. No copying, duplication or reproduction without the authorization from the author and publisher.
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