Showing posts with label Nollywood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nollywood. Show all posts

Monday, February 9, 2026

Nollywood Has Gone Global: Nigerian Filmmakers Must Think and Work Globally


Nollywood Has Gone Global:  Nigerian Filmmakers Must Think and Work Globally

Nollywood has gone global.

We must think and work globally in content and context of telling and sharing our stories in the universal medium of filmmaking for the global audience.

Nigerian filmmakers cannot compete with the best in the world if they continue to think locally and compete locally for the local box office and going over the moon for grossing less than US$2 million for the first time in the 100 years of filmmaking in Nigeria since 1926 to 2026 when South African filmmakers have made films grossing over US$200 in the international box office.

The 2009, sci-fi film "District 9"  that grossed US$210.8 million was made by South African-born Canadian film director and screenwriter, Neill Blomkamp and was shot in South Africa;
The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) made more than US$100 million;
Adventures in Zambezia ($34.4M);
Khumba ($28.4M);Tsotsi ($12M) and Sarafina! ($7.3M).
A new film, David (2025), a South African animated film produced by Sunrise Productions, has grossed over US$83.6 million worldwide as of February 6, 2026.

The Nigerian film industry should be inspired by the outstanding success stories of the film industry of South Africa.

South African filmmakers think and work globally with the best in the world.

You cannot see the big picture if you continue to gaze at the miniature of the tableaux.

- EKENYERENGOZI Michael CHIMA.
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

#nollywood
#filmmaking
#filmmakers
#movies
#storytelling
#content
#cinema
#boxoffice
#filmindustry
#entertainment
#global
#nigeria
#southafrica
#david
#district9
#series

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Thursday, February 5, 2026

Nollywood Has A Critical Diversity Problem

 


Nollywood Has A Critical Diversity Problem

2026 will be a century of filmmaking in Nigeria since the first feature film, "Palaver: A Romance of Northern Nigeria"  was shot in the kingdom of Toro in 1926 by the English filmmaker and military officer, Geoffrey Barkas.
The making of "Palaver" has been published in the second edition of my NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
in 2014 and the publication is distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

Nollywood, the first indie film industry in Africa is known as the second largest in the world after the Bollywood of India in the quantity of film productions which are mostly videos and not on celluloid. And the phenomenal guerilla filmmakers have attracted global attention to the Nigerian film industry with many articles, essays, news reports and several books written by Nigerians and foreigners in the news media and academic institutions. And documentary films have been produced on the phenomenon of Nollywood.

Majority of the writers and documentary filmmakers have focused on the most dominant features of Nollywood and Kannywood which are largely dictated by the three major tribes of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa in Nigeria.

Majority of the actors and producers are from the three tribes and so their movies have been based on the narratives and perspectives on the sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical themes of their ethnicities. 
The few filmmakers from the minor tribes have been able to represent their regions and tell their own peculiar stories. But most of the peculiarities of their tribes have not been shown in Nigerian movies.

One of the most accomplished and prolific filmmakers is Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen from Benin in Edo State and has been the leading storyteller of the lives and times of Edo people and the foremost film studies scholar on Nigerian movies in indigenous languages,  Prof. Osakue Stevenson Omoera has studied and written on Imasuen's movies.
See "Audience Reception of the Benin Language Video Film in Nollywood" by Prof. Osakue Stevenson Omoera
Journal of African Cultural Studies
Vol. 26, No. 1 (March 2014), pp. 69-81 (13 pages)
Published By: Taylor & Francis, Ltd.

I am still waiting for the best film productions of Imasuen that will show the rest of the world the great myths and mysteries of the great Edo people of the Benin Empire such as an epic film on  Prince Ekaladerhan, whom the Ife people now called Oduduwa.

We have epics of Yoruba stories in Nollywood, but the filmmakers have often forgotten that the minority group of Nupe people can't be ignored in the historical films on Oyo Empire, because the demigod, "Sango", the third Alaafin of Oyo was born to an Oyo father (Oranmiyan) and a Nupe mother, who was the daughter of the Elempe (Nupe king). He is considered half-Yoruba and half-Nupe, having spent part of his youth in Nupe kingdom before becoming a powerful Oyo ruler known for wielding fire. 
Nupe people have been underrepresented in both Nollywood and in Kennywood, even though they are mostly Muslims.


See the cinematic image of a Nupe cavalryman wearing lifidi (padded armour). Drawn in 1911 by Carl Arriens.
This is enough evidence that Nupe must have great untold stories that will captivate the cinema.

Among the most popular actors and actresses are personalities from the minorities like Nollywood divas Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo, Nse Ikpe-Etim and Mercy Johnson Okojie. But they have been featuring in Nollywood English movies often focused on common themes of the lives of Igbos and Yorubas and not on their own tribes who are lagging behind in the shadows of the major tribes.


Mercy Johnson-Okojie



Mercy Johnson-Okojie produced the Igala epic "The Legend of Inikpi" in 2020. But she has ignored telling the peculiar stories of her Ebira tribe of Kogi State. 

The popular actor, Efa Iwara has not told us any of the stories of his Yakö people in the Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The diversity problem goes beyond tribal bigotry in the competition for leading roles for the principal cast in movies. 
There have been complaints of tribal discrimination against actors from ethnic minority groups in Nigeria.
They have been denied special roles in preference for actors from the major tribes who have the largest audiences of movie-goers at the cinemas and largest viewers of both public and cable TV channels and majority of the  viewers of videos streaming on YouTube channels, Netflix, Facebook, Instagram and other online platforms. So, the producers say their choice of the actors is based on popularity of the star power of an influential actor or actress and not based on tribal preference. 



A woman viewing two Nollywood actresses, Nunnsi Ojong and Celina Ideh from a minority group in southern Nigeria featured in my Lagos in Motion documentary film.


A scene from my "Lagos in Motion documentary film showing an Igbo actress Cynthia Agu and an Edo actress, Franca Aide.

Lest we forget, we are the best storytellers of our own stories and our stories are best told in our own languages.
We can't call the Nigerian film industry Nollywood when millions of people from the ethnic  minorities have been ignored and marginalized among the stakeholders. 

The estimated population of Nigeria is over 236,747,130 of which 30% are Hausa; 15.5% are Yoruba; 15.2% are Igbo; 6% are Fulani;. 2.4% are Tiv; 2.4% are Kanuri; 1.8% are Ibibio and Efik; 1.8% are Ijaw and 24.7% are from the remaining minorities of the over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa.

While 29.5% (Hausa-Fulani), 20.3% (Yoruba), and 16.6% (Igbo) were historically listed as major, this leaves roughly a third or more of the population as part of various minority groups. 

The Diversity Problem of Different Sexual Orientations 

The other cases of lack of diversity and inclusion In Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry come from sections of the society with people profiled as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) and the larger community of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer).

There have been cases of widespread LGBTQ+-phobia; prejudice, fear, hatred, or discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, encompassing homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. 
The causes of LGBTQ+phobia are often religious beliefs and traditional taboos.

The largest dominant religions of Christianity in Nollywood and Islam in Kannywood forbid homosexuality and in extreme cases of intolerance, homosexuals have been attacked and banished from film productions and treated as outcasts in the society.
Homosexuality is a crime in Nigeria. Therefore, the film industry does not accept a community of people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. And so will not promote
inclusivity, covering individuals who are not heterosexual or do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. But they cannot be ignored.
They have the fundamental human rights to tell their stories and amplify their voices in Nollywood and Kannywood and WE MUST PROTECT THEM from the violations of their liberties as bonafide citizens of Nigeria and fellow humans with the same equal rights to live and work in love 💕, peace and unity. 

Diversity and inclusion will accommodate the best talents and accelerate the sustainable development and advancement of the entertainment industry and the creative economy of Nigeria.

Key Components of a Diversity Problem

Unconscious Bias & Stereotyping: 
Prejudiced, automatic assumptions that affect hiring, promotion, and daily interactions.
Underrepresentation (The "Glass Ceiling"): A lack of diverse talent in top-level leadership roles, often due to systemic barriers.

Lack of Inclusion
Having a diverse staff but failing to create a welcoming environment where those individuals feel valued and supported.

Cultural Clashes & Communication Barriers: 
Misunderstandings due to differences in cultural norms, communication styles, and values.

Inequitable Treatment
Unequal pay, limited opportunities for advancement, or exclusion from key projects based on social identity. 

Consequences of Unaddressed Diversity Problems
Reduced Innovation: 
A homogenous group fails to bring diverse perspectives to problem-solving.

Lower Productivity & Morale: Cultural clashes and unfairness increase employee turnover and decrease productivity.

Reputational Damage: 
Organizations may face negative public perception if they appear non-inclusive. 

A diversity problem is generally solved by defining specific, unique challenges rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach to inclusion. 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Founder/ CEO,
International Digital Post Network Limited,
Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC)
New Nigeria
Tel: +234 706 637 9246

PS:
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima (also known by the pseudonym Orikinla Osinachi) is a prominent Nigerian writer, publisher, and multimedia producer born on January 30, 1963, in Lagos Island. 

Professional Roles & Media Presence
He is the Founder and CEO of the International Digital Post Network Limited, the first Nigerian company to attract the IMAX Corporation to Nigeria, King of Kings Books International and Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC). He secured International partnership with the Cinewav of Singapore for the "One Village, One Cinema" initiative and partnership with the 
International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry (ICMEI) of India for the Bollywood To Nollywood Filmmaking workshops for international co-productions between India and Nigeria.

Writer & Publisher
He is the Publisher/Editor of several online platforms, including Nigerians Report Online, Nigerian Times, and the Founder and Publisher/Editor of the popular NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Consultant
He has served as a social media consultant and previously worked as a National Program Consultant for UNICEF Nigeria and independent Production Manager of "Money Wise" business magazine programme on DBN TV.

Advocacy
He is recognized for his advocacy for girl-child education supporting the compulsory education of the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.

Art, Literary & Creative Works
Chima is a notable artist with local and International exhibitions of his drawings and paintings. He  was the national curator for the 1993 World AIDS Day "Art Against AIDS" exhibitions at the National Museum and National Theatre in Nigeria.
He is a prolific writer who is the author of numerous books spanning fiction, poetry, and historical commentary: 
Books
He published his first book, Children of Heaven, in 1987.
His notable titles include Bye, Bye Mugabe, a collection of short stories; collections of his poems in Children of Heaven, The Prophet Lied and Scarlet Tears of London;  The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream on the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, In the House of Dogs and Diary of the Memory Keeper.

Prizes
Chima won the first prize in the national essay competition on What I Like Best in Nigeria organized by the Pop magazine in 1976.
His poem "Song of Patriotism" won the first prize in a national poetry competition on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1987.
His poem, "Empty Shells in Our Oil  Wells" was one of the finalists for the 2000 Music Society of Nigeria national poetry award.
His short story, "One Day at Obalende Bus Stop" won the third prize in the 2002 Lire en fête short story competition organized by the French Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

Early Success
He directed his first play at age 17 and at 18 he became the youngest independent professional scriptwriter for TV in Africa, writing episodes for the puppet drama series of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the largest TV network on the continent from 1981-84. See 
Nigeria: 'I Started Writing Professionally At 18' - allAfrica.com
https://allafrica.com/stories/201212030437.html

Visual Media
In 2016, he produced the photo album LAGOS in MOTION, documenting Africa's largest megacity from the principal photography of his first long documentary film project, "Lagos in Motion: Sights and Sounds of Africa's Largest Megacity".

Education & Affiliations
Education: He attended St. Gregory's College, Lagos, and later had further education from seminars and workshops by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1980, Book Development Council of Nigeria in 1982, Johns Hopkins University's Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) in 1984 and 1990,  PATH in 1985, UNICEF in Nigeria in 1988, World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993 and other organizations.

Memberships
He has been a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) since 1987, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), Digital Cinema Society (DCS), International Law Office (ILO) and Online News Association (ONA). He participated in the Digital Media Law Project (DMLP), a major initiative based at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Originally founded in 2007 as the "Citizen Media Law Project," it provided legal resources and education for independent journalists and online media

Chima’s work often bridges the gap between sociocultural analysis and political documentation.

Focus on Nollywood
As a major stakeholder in the Nigerian film industry, Chima has documented its evolution through the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series: This is a comprehensive book series—available in print and digital formats—designed to capture the "big picture" of the industry for a global audience.
The First Edition celebrates Nollywood's icons, its emergence as an African phenomenon, and its strategy for breaking into global markets.
The Second Edition highlights "New Nollywood" developments (circa 2014), including the epic Invasion 1897, the evolution of digital filmmaking, and the first Hollywood star from Nigeria, Orlando Martins.

Film Festivals
He is the Founder and Festival Director of the annual Eko International Film Festival and Zenith International Film Festival.

Political Commentaries
His political writings focus on pivotal moments in Nigeria's democratic history:
The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: This book serves as a personal testimony and historical chronicle of the 2015 presidential election. It analyzes the principal actors behind the first time an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria’s history.

Digital & Periodical Analysis: Through his platforms Nigerians Report Online and Nigerian Times, he provides ongoing commentary on Nigerian federalism, social justice, and leadership.

Satirical Critique: 
Works like Bye, Bye Mugabe use short stories to offer a broader critique of African leadership and political dynamics beyond just Nigeria. 







Tuesday, February 3, 2026

About EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima

 


Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima (also known by the pseudonym Orikinla Osinachi) is a prominent Nigerian writer, publisher, and multimedia producer born on January 30, 1963, in Lagos Island. 

Professional Roles & Media Presence
He is the Founder and CEO of the International Digital Post Network Limited, the first Nigerian company to attract the IMAX Corporation to Nigeria, King of Kings Books International and Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC). He secured International partnership with the Cinewav of Singapore for the "One Village, One Cinema" initiative and partnership with the 
International Chamber of Media & Entertainment Industry (ICMEI) of India for the Bollywood To Nollywood Filmmaking workshops for international co-productions between India and Nigeria.

Writer & Publisher
He is the Publisher/Editor of several online platforms, including Nigerians Report Online, Nigerian Times, and the Founder and Publisher/Editor of the popular NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Consultant
He has served as a social media consultant and previously worked as a National Program Consultant for UNICEF Nigeria and independent Production Manager of "Money Wise" business magazine programme on DBN TV.

Advocacy
He is recognized for his advocacy for girl-child education supporting the compulsory education of the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.

Art, Literary & Creative Works
Chima is a notable artist with local and International exhibitions of his drawings and paintings. He  was the national curator for the 1993 World AIDS Day "Art Against AIDS" exhibitions at the National Museum and National Theatre in Nigeria.
He is a prolific writer who is the author of numerous books spanning fiction, poetry, and historical commentary: 
Books
He published his first book, Children of Heaven, in 1987.
His notable titles include Bye, Bye Mugabe, a collection of short stories; collections of his poems in Children of Heaven, The Prophet Lied and Scarlet Tears of London;  The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream on the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, In the House of Dogs and Diary of the Memory Keeper.

Prizes
Chima won the first prize in the national essay competition on What I Like Best in Nigeria organized by the Pop magazine in 1976.
His poem "Song of Patriotism" won the first prize in a national poetry competition on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1987.
His poem, "Empty Shells in Our Oil  Wells" was one of the finalists for the 2000 Music Society of Nigeria national poetry award.
His short story, "One Day at Obalende Bus Stop" won the third prize in the 2002 Lire en fête short story competition organized by the French Cultural Centre in Nigeria.

Early Success
He directed his first play at age 17 and at 18 he became the youngest independent professional scriptwriter for TV in Africa, writing episodes for the puppet drama series of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the largest TV network on the continent from 1981-84. See 
Nigeria: 'I Started Writing Professionally At 18' - allAfrica.com
https://allafrica.com/stories/201212030437.html

Visual Media
In 2016, he produced the photo album LAGOS in MOTION, documenting Africa's largest megacity from the principal photography of his first long documentary film project, "Lagos in Motion: Sights and Sounds of Africa's Largest Megacity".

Education & Affiliations
Education: He attended St. Gregory's College, Lagos, and later had further education from seminars and workshops by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1980, Book Development Council of Nigeria in 1982, Johns Hopkins University's Population Communication Services (JHU/PCS) in 1984 and 1990,  PATH in 1985, UNICEF in Nigeria in 1988, World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993 and other organizations.

Memberships
He has been a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) since 1987, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC), Digital Cinema Society (DCS), International Law Office (ILO) and Online News Association (ONA). He participated in the Digital Media Law Project (DMLP), a major initiative based at Harvard University's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Originally founded in 2007 as the "Citizen Media Law Project," it provided legal resources and education for independent journalists and online media

Chima’s work often bridges the gap between sociocultural analysis and political documentation.

Focus on Nollywood
As a major stakeholder in the Nigerian film industry, Chima has documented its evolution through the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series: This is a comprehensive book series—available in print and digital formats—designed to capture the "big picture" of the industry for a global audience.
The First Edition celebrates Nollywood's icons, its emergence as an African phenomenon, and its strategy for breaking into global markets.
The Second Edition highlights "New Nollywood" developments (circa 2014), including the epic Invasion 1897, the evolution of digital filmmaking, and the first Hollywood star from Nigeria, Orlando Martins.

Film Festivals
He is the Founder and Festival Director of the annual Eko International Film Festival and Zenith International Film Festival.

Political Commentaries
His political writings focus on pivotal moments in Nigeria's democratic history:
The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: This book serves as a personal testimony and historical chronicle of the 2015 presidential election. It analyzes the principal actors behind the first time an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria’s history.

Digital & Periodical Analysis: Through his platforms Nigerians Report Online and Nigerian Times, he provides ongoing commentary on Nigerian federalism, social justice, and leadership.

Satirical Critique: 
Works like Bye, Bye Mugabe use short stories to offer a broader critique of African leadership and political dynamics beyond just Nigeria. 

Contact:

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Founder/ CEO,

International Digital Post Network Limited,

Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC)

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

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

New Nigeria

www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport



Monday, February 2, 2026

Uche Montana is the Fastest Rising Young Actress in Nollywood


Uche Montana is the Fastest Rising Young Actress in Nollywood 


The 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry


Uche Montana is the fastest rising young actress in Nollywood and currently tops in the 10 most viewed Nollywood movies on YouTube.

Uche Montana (born Uche Frances Nwaefuna on May 8, 1994) is a prominent Nigerian actress, model, and film producer.

Originally from Ibusa in Delta State, she grew up in Festac, Lagos, where she initially pursued a diploma in law before transitioning to the film industry in 2015. 

Career & Recent Works

Montana gained widespread recognition for her role as "Adaze" in the popular television series Hush (2016–2017). Since then, she has featured in over 60 films and recently launched her own production channel, Uche Montana TV on YouTube, which has surpassed 1 million subscribers. 

Key Movies & TV Shows: 

Poison Ivy (debut), The Fake Life of Abuja Housewives, Hire a Woman, A Weekend to Forget, and Seven.

Recent Viral Projects: 

Her 2026 film A Place With You hit 2 million views in a single day on her YouTube channel. 
Other recent titles include The Other Woman (Parts 1 & 2) and Love Choose Us.

Awards & Recognition: 

She is a 2025 AMVCA Best Actress Nominee and has previously won the Moreklue All Youth (MAYA) Award for Best Supporting Actress. 

Lifestyle

Known as a fashion and lifestyle enthusiast, she often shares updates on her Instagram and recently celebrated the acquisition of a 2024 Range Rover. 




Sunday, December 14, 2025

NOLLYWOOD Blues: Hatchet Job Against the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series on Amazon



There are intellectually immature and insecure characters in Nollywood who have been doing hatchet job against me online and offline.




They attacked the publication of my photo book on my on going documentary film, 'Lagos in Motion" on Amazon.
The idiot does not even know what is a photo book and what is a photo documentary. So, Amazon ignored him.

Then the next target of the hatchet job is my acclaimed
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series, the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.
They sent a false report to Amazon on typos and formatting in the second edition.




The idiot behind this hatchet job attempted to sabotage the publication of the first edition through his semiliterate graphics artist who made the typos and distortions of the fonts to hamper the printing. Because his paymaster, an intellectually challenged immature and insecure opportunist said I refused to include his name in the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.
Include his name for what?
When he did not contribute anything to the content and publication.

I also chose to print the series in Raleigh, North Carolina in the United States of America to prevent anymore sabotage by him and his evil agents.

The second edition was designed by Juvelin Aripal, an accomplished Art Editor, Art Director and Book Designer in the Philippines and I paid her US$400 (four hundred dollars) for the professional book design. So, the false report of bad formatting was idiotic.

The Nollywood Idiot does not even know how Amazon operates in more than 80 countries in the world.
My books on Amazon, are distributed by more than 50 sellers, including bookstores run by academic institutions. That's why there are more than 15 mentions, references and quotes about my writings in over 15 academic papers by Nigerian and foreign scholars.

The NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series books are the highest priced books by a Nigerian author selling from more than N100, 000 to more than N2 000, 000 a copy by book traders as a collector's item, an art book and photo documentary 

View on
https://www.amazon.com.mx/Nollywood-Mirror-Michael-Chima-Ekenyerengozi/dp/1312199776

My articles on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry have been published widely since 2006 by several publishers, including the Black Film Maker magazine in the UK and Indiewire through the Shadow and ACT that was acquired by Blavity and the acquisition included my most definitive articles on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry. The articles were moved from Indiewire to Blavity.




Morgan DeBaun

The Nollywood Phenomenon: From Analog to Digital - Blavity
https://blavity.com/entertainment/the-nollywood-phenomenon-from-analog-to-digital-2

Blavity is an American digital media company and website based in Los Angeles. Founded in 2014, it aims to serve black millennials.

Morgan DeBaun (born 1990) is an African American serial entrepreneur and corporate advisor. She is the Founder and CEO of Blavity Inc., a digital media company for Black culture and millennials.

2016 – Forbes 30 Under 30 list of "young people transforming the future of media

2016 – The Root 100 list of the 100 most influential African Americans

2016 – MVMT50 Top 10 Innovators of the Year

2018 – Forbes' America's Top 50 Women In Tech

2019 - Culture Creators Innovators & Leaders Technology Award 

2020 - Dot.LA Rising Entrepreneurs

PLEASE, if you are among the bad advisers of this Nollywood idiot, focus on your career in filmmaking.
Learn from the outstanding achievements of Fiery Obasi and others who are trailblazers in Nollywood and beyond.
Stop aiding and abetting evil.
The same Nollywood idiot you are supporting said you most likely misappropriated the over €30, 000 (thirty thousand euros) given to you by the French government to produce your first feature and used most of the money to buy two Toyota Sienna SUVs for yourself and your girlfriend you later married. And I was the only one who contributed N5,000 to support your wedding after the committee of friends meeting in Shomolu, Lagos, Nigeria.
Even when your girlfriend wanted to come over with her laptop to stay overnight with me in his flat, I told her to inform you first and she didn't come again. I refused to be used to cheat on you.

Nollywood idiots should stop their shenanigans against others.
Evil begets evil.

Mortality cannot comprehend immortality.

Fear God.

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Nollywood Blues and Multinational Corruption in Nigeria


Nollywood Blues and Multinational Corruption in Nigeria 


There is more opportunism than professionalism in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

They should know that you can't have a film commission without at least one qualified film commissioner.
Having a film corporation is different from having a film commission.

In Nollywood, you will see someone posing and posturing as an expert on the international sales of Nigerian movies, but has not secured any international acquisition and distribution of any Nigerian movies and documentaries.

Nollywood can compete with Joziwood.
But Nollywood cannot compete with Hollywood 

You see the professional misconduct of celebrated stakeholders whose professional body misappropriated the foreign funds from the French government meant for film productions and they are still going about business as usual.

Yes. It is a good development to start a film market, because you can't have a functional film industry without an international film market. But you must know how to market the film market beyond the mere announcement of launching a film market.

In Nollywood, the box office can be fixed to favour a Nigerian movie more than other Nigerian movies.

I have written on corruption in Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry, but both the local and foreign companies and other organizations have been partners in crime in the institutionalization of corruption in Nigeria.

The major sponsor of the leading musical society in Nigeria did not like my political poem, "Empty Shells in Our Oil Wells" shortlisted for the 2001 annual poetry prize. In 2004, the multinational oil company later invited me to the head office in Lagos on supporting my proposed documentary film, "Winds of Fire, Winds of Change" on the hazards of gas flares, oil pollution and terrorism in the Niger Delta region. But later rescinded and I abandoned the production of the political documentary film and rescripted it into the screenplay of "Naked Beauty" co-authored with Dr. Christian Chika Onu, the multiple award winning Nollywood filmmaker and author of "The Unusual Story of the Early Years of Nollywood", the first book by one of pioneers of the phenomenon of the first indie film industry in Africa.
"Naked Beauty" is exclusively published by Lulu Books in hardcover version, paperback and ebook versions.

The MacArthur Foundation told me about the support for investigative journalism against corruption in Nigeria, but ironically the selected news media receiving the funds, included newspapers that refused to publish my reports on millions of dollars in tax evasions by a major American multinational oil company in 2006, because they don't want to lose their adverts. The company invited me for discussion, but I declined to honour the suspicious parley.

- by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

#nollywood
#joziwood
#hollywood
#professionalism
#journalism
#corruption
#filmmakers
#movies
#boxoffice
#french
#funds
#sponsor
#music
#poetry
#filmmarket
#commission
#filmindustry
#oilcompany
#america
#multinational
#gas
#pollution
#terrorism
#macarthurfoundation
#nigerdelta
#nigeria
#nakedbeauty
#chima
#chika
#books

Monday, November 17, 2025

The Road To Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Onike in Lagos


The Road To Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Onike in Lagos

A scene from the first phase of the principal photography of my on going documentary film, "Lagos in Motion" in 2016.

The camera is the narrator of the documentary on the sights and sounds of the largest megacity in Africa.
I have shot more than 40 hours so far and now on the final phase to complete the production.

I have not borrowed and have not applied for any funds for the production since 2016 to date.
I have spent my personal incomes and I have paid my crew and all the young tourists featured in the documentary film, including Nollywood actresses, Nunnsi Ojong, Celina Ideh and campus beauty queen, Franca Aide who  are graduates of the University of Calabar in Cross River State; fast rising actress, Magdalena Masha and model Cynthia Agu who is now in Poland. My black and beautiful production assistant, Chibuzor Okoro, my younger brother, Franklin UcheChukwu Eke, my friend, Tony Godson Uche Okeke and my production manager, Felix Omokagbo Jegede featured in the documentary film.

The principal cameraman Adesina Mutiu-Okediran used Sony FS 100 and I also used my own Sony digital camera for some of the shots. I shot this scene alone.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

#lagos
#nollywood
#documentaryfilm
#documentary
#megacity
#nigeria
#africa
#storytelling
#filmmaking
#narrator
#camera
#sony
#photography
#miracles
#church


Thursday, November 6, 2025

Nollywood Diva Stephanie Linus Uses "DRY" for #JusticeForOchanya Campaign

Nollywood Diva Stephanie Linus Uses "DRY" for #JusticeForOchanya Campaign

Nollywood Diva Stephanie Linus is using her multiple award winning 2014  film "DRY" for the #JusticeForOchanya campaign and for the 2025 annual 16 Days of Activism To End Violence Against Women and Girls.



"DRY" is now free to watch on YouTube on her Next Page TV Channel.

https://youtu.be/yctwblYQl4g?si=YyA2UZgaC18Vi2w

#JusticeForOchanya campaign resonates with the purpose of "DRY"and the Call To  Action theme of the 2025 16 days of activism UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls from November 25 to December 10.

That's why I have put "DRY" on YouTube for all to watch it and join the campaign so that the horrifying rape that caused the death of Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje will not happen again."

The theme of "DRY,' focused on Vesicovaginal Fistula condition and underaged marriage among young women, narrating the traumatic ordeal of a thirteen-year-old girl named Halima. 

Ochanya died from the complications of Vesicovaginal Fistula.

The public demand for #JusticeForOchanya has recently intensified, leading to a significant new development: the reopening of the case by the Benue State High Court in late October 2025. This follows the controversial 2022 acquittal of one of the main suspects, Andrew Ogbuja. 

Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje died in October 2018 at the age of 13 due to complications, including vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), resulting from years of alleged serial sexual abuse. She had been living with her aunt and uncle in Benue State. Before her death, she provided a video testimony identifying her alleged abusers as her uncle, Andrew Ogbuja, and his son, Victor Ogbuja.

Mrs. Stephanie Linus is the First Black Recipient of Lennox K. Black Prize for Excellence for her outstanding achievements to empower and heal women. Inspired by a true story, her film “Dry” sheds light on Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), a devastating childbirth injury impacting girls and women in northern regions of Nigeria. Through her foundation, Extended Hands, Stephanie provides medical care to women suffering from VVF and advocates for change. Her dedication has been recognised with prestigious awards like the Miriam Makeba Award for Excellence in 2017 and the Beyond the Tears Humanitarian Award for her work against rape and VVF.



Wednesday, November 5, 2025

LINDA IKEJI: 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry




LINDA IKEJI: 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry.



Linda Ikeji is a prominent Nigerian blogger, writer, and entrepreneur, widely recognized as a pioneer of the digital media landscape in Nigeria. She is best known for her highly influential and popular platform, Linda Ikeji's Blog, which focuses on Nigerian news, entertainment, lifestyle, and gossip. 

Career Overview

Early Career: 
Ikeji started writing at the age of 10 and began her career as a model and waitress to support herself through the University of Lagos, where she earned a degree in English language.
Blogging Pioneer: She started blogging as a hobby in 2006, using cybercafés due to limited internet access in Nigeria at the time. Her blog gained significant popularity around 2011 and became one of the most visited sites in Nigeria, reshaping how the country consumes entertainment news.

Media Mogul: 
Ikeji expanded her brand into a media empire, launching ventures such as Linda Ikeji TV (LITV), an online radio station (Linda Ikeji Radio), and a social networking site (Linda Ikeji Social).

Filmmaking
She has also ventured into film production, with recent projects including the movie Dark October (2023) and Reverse (2025), with the latter inspired by her personal experience of being denied hospital treatment. 

Influence and Recognition
Impact
Her success has been cited as a case study for the business of blogging in Africa by Forbes Africa. She is recognized for demonstrating the potential of new media as a viable business.

Philanthropy

Through her project "I'd rather be self-made; No thanks," she supports young women aged 16-25 with entrepreneurial aspirations, having disbursed millions of naira to help them start their businesses. 

Linda Ikeji is considered an integral part of the Nigerian digital age, a figure who evokes both praise as a hardworking pioneer and criticism for her controversial publications. 

PS;
The 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry is a special feature in the third edition is the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series to be printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA and will be distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

The "NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series" is a book series by Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi that provides a comprehensive overview of Nollywood, Nigeria's film industry. Published in both print and digital formats, the series aims to capture the "big picture" of the industry and is targeted at a global audience interested in Nigerian cinema.  

Focus: The series is a celebration and documentation of the Nigerian film industry, covering current affairs and notable aspects of Nollywood. 
Formats: It is available in multiple formats, including paperback, hard-cover, and e-copy versions. 

Distribution: The books are distributed in Nigeria, the U.S., the UK, Canada, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world to reach its target audience.
 
Author: Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi is credited as the author of the series.

#nollywood 
#chima
#books 
#series 
#mirror 
#movies 
#filmmarket 
#filmstudies 
#filmmaking
#education
#information
#nigeria
#canada
#uk
#unitedstates
#america
#caribbean






Thursday, October 30, 2025

Photos from the World Premiere of "Infant at Heart" in London

 


Photos from the World Premiere of "Infant at Heart", the First Nollywood Igbo Psychological Thriller in London

The director and writer, Aguyi IKEOBI Silence.

The world premiere of "Infant at Heart", the first Nollywood Igbo psychological thriller held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Odeon Greenwich in London, UK. The event attracted many people, including important dignitaries and friends of the director, Aguiyi IKEOBI Silence who also wrote the gripping screenplay. This is his first feature film.




















IKEOBI Silence said he made "Infant at Heart" in his mother tongue of Igbo language to make it an original and believable story.

"It is from stories about some Catholic Priests in Eastern Nigeria."

"The movie is an emotional journey that resonates deeply with everyone that has faced loss or confronted the truth by themselves, " said Vera Kanu, the producer.

Starring top Nollywood.stars, Monalisa Chinda Coker, Nkem Owoh and Williams Uchemba, the drama centers on a grieving Justice Ngozi Chimerije dealing with loss, trauma and bipolar disorder when her brother-in-law moves in and a new murder case appears. 

The film deals existential realities of loss, truth, resilience, self-confrontation and the consequences of the trauma of adolescent rape.

SYNOPSIS

After the tragic loss of her only child, Justice Ngozi Chimerije is forced to confront buried trauma. But when her brother-in-law moves in to pursue his studies, and a chilling murder case lands on her desk, her grip on reality begins to slip — and her life hangs in the balance.

View the official trailer on 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-AjTU5A4BYW-slLZJV5wa7b3lB1I47iN/view?usp=share_link

A production of Afrigold TV Ltd and the Executive Producers are Aguiyi IKEOBI Silence and Dr. Olebara Uzoukwu popularly known for "Dr. Mekam" (2018) and "Black Day" (2018). An award winning actress and filmmaker. She also played the role of Mrs. Gbemisola in the movie.

Oby Olebara Uzoukwu 
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13364798/

CAST

Monalisa Chinda Coker, Nkem Owoh Osuofia, Williams Uchemba, Emeka Darlington, Mike Durueke, Emeka Enyiocha, Bryan Emmanuel

Director

Aguiyi IKEOBI silence 

Producer

Vera Kanu

Writer

Aguiyi IKEOBI Silence 

Infant at Heart (2024) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37342133/fullcredits/

Duration

132 mins

Genre

Drama, Psychological Thriller

Country

Nigeria

Language(s)

English, Igbo