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 But later rescinded and I abandoned the production of the political documentary film and rescripted it into the screenplay of "Naked Beauty" co-authored with Dr.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

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

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.

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

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

The Omalicha of NOLLYWOOD

The Omalicha of NOLLYWOOD

There are Omalichas of Nollywood. And she is The Omalicha of the Omalichas of Nollywood and the most beautiful so far in the history of the Nigerian film industry since 1960 to date.

Who is she?

As I showed her gazing at the mirror in "Mirror, Mirror, Who is the Fairest of them All?".

I wrote about her beauty in the popular article published by Nigeria Film, Modern Ghana and my own TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla. And of course I included her among the 34 Beauty Queens of Nollywood and Kannywood in the second edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series published in 2014.

The Beauty Queens of Nollywood and Kannywood should be a reality TV series on Netflix or Showmax and the series will attract millions of their fans and followers online and offline. I have identified more than 34 with the new beauty queens like Adesua Etomi- Wellington and sultry Sophie Alakija.

She has been the most beautiful since I have known her at the different locations for casting calls for auditions for new movies.

Year: 1996

Location: Idi Iroko bus stop

Ikorodu Road, Lagos, Nigeria .

Title of Movie: Cover Up

Ejike Asiegbu, Emeka Ike, Emeka Enyiocha, Segun Arinze, Adim Williams, Chyke Brian and Regina Askia later joined us for her role of the leading lady during the rehearsals.

Enebeli Elebuwa of blessed memory came around with Charly Boy on his power bike.

Then, the Omalicha was between 16 and 19. Emeka Enyiocha was often with her at the locations. And he was sitting beside her on this occasion.

She stood up and sashayed to me holding an orange in her right hand. 

Without saying any word, she gave me the orange with glints in her beautiful brown eyes.

I accepted it with thanks and she returned to her seat as I admired her.

She was guided by her inner spirit.

She went on to become one the most famous actresses in Nollywood and she became the first Nigerian actor and actress to be named among The TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013 and named her "Queen of Nollywood" which I celebrated in the first edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRRORS® Series published in the same year and now a collector's edition.

If you are still wondering who?

Then you are a JJC in Nollywood.

She is The OMALICHA of NOLLYWOOD of the 50 Most Outstanding Women in Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry, including The ADAEZE of NOLLYWOOD, ADAORA of NOLLYWOOD, ADAUGO of NOLLYWOOD, ADAURE of NOLLYWOOD and ADABEKE of NOLLYWOOD to be profiled in the third edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series.

It is a collector's edition in full colour on glossy paper printed in Raleigh, North Carolina,USA.

You can pre-order the hardcover version for only $50 (fifty dollars) including delivery by DHL or UPS.

The Omalicha inspired me to compose the following lyrics of my new song for one of prospective new Afrobeats singers I have discovered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Yes. I I am a very good lyricist as well as a first prize winning poet.

My song "Hardway To Broadway" was recorded in California was I was 18 and copyrighted with a copy in the Library of Congress, Washington DC, USA in 1984.

My second recording, "She Comes on Sundays": was produced in Lagos in 2003 and I had one hour interview with the broadcast of the song on the BBC Radio in April, 2003 heard by millions of listeners worldwide.

I am currently recording three new songs: "Your Majesty, Lord Almighty", "Omalicha" and the title of the third song is CLASSIFIED.

As Rema will say,. "Another Banger!" 

My last stage performance was a live concert for the graduation ceremony of the Alliance Française in 2002 in Lagos. I sang my song, "Darego!" I composed to celebrate Darego for winning the Miss World beauty pageant in 2001. I was backed by one of the best rock guitarists in the world, "Son of Rock" Dabyna Abraham-Poll and his band. The girls were screaming with excitement in the mini theatre of the French Cultural Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.

It was a romantic night to remember.

My live life is scripted by Almighty God And He said He wired me differently from others.

OMALICHA

Omalicha

You are beautiful.

Omalicha

You are wonderful

Omalicha

You are very pretty

Omalicha

No one can deny your beauty

Omalicha

You are catwalking up and down

Omalicha

You are the talk of the Town

Omalicha

You make heads to turn on the street

From the street to the internet

Omalicha

Your beauty is the talk of the social network

From Facebook to TikTok

From Instagram to Telegram

From Snapchat to WeChat

Omalicha

Obiago! Obiago! Obiago!

Omalicha

Nwayi Oma Achalaugo

Nwa nma oyoyo.

You are what my mother called Ogbashi motto.

Traffic stopper.

You make the heartbeats faster.

Omalicha

Onye nkem

Onye bu lo obi.

Omalicha

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,.

01:21am.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Not Every Indian Film is Bollywood and Not Every Nigerian Movie is Nollywood

  

Not Every Indian Film is Bollywood and Not Every Nigerian Movie is Nollywood

Bollywood and Nollywood have been called the first and second largest film industries in the world for the production of the largest quantities of movies.

Bollywood is generally labelled as the Indian film industry. But it is not the overall representative of the film industry of India, because there is Tollywood, the popular Telugu film industry of Telugu language based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in southeast India. Bollywood, the Hindi language Cinema is based in the city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Tollywood was first coined before Bollywood and has a filmmaking history of over 100 years since 1909 when the Father of Telugu Cinema, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu produced short films and showed them in different regions of South Asia and he built the first Indian-owned cinema halls in South India in 1921.

Tollywood is the second largest film industry in India by box-office revenue after Bollywood. And Tollywood films sold 233 million tickets in 2022, the highest among all Indian film industries. As of 2023, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of movie screens in India.

The boisterous Telugu film industry has several Guinness World Records such as the Ramoji Film City, which holds the Guinness World Record as the largest film studio complex in the world.

The second highest grossing Indian film so far, is "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion", a 2017 Tollywood epic action film directed by S. S. Rajamouli following the current highest grossing Indian film "Dangal"  a 2016 Bollywood biographical sports drama film directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao.

I have written on the significance of the difference between Bollywood and Tollywood before on my Nigerians Report Online on Blogger.

Like Bollywood, Nollywood has been termed as the sobriquet of the Nigerian film industry since the name was coined by The New York Times in 2002. But the name Kannywood for the Hausa language film industry based in Kano was coined in 1999 before the The New York Times discovered Nollywood and said "it is like Hollywood" with starry-eyed guerilla filmmakers making dozens of movies daily from bootstraps budgets. All the movies were shot straight to video from handheld VHS cameras and sold in VHS tapes on the streets and stalls of Lagos and Onitsha before distribution to other countries across the borders to start the first indie film industry in Africa. 

While Nollywood is largely based in the predominantly Christian

southern region of Nigeria, Kannywood is based in the predominantly Islamic northern region of Nigeria.

Adamu Halilu, the Father of Hausa language Cinema was the first Nigerian indigenous filmmaker with the documentaries, "It Pays to Care" (1955) and "Hausa Village" (1958) and later made the classic film, Shaihu Umar (1976), a story of African slavery based on the novel of the same name by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first Prime Minister of Nigeria.

The first Hausa language home video, "Tirmin Danya " was produced in 1990 in Kano.

 The National Film and Video Censorship Board, (NFVCB) Abuja, started recording and censoring video films in Nigeria from 1995, and a total of 1600 Hausa video films were officially documented between 1995 and 2005.

Majority of the foreign film critics, journalists and scholars who claimed to be experts ignored Kannywood in their reports, features and books on the Nigerian film industry.  Both Nigerian and foreign scholars have done comprehensive researches and published books on Kannywood. The most popular are Dr. Idi Adam; Dr. Abdulkareem Abdulrahman; Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Ibrahim;

Dr. Carmen McCain; Prof. Brian Larkin and Dr. Mahmoud Nourah Bamalli.

Queen of Nollywood, Genevieve Nnaji.

Joint Queen of Nollywood, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde 

Queen of Kannywood, Rahama Sadau.

Alpha Male Nollywood actor, Enyinna Nwigwe.

My NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series is the first publication that has celebrated the beautiful queens of Kannywood on the same pedestal as the beautiful queens of Nollywood in the second edition published in 2014 and distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers in hardcover version, paperback version and Amazon Kindle version.

Ike Ude's photo book, "Nollywood: Radical Beauty" ignored the stars of Kannywood. 

The big problem of Kannywood is being under the dictatorship of the Islamic religion with majority of the actors, actresses and filmmakers being Muslims.

They are monitored by the Islamic police of Kano State and the other Sharia states in northern Nigeria with several cases of the violations of their fundamental human rights even in their private lives. 

Nollywood Alpha Male actor Enyinna Nwigwe can hug and kiss the Queens of Nollywood, Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in a romantic movie, but he cannot even dare to hug and kiss Rahama Sadau, the Queen of Kannywood on screen without incurring the wrath of the Islamic watchdogs of Kannywood.

-By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
International Digital Post Network Limited,
King of Kings Books International,
Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC)

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi
New Nigeria
www.pinterest.com/nigeriansreport

COMING SOON

The First Annual Bollywood To Nollywood Filmmaking Workshops

#bollywood

#tollywood

#india

#nollywood

#kannywood

#hollywood

#nigeria

#asia

#africa

#cinema

#movies

#films

#videos

#filmindustry

#entertainment

#books

#scholars

#newyorktimes

#hindi

#telugu

#christian

#islam

#christians

#muslims

#religion

#filmmakers

#filmmaking

#cinema

#lagos

#onitsha

#mumbai

#pradesh

Monalisa Chinda Coker Returns To The Big Screen In Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi’s "INFANT AT HEART Set To Premiere In West African Cinemas August 29, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monalisa Chinda Coker Returns To The Big Screen In Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi’s I»f»»ľ dľ Hc»»ľ, Set To Premiere In West African Cinemas August 29, 2025

Monalisa Chinda Coker plays Justice Ngozi Chimerije, a mother grieving her late child in INFANT AT HEART, premiering in cinemas across French West Africa from August 29.

Nollywood actress Monalisa Chinda Coker is making her much-anticipated return to the big screen in INFANT AT HEART (“CŒUR BLESSÉ” in French), a gripping drama-thriller from Nigerian filmmaker Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi (also known as “Ikeobi Silence”). The film will premiere in cinemas across Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroun, and Senegal on Friday,

August 29, 2025, with Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited handling its release across the three territories.

Produced by Vera Kanu and written and directed by Ndubuisi, INFANT AT HEART follows the haunting journey of Justice Ngozi Chimerije, a woman whose life is upended after the devastating loss of her only child. Struggling to confront long-buried trauma, her fragile world is further shaken when her brother-in-law moves in to pursue his studies.

At the same time, a chilling murder case lands on her desk, pulling her into a psychological spiral where reality blurs and her very survival is at stake.

The film reunites audiences with Monalisa Chinda Coker in a commanding performance, alongside an ensemble of celebrated Nollywood stars including Nkem Owoh “Osuofia”, Williams Uchemba, Emeka Darlington, Mike Durueke, Emeka Enyiocha, and Bryan

Emmanuel. Together, they bring to life a tense and emotionally charged story that explores grief, resilience, and the shadows of the human psyche.

“INFANT AT HEART is not just a film—it’s an emotional journey that will resonate deeply with anyone who has faced loss or confronted the truth within themselves,” said director Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi. “We’re excited to share this story with Francophone West African audiences in a way that speaks directly to their hearts.”

A production of Afrigold TV Limited, INFANT AT HEART will be released in both English and subtitled French, ensuring accessibility for audiences across Côte d'Ivoire,

Cameroun, and Senegal when it arrives in cinemas on August 29, 2025. The release will be distributed exclusively by Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited, a leading force in African film distribution that recently brought Tolu Ajayi’s OVER THE BRIDGE to audiences across eight countries in French West Africa, further solidifying its reputation for delivering compelling African stories to diverse audiences.

For press inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact: Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution International

Email: frwa@tntheatrical.com Phone: +234 (0) 812 363 2005

Website: www.tntheatrical.com/fr

--

About Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited:

Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited is a mainstream entertainment company specialising in the distribution and marketing of local and international filmed content. With a distribution network spanning cinema, inflight entertainment, streaming platforms, and linear television networks within and outside Africa, Tribe Nation is

committed to bridging the gap between content creators and target audiences. The

company provides unique and innovative marketing and distribution solutions, ensuring the maximisation of revenues at the box office and beyond. Tribe Nation also produces commercial filmed content, striving to become the leading global supplier of wholesome entertainment.

About AfrigoldTV Limited:

AfrigoldTV Limited, a subsidiary of Obylicious Empire, is a proudly indigenous film and content production company dedicated to delivering authentic African stories to global audiences. Since its inception in 2018 by Dr. Oby Olebara-Uzoukwu, the company has produced a diverse slate of films, including Served, Good Mistake, Thin Line, Weakness, Scorched, Lost, and more. Driven by the rising demand for original content and the expanding live-streaming market, AfrigoldTV was founded to bridge the gap between African creativity and modern digital audiences. We believe that the future of our developing economy lies in our ability to harness and showcase local talent, culture, and capabilities—telling stories that inspire, entertain, and resonate across borders.

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE

Monalisa Chinda Coker Fait Son Grand Retour Sur Grand Écran Dans Cœu» Blcssé D’Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi, En Salles En Afrique De L’ouest À Partir Du 29 Août 2025

Monalisa Chinda Coker incarne Justice Ngozi Chimerije, une mère en deuil de son enfant dans INFANT AT HEART, qui sortira en salles à travers l’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone à partir du 29

août.

L’actrice nigériane Monalisa Chinda Coker fait son grand retour très attendu sur les écrans dans CŒUR BLESSÉ (INFANT AT HEART en anglais), un drame-thriller captivant signé par le réalisateur nigérian Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi. Le film sortira en salles en Côte d’Ivoire, au Cameroun et au Sénégal le vendredi 29 août 2025, avec Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited en charge de sa distribution dans ces trois territoires.

Produit par Vera Kanu et écrit et réalisé par Ndubuisi, CŒUR BLESSÉ raconte le parcours bouleversant de Justice Ngozi Chimerije, une femme dont la vie bascule après la perte tragique de son unique enfant. Alors qu’elle tente d’affronter un traumatisme enfoui depuis longtemps, son équilibre fragile est encore ébranlé lorsque son beau-frère emménage chez elle pour poursuivre ses études. Dans le même temps, une affaire de meurtre glaçante atterrit sur son bureau, l’entraînant dans une spirale psychologique où la frontière entre réalité et illusion s’efface, mettant sa vie en danger.

Le film marque le retour de Monalisa Chinda Coker dans un rôle marquant, aux côtés d’un casting prestigieux comprenant Nkem Owoh “Osuofia”, Williams Uchemba, Emeka Darlington, Mike Durueke, Emeka Enyiocha et Bryan Emmanuel. Ensemble, ils donnent vie à une histoire intense et profondément émotive qui explore le deuil, la résilience et les zones d’ombre de l’âme humaine.

“CŒUR BLESSÉ n’est pas seulement un film — c’est un voyage émotionnel qui résonnera profondément chez tous ceux qui ont connu la perte ou affronté leur vérité intérieure,” déclare le réalisateur Aguiyi Ikeobi Ndubuisi. “Nous sommes impatients de partager cette histoire avec le public d’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone, de manière à toucher directement leur cœur.”

Une production de Afrigold TV Limited, CŒUR BLESSÉ sera diffusée en version française (VF), garantissant ainsi son accessibilité auprès des spectateurs en Côte d’Ivoire, au Cameroun et au Sénégal lors de sa sortie en salles le 29 août 2025. La sortie sera distribuée exclusivement par Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited, un acteur majeur de la distribution cinématographique en Afrique, qui a récemment présenté

AU-DELÀ DU PONT de Tolu Ajayi au public de huit pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest francophone, consolidant ainsi sa réputation de diffuseur d’histoires africaines captivantes auprès de publics variés.

Pour les demandes de presse, interviews ou informations complémentaires, veuillez contacter :

Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited Email : frwa@tntheatrical.com

Téléphone : +234 (0) 812 363 2005

Site Web : www.tntheatrical.com/fr

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À propos de Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited :

Tribe Nation Theatrical Distribution Limited est une société de divertissement spécialisée dans la distribution et le marketing de contenus cinématographiques locaux et internationaux. Grâce à un réseau de distribution couvrant les salles de cinéma, le divertissement en vol, les plateformes de streaming et les chaînes de télévision linéaires en Afrique et au-delà, Tribe Nation s’engage à rapprocher les créateurs de

contenu de leurs publics cibles. La société propose des solutions uniques et innovantes en matière de marketing et de distribution, assurant une maximisation des recettes au box-office et sur d’autres canaux. Tribe Nation produit également des contenus commerciaux, avec pour ambition de devenir le principal fournisseur mondial de divertissement de qualité.

À propos de AfrigoldTV Limited :

AfrigoldTV Limited, une filiale de Obylicious Empire, est une société de production de films et de contenus en ligne, fièrement indigène, dédiée à la diffusion d’histoires africaines authentiques auprès du public mondial. Depuis sa création en 2018 par Dr. Oby Olebara-Uzoukwu, l’entreprise a produit une sélection variée de films, notamment

Served, Good Mistake, Thin Line, Weakness, Scorched, Lost, et bien d’autres. Portée par la demande croissante de contenus originaux et par l’essor du marché du streaming en direct, AfrigoldTV a été fondée pour combler le fossé entre la créativité africaine et les publics numériques modernes. Nous croyons que l’avenir de notre économie en développement repose sur notre capacité à exploiter et à valoriser les talents, la culture et les savoir-faire locaux — en racontant des histoires qui inspirent, divertissent et résonnent au-delà des frontières.

iROKOtv, Netflix, Showmax, YouTube and the Big Picture of the Future of Streaming Original African Content

iROKOtv, Netflix, Showmax, YouTube and the Big Picture of the Future of Streaming Original African Content

iROKOtv Co-Founder Bastian Gotter left the leading Nollywood streamer in 2017.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2017/01/30/irokotv-co-founder-bastian-gotter-leaves-company-to-pursue-startup-investments

iROKOtv should have come up with a new brand credibility strategy in view of the competition with Netflix, Showmax and Canal Afrique.

iROKOtv and YouTube have the largest original content of Nigerian drama online and iROKOtv can actually attract more subscribers than the competitors with new branding and marketing strategy.

There are millions of people in Africa and the  Diaspora who are going to be the next largest subscribers for the leading streamers for original African content.

Showmax has been attracting more people, because of the unique exciting Nigerian dramas and reality TV shows you can't find on Netflix, iROKOtv and Canal Afrique.

I successfully streamed the first NFT of a Nollywood video on the blockchain of Algorand and I have seen the Big Picture of the Future of streaming Nollywood on the blockchain for which I wanted to launch iNolly in partnership with Breaker in 2019 and still in development.

I can help with the development of such exclusive content.

I have developed a new content for one of the top Nollywood channels on Startimes and I have another new one for an exciting Nollywood reality TV series that will attract millions of viewers. Nothing like it from Nollywood. 

I don't want it on YouTube to avoid the piracy.

- by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Thanks

9jaStudio’s Unilife: Where Secrets, Love and Danger Collide.

Click on the poster and url link to watch the exciting romantic comedy.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEThTwdLoaR0miXOU1_NI7Z-3MhpUA7_O

No Nigerian Filmmaker is Among the Best and Greatest African Filmmakers

No Nigerian Filmmaker is Among the Best and Greatest African Filmmakers

I am currently doing research on my article on "African Cinema in the Eyes of the World". 

No Nigerian filmmaker is among the best and greatest filmmakers in African Cinema since 1925 to date. None of them is on the list of the to 10 African Filmmakers.

Only Newton Aduaka's multiple award winning film,"Ezra" that won the most prestigious award of the "Étalon d'or de Yennenga" (Golden Stallion of Yennenga) at the 2007 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou or FESPACO) (held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. "Ezra" also other sspecial awards; including the Oumarou Ganda Prize, given for the best first film, and the Paul Robeson Prize for the best film by a director of the African diaspora named in honour of the major 20th-century American actor, singer and civil rights activist in the United States.) and C.J Obasi's cinematic masterpiece, "Mami Wata", the  2023 sci-fi drama based on the mythology of Nigerian marine spirits  are included in the best 100 African films so far.

"Mami Wata"'s  cinematographer Lílis Soares won the Special Jury Prize in the World Dramatic Competition and won three awards at FESPACO - Prix de la Critique Paulin S. Vieyra (African Critics Award), Meilleure Image (Cinematography Award) and Meilleur Décor (Set Design Award).

The first African film to win international recognition was Sembène Ousmane's "La Noire de (Black Girl). It won the Prix Jean Vigo in 1966. Ousmane is recognized as the Father of African Cinema.

Only one African film has won the highly coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, "Chronicles of the Years of Fire" (1975) by Algerian director Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina. 

Then Mati Diop of Senegal became the only African woman to win the Grand Prix, the second-most prestigious award, for her film "Atlantics" in 2019.

"Tsotsi", a South African film is the first African film to win  the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006 actually,  the first non-French language film from Africa to achieve this honor.  It was directed by Gavin Hood, based on a novel by Athol Fugard.

The first African film to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival was "U-Carmen eKhayelitsha", a South African drama directed by Mark Dornford-May, in 2005.

"Dahomey, directed by Mati Diop won the Golden Bear at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in 2024, the first Black filmmaker to win the award. 

No African films has won the Toronto International Film Festival's People's Choice Award. However, "Mother, Mother" by Somalian filmmaker K'naan Warsame did receive the FIPRESCI Jury Award in 2024.

The Golden Globes celebrated a century of Egyptian Cinema in 2021. I have been working on "A Century of Nigerian Cinema: from Palaver To Nollywood - 1926-2026".

- by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Publisher/Editor,
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series, the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

#africa
#africancinema
#nigeria
#nollywood
#filmmakers
#films
#academyawards
#filmfestival
#cannes
#berlin
#toronto
#Ousmane
#diop
#obasi
#aduaka
#blackgirl
#Tsotsi
#ezra
#mamiwata
#palmedor

#goldenlion
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#goldenglobes
#fespaco
#movies
#series
#books

Del-York Group Partners with Tribeca Festival to Present the African Film Spotlight, Supported by Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, and UN Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Del-York Group Partners with Tribeca Festival to Present the African Film Spotlight, Supported by Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, and UN Women

New York, NY – June 2025.

Del-York Group proudly announces its partnership with the world-renowned Tribeca Festival to unveil the African Film Spotlight a premier platform that champions Africa’s cinematic storytelling, cultural ingenuity, and creative potential on the global stage. This groundbreaking initiative is supported by Afreximbank, through its creative arm CANEX Creations Inc., and co-sponsored by Bank of Industry (Nigeria) and UN Women.

Staged during the 2025 Tribeca Festival in New York City, the African Film Spotlight was themed “Cross-Continental Collaboration & The Power of Partnership.” The event convened Africa’s most dynamic filmmakers, producers, financiers, and cultural policymakers for robust engagements designed to accelerate investment, stimulate co-productions, and position African cinema as a commercially viable and globally relevant force.

Leading the initiative on behalf of Del-York was Stephanie Linus, celebrated actress, director, and cultural ambassador, who emphasized the platform’s mission to unlock bold new narratives and deepen international creative ties.

“The African Film Spotlight is a catalyst to reshape Africa’s global creative footprint and fuel enduring, cross-border partnerships,” said Linus.

Adding to the impact of this year’s Tribeca activation was the presence of CANEX Creations Inc., the newly established Afreximbank subsidiary dedicated to investing in Africa’s creative and cultural industries. At the heart of the festival, CANEX hosted a high-level Deal Room, where dozens of African filmmakers pitched their projects for funding. This landmark engagement reflects Afreximbank’s firm commitment to pipeline financing for African films and content-driven IPs with global potential.

Del-York Group, recognized as a vanguard in Africa’s creative renaissance, is also notably involved in the Kebulania Lagos State Film City Project a transformative infrastructure and talent development initiative in Epe, Lagos, spearheaded in partnership with the Lagos State Government. This strategic alignment between local development and international exhibition exemplifies Del-York’s holistic approach to ecosystem building spanning production infrastructure, policy alignment, global promotion, and capital mobilization.

This historic collaboration at Tribeca not only amplifies African storytelling but also cements the growing recognition of Africa’s creative economy as a frontier for investment, innovation, and soft power diplomacy.

For media inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, please contact:

Media Relations
Del-York Group
press@delyork.com