Funke Akindele’s "Battle on Buka Street" Likely To Be The First Nollywood Movie To Make N1 Billion

Funke Akindele’s "Battle on Buka Street" Likely To Be The First Nollywood Movie To Make N1 Billion

Funke Akindele’s "Battle on Buka Street" has made more than N300 million within only three weeks in the cinemas in Nigeria by pulling more crowds of moviegoers than James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water".

The current box office report from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) shows "Battle on Buka Street" at the #1 position with N361, 3556, 446 from 132, 525 admissions followed by James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water" at the #2 position with N285, 562, 316 from 94, 402 admissions.

The "Battle on Buka Street" can have over 400, 000 moviegoers before March, 2023.

Five Outstanding Nigerians Invited To The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2022

Five outstanding Nigerians, including distinguished directors Newton Aduaka and Blessing Effiom Egbe, accomplished actors Funke Akindele-Bello and Daniel K. Daniel and notable talent agent Josiah Akinyele are among 397 New Members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2022. 

Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity. This year's class of invitees includes 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners.

See complete list of the new members on https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-invites-397-membership.

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According to the Academy, the "membership process is by sponsorship, not application. Candidates must be sponsored by two Academy members from the branch to which the candidate seeks admission." 

Majority of the Movie-goers in Nigeria Are Yoruba

Majority of the movie-goers in Nigeria are Yoruba who were the first movie-goers in the country since 1903 when the first films were shown at the Glover Memorial Hall on the Lagos Island and followed by the Aláàrìnjó Yoruba traveling theatres that influenced the cinema culture in south western Nigeria. And  "Kongi's Harvest", the (first feature film by a Nigerian  filmmaker was done in 1970 by Francis Oladele, the Father of Nigerian cinema. 

Yorubas love drama from stage to the silver screen. The longest queues at any cinema in Nigeria were Yoruba movie-goers at the National Arts Theatre in Lagos city as they trooped to watch Yoruba films by Dr. Ola Balogun, Chief Hubert Ogunde, Moses Olaiya , Adeyemi Afolayan, aka Ade Love) and Abiodun Babajide, aka Jab Adu in the 1970s and 1980s.  And the highest grossing movies in Nollywood have been made by Yoruba filmmakers, Funke Akindele-Bello @funkejenifaakindele (Omo Ghetto, The Saga), Kemi Adetiba @kemiadetiba (The Wedding Party 1) and Niyi Akinmolayan (The Wedding Party 2).

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

Funke Akindele Bello Wraps Up 2020 With Grit and Gusto in "Omo Ghetto: The Saga"

Funke Akindele Bello Wraps Up 2020 With Grit and Gusto in "Omo Ghetto: The Saga"

2020 has been the most unusual year for the world with the nightmarish apocalyptic COVID-19 pandemic claiming over one million lives and with millions more infected by the deadly corona virus and many countries in recession. The entertainment industry suffered collateral damage from the shutdowns of TV and film productions with the cancellations or postponements of theatrical releases of many new movies; and the unfortunate loss of notable practitioners in the film industry. But yet in all the dramas and traumas, we have seen the triumph and victory of the human spirit of endurance, faith, perseverance, strength and zeal in the midst of the unforeseen circumstances of the existential trials of life. And this is how one of the most never give up daredevil actors and filmmakers in Nollywood, Funke Akindele Bello has released her sensational crime comedy thriller, "Omo Ghetto: The Saga’, the anticipated sequel to her ‘Omo Ghetto’, of 2010, with grit, guts and gusto.

This is the biggest and hottest #Nollywood action movie of the moment. And she is jumping into the New Year 2021 with pomp! I see the movie breaking the box office records of "The Wedding Party" by the Valentine's Day in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

The public demand for "Omo Ghetto: The Saga" should make it run till March, 2021.

Funke Akindele should maximise the momentum by exploring the movie merchandising opportunities in the commercial production of "Omo Ghetto: The. Saga" T-shirts, #facemasks, face caps, bandanas, shopping bags, etcs; with a positive message that if you don't give up, "las las", you can make it from the ghetto to the top of your dreams like the most famous and richest Nigerian celebrity gossip blogger, Linda Ikeji who came from the Lagos ghetto of Mushin and now living her dreams in her own palatial mansion on Banana Island, off the foreshore of Ikoyi,, described as the most expensive residential neighbourhood in Nigeria by Forbes.

For "Omo Ghetto: The Saga", the saga has just begun!

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria https://www.amazon.com/author/Ekenyerengozimichaelchima.