Effective Content Marketing in Nigeria Must Target the Gen Z

Effective Content Marketing in Nigeria Must Target the Gen Z

You cannot do effective content marketing if you are ignorant of the demographics of your target audience.

The target audience for online entertainment, e-commerce and fintech industry are the Generation Z, or Gen Z of people born between 1995 and 2010. The 'Z' in the name means "zoomer", as this is the first generation known to 'zoom' the internet.

Majority of them make up the population of 65 million Nigerians using social media platforms.

They spend $975m daily on online betting.

Data from the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has revealed that over 65 million Nigerians actively engage in betting, spending an average of $15 daily. This is just as it disclosed that everyday, 14 million bet takes and payments are made online in the country.

According to one of the fast rising upwardly mobile Nigerian Gen Z techies, Benjamin Unah, Co-Founder & Chairman - Primeries

https://primeries.com/, the #1

 streetwear marketplace that connecting shoppers to the hardest streetwear brands and creatives in Africa, "they are the most active shoppers online and subscribers of entertainment providers for streaming music and movies."

According to the report on Understanding the Gen Z in Nigeria: Trends and Insights - Sagaci Research

"Trends among the Gen Z in Nigeria: more likely to go to physical shops and use cash
Male Nigerian consumers aged 18-25 exhibit different shopping behaviours compared to older ones. A significant 58% of them would rather go to a shop than buying products online versus 47% of the older group. This result stems from young people’s preference for a physical experience; they want to visit stores, see the product firsthand, and make their choice in person. Additionally, 26% of these younger consumers prefer using cash, a higher percentage than the 16% observed in the 26+ demographic.

In contrast, older consumers are more inclined to use debit cards, with 41% opting for this payment method compared to 29% of the younger age group. Following recent banking issues in Nigeria, younger people now prefer to keep physical cash on hand for added security and to avoid potential problems.

Read the complete report on 
https://sagaciresearch.com/gen-z-nigeria-insights/
"
.

Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2024: Uniting Global Africa's Creative and Cultural Industries in Algiers

CANEX WKND 2023 (L-R): Tade Ipadeola (Poet and Writer, Event Anchor), Anwuli Ojogwu (Managing Director, Narrative Landscape Press), Dr Eghosa Imasuen (Co-Founder, Narrative Landscape Press), Professor Benedict Oramah (Afreximbank President), Mrs Kanayo Awani (Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade & Export Development at Afreximbank), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Novelist and Creative Director of the James and Grace Adichie Foundation), Mrs Chinelo Oramah, and Mr Stephen Kauma, (Group Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank)

(Source: Afreximbank)

PRESS RELEASE

Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024: Uniting Global Africa's Creative and Cultural Industries in Algiers

his groundbreaking event is scheduled to take place from October 16-19, 2024, at SAFEX in Algiers, Algeria

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ALGIERS, Algeria, August 7, 2024/ -- African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, proudly announces the return of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024. This groundbreaking event is scheduled to take place from October 16-19, 2024, at SAFEX in Algiers, Algeria.  CANEX WKND 2024 seeks to build on the success of previous events, most recently CANEX at IATF2023 that was held in Cairo. Last year’s edition brought together delegates from across the continent representing a wide range of creative sectors. The event featured over 21 live performances, 115 industry-leading speakers and experts, 13 masterclass sessions, and an awe-inspiring fashion show. Attendees also enjoyed a high-energy music concert, exciting gastronomical showcases and a vibrant marketplace and exhibition center.  CANEX WKND will further develop conversations and provide even more business to business/government opportunities through a 4-day gathering that will be held under the theme: One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.  Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President Intra Africa Trade and Export Development stated, "CANEX WKND 2024 represents a pivotal moment for creative and cultural industries in Global Africa to showcase their talent and thrive. By bringing together diverse talents from across the continent and diaspora, we're not just showcasing creativity; we're not just showcasing creativity; we’re building a robust ecosystem that will propel African culture onto the global stage."  Highlights of CANEX WKND 2024 include:  CANEX Music Factory: Hundreds of songwriters and beatmakers will converge at the live recording studios within the heart of the CANEX Exhibition. This year's event will include the launch of an album featuring songs recorded during last year's Music Factory.   CANEX Music Concert: Will take the audience on a rhythmic journey across the continent, featuring some of Africa's most dynamic and groundbreaking artists such as the unstoppable Scorpion Kings, Qing Madi and the soulful Sofia Nzau, just to name a few.  CANEX Fashion Show: This year, we are bringing together 10 of the most innovative and bold designers from across Africa and the Diaspora, all set to unveil their exciting collections at the magnificent Algiers Botanical Gardens.   EXHIBITION: A dynamic business-to-business exhibition area designed for creative brands and organizations, offering exceptional opportunities to sell to international buyers.  GASTRONOMY Showcase: This showcase will be turning up the heat with a special appearance by some of the most celebrated chefs from Africa and the Diaspora. Culinary maestros will bring their stories, expertise, and mouthwatering recipes to life weaving the rich tapestry of African culture into every dish they create. From the vibrant streets of Lagos to the soulful kitchens of the Caribbean and the soothing landscapes of Cape Town, each chef will showcase the diverse flavours that define African cuisine across the globe.  ART EXHIBITION: A stunning visual art installation featuring the works of iconic artists along with emerging talents at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Algiers.   CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa: Celebrating literary excellence   from the continent  CANEX Shorts Awards Ceremony: Recognizing outstanding achievements of young filmmakers in short-form content creation.  Attendance and Registration  While attendance is free throughout the 4 days, pre-registration is essential. For more information or to register for CANEX WKND 2024, visit www.CANEX.Africa and be part of shaping the future of Africa's creative industries.  Join us in Algiers as we celebrate the power of African creativity and its impact on the global stage.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.   Media Contact:  Vincent Musumba  Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)  Email: press@afreximbank.com  Follow us on: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.  For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com SOURCE Afreximbank

The Nigerian Economy and the Creative Economy Are in the Doldrums of Conceit and Deceit

The Nigerian Economy and the Creative Economy Are in the Doldrums of Conceit and Deceit

Let me just make the comprehension easy in my brief commentary.

Anyone who says the Nigerian economy is doing well is a liar. Anyone who tells you the Creative Industry is booming is another liar.

The present administration of the Nigerian government blaming the immediate past administration of  former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for the current economic woes shows political dishonesty and administrative incompetence of those in the corridors of power.

The major projects recently commissioned with fanfare by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR were started by former President Buhari. 

You cannot take credit for the work started successfully by the previous administration and still turn around to blame and complain about the economic setbacks which were caused by recurrent expenditures on federal projects of which you actually benefited from the multi-million dollar contracts by proxies of the same national ruling party of Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015 to date.

Honesty remains the best policy in any public and private office. 

Making excuses and living in denial of your own faults and failures is sheer conceit and deceit.

Have you noticed?

The absence and reductions of adverts and promos by majority of the companies in Nigeria are actually indications of the state of the Nigerian Economy. This means that the situation is critical.

 In the creative industry, only MultiChoice of South Africa is profitable in Nigeria. 

The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) cannot afford to produce enough content; has zero budget for acquisition and distribution and still wasting millions of naira having unprofitable channels on DStv and GOtv of the MultiChoice and the partnership with StarTimes is unprofitable and should be scrapped. 

If the NTA can't buy content produced by Nigerian producers that means the Nigerian film and TV industry is in economic crisis.

Only few Nigerian movies are making money from the cinemas and only few can be acquired by Netflix and other foreign streaming platforms. More than 90 percent are on YouTube channels in competition for revenues from views and only few can make ends meet.

The private TV stations cannot afford to pay for the acquisition of local content.

Both the NTA and private TV stations don't compete for film and TV acquisition and distribution deals in the international film and TV markets, because they don't have marketable content of international quality to sell and they don't have the money to buy top grade content from other countries.

It is dumb to be over the moon watching music videos of few Nigerian Afrobeats artistes on foreign TV channels who are just a fraction of hundreds of others who can't even afford to produce music videos is enough for anyone who is not a dummy to know that the Nigerian creative industry is still underdeveloped and the creative economy is underdeveloped. The creative industry is actually disorganized in Nigeria.

Coming to the international film festivals in Nigeria; none of them is profitable to the creative economy.

Ask them how much money they have contributed to the creative economy, they don't know. Because there are no annual forensic reports on the economic benefits of film festivals in Nigeria.

What are the deliverables from all the editions of the film festivals in the past 10 years?

The organizers cannot tell?

The popular annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) submits annual reports on what the film festival contributed to Canada:

"Our 11 day Festival generates more than $200 million dollars in annual economic activity to the tourism and hospitality sector for the City of Toronto and Province. We drive over $36 million dollars in taxes to the three levels of government annually through our Festival and year-round TIFF Bell Lightbox cinemas."

- Toronto International Film Festival Inc.

I have the report for anyone who wants a copy.

Which international film festival in Nigeria has any annual report for the state government and federal government?

We must stop the political conceit and deceit by political appointees who are equally being misled by political jobbers and title chasers and opportunists in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

The Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy cannot make any impact on the Nigerian economy without deliverables from every sector of the entertainment industry on the economic benefits. 

What are the market valuations of the fashion and textile industry, cosmetics industry, contemporary art and photography industry, film and TV industry, advertising industry and other parts of the creative industry?

Lest we forget, assumptions are not credible. 

You cannot waste millons of naira on local and international events without showing us the economic benefits in your annual report. 

We want to see verified facts and figures and not mere news reports, photos and videos.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

Since 2013.

The Creative Economy is Driven by the Digital Economy

Image credit: 
https://city.cri.cn/20210507/633e86e4-7cc0-92c5-a18c-439c6dec1d4b.html

The development of the Creative Economy is hinged on the development of the Digital Economy in the 21st century.

The creative industry in the 21st century is driven by digital technology from the street to the internet. 

Monetization of every format of intellectual property (IP) is mostly generated by digital applications of production, acquisition, distribution, collection and exhibition of which the transactions for the revenues are through fintech applications and services.

We cannot have a robust creative

economy without the support of the digital economy. Both economies have become interlocked as can be seen in Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, X and the new developments by the MultiChoice Group in Africa. 

The largest revenues of the entertainment industry are online.

Where else can we have billions of downloads and views of content?

Recommended:

THE ROLE OF DIGITAL ECONOMY IN ADVANCING CREATIVE INDUSTRIES-CREATIVITY 2030 SEMINAR

https://city.cri.cn/20210507/633e86e4-7cc0-92c5-a18c-439c6dec1d4b.html

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

The Founder/CEO,

International Digital Post Network Limited,

Lagos, Nigeria.

Musa-Musawa, Nollywood and other Stories from Nigeria

Photo: Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa- Musawa.

I read a report by The Punch newspaper of Nigeria, that "Nigeria’s entertainment industry is set to receive a boost with the recent appointment of Hannatu Musawa as the Special Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy to President Bola Tinubu."

https://punchng.com/all-eyes-on-president-tinubus-new-adviser-musawa

The Punch did not tell us how Hannatu Musa-Musawa will boost the culture and creative industry, except quoting her academic and professional qualifications as a lawyer like Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Information and Culture under former President, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,retd.

President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr Latin commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for her appointment. 

Why? 

I don't know.

Has she been an outstanding administrator before her appointment? 

I am more concerned with Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry,

The past Ministers for Information and Culture did not know about the administration of the film industry and were more focused on being spokespersons for the President; like Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his predecessors. 

Nigeria does not have a film policy, no single film commission and only recently talking about film treaties with France, Canada and  South Africa. 

Nollywood does not have any insurance policy and no structure in the Nigerian film industry.

There is more opportunism than professionalism in Nollywood and Kannywood.

The National Film and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB) sometimes crosses the line to do the work of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC). 

Have you noticed that many Nigerian movies don't have classifications for the restrictions of children under the ages of 13, 16 and 18. 

They just approve movies once you pay them the fees. 

I have been to their office for the approval of "Changing Faces" of Faruk Lasaki in 2012. They just approved it without any classification. Most likely, they didn't know how to classify the film.  

The office had no library. 

The qualifications of the staff are dubious. Are they trained and certified for their jobs?  

The Nigerian Film Corporation is meant to produce films. 

But have you seen films produced by the corporation since 1999 to date? And when you tell them to do their duties, they become angry and attack you. 

Civil servants and political appointees should not be given appointments which they will not know what to do, except having events, news media interviews and traveling to International conferences to make speeches. They will keep on wasting precious quality time and budgets without achievements. 

What did Alhaji Lai Mohammed achieve for the Nigerian film industry? 

What did he achieve for the music industry?

Show me the milestones of his office in the administration of former President Buhari.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series

iPost From Lagos To San Francisco

In 2013, I launched the Screen Naija Outdoor Cinema project of my Screen Outdoor Open Air Cinema (SOOAC) cosponsored by the Bank of Industry (BoI) of Nigeria at the Freedom Park on Lagos Island and attracted the IMAX Corporation of Canada to come to Nigeria to meet with me the BoI and the Amuwo Odofin Local Government with the choice of having the first IMAX Cinema in West Africa. I organized the first United Nations' International Day of the Girl Child celebrated in Nigeria with the premiere of the acclaimed documentary film, "Girl Rising" at the Silverbird Cinemas in the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. I published the first edition of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series, the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA..And I started the development of the iPost mobile video app with developers in Asia which was one of the 10 finalists of the annualu Fundfor Internet Research and Development – FIRE Africa Awards in 2014 for outstanding tech innovation. 

https://www.fireafrica.org/2014-fire-awards

I am satisfied with the app, but I want it to offer more than news and entertainment to include eCommerce and fintech and also include a channel for blockchain. 

iPost will be more advanced than Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. It has attracted angel investors in Silicon Valley in southern San Francisco Bay Area of California, the home of Apple, Facebook and Google and recently top NIgerian unicorn Flutterwave.  iPost is already among the new most anticipated startups on AngelList which raised a $100 million Series B led by Tiger and Accomplice at a $4 billion valuation.

The preseed fundraising round of iPost Nigeria will be done by an Asian equity firm that has done successful fundraising rounds for many startups, including two Nigerian startups.

Nigeria is the capital of startups in Africa with more unicorns than in any other country on the continent. And iPost Nigeria will become one of them one fine day. 

August of Enchanting Content

August of Enchanting Content

It has been a busy August for me communicating with some of the biggest film and TV production, acquisition and distribution companies in America, Europe, Australia and India. I have a large catalog of movies, series and documentaries for international theatrical release, TV channels and OTT platforms.
VISION FILMS, INC and Vuulr have premium content. Vuulr has new  buyers and sellers for international film and TV rights of enchanting dramas, comedies, documentaries and animes.

The first MIP Africa held last week from August 24-26, 2022 at the  International Convention Center (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa.
MIP Africa had special overviews on South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania with United States of America as the first guest country.
85 exhibitors met with 60 hosted (all expenses paid) buyers, as well as some of 240 “member” buyers.

#mipafrica #filmmakers #buyers #sellers #filmmarket #acquisition
#Nigeria #Africa #Southafrica #Ghana #Tanzania #distribution #TV #movies #series #India #Europe #film #America #Australia #exhibitors #distributors #content #entertainment

Request for New Movies and Series for Global Acquisition and Distribution

Here's a list of open Buyer Briefs, you may respond with relevant titles.

English Un-scripted

Genres: Adventure, Travel, Science & Technology, Lifestyle, Sports, Education or Documentary

License Regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and 22 others

Expires: 25th Aug 2022

Gospel Content

Genres: Family

License Regions: United States

Expires: 26th Aug 2022

Family Entertainment TV Series for US Territory. FTA/Broadcast. 4k format.

Genres: Family

License Regions: United States

Expires: 10th Sep 2022

Send buyers directly to your screeners via a Unique Link to your very own Screening Room!

Christmas TV Movies

Genres: Family, Romance or Comedy

License Regions: Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States

Expires: 27th Aug 2022

Seeking Full Length Features and TV Series For A New TVOD Platform

Genres: Drama, Thriller / Suspense, Romance, Horror, Action, Comedy, Faith and Spirituality or Family

License Regions: Canada and United States

Expires: 30th Sep 2022

Korean language TV Series & Films for well established AVOD channel in India

Genres: Action, Thriller / Suspense, Romance, Comedy, Drama, Adventure, Family, Crime or Fantasy

License Regions: India

Expires: 31st Aug 2022

Leading UAE-based distributor acquires inflight entertainment rights to content from Turkey and Nigeria

French OR Spanish language TV Series & Films for well established AVOD channel in India

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Adventure, Action, Romance, Family, Thriller / Suspense, Crime or Fantasy

License Regions: India

Expires: 31st Aug 2022

Turkish, Hebrew OR English language TV Series & Films for well established AVOD channel in India

Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Action, Thriller / Suspense, Adventure, Fantasy, Crime or Family

License Regions: India

Expires: 31st Aug 2022

 

Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook

 #ThrowBackThursday 

The Next Big Thing

The Alpha Man, Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima meeting with Mark Zuckerberg, the Cofounder and CEO of Facebook on August 31, 2016 at the Afrinolly Space in Oreggun, Lagos Mainland, Lagos, Nigeria.

My second meeting with Mark will be coming up after the release of my mobile video app, the next big thing for social media networking, news, entertainment, e-commerce and fintech which will begin the total decentralization of financial transactions and all from an app.

#Michael #Chima #markzuckerberg #mobilevideo #mobileapplications #mobileapp
#nigeria #ceo #socialmedia #networking #fintech #video #entertainment #facebook #commerce #transactions #streaming #video #decentralized
#decentralization #money #finance #africa #broadcasting #iot

This is The Future of Nigerian News Media and Entertainment Industry

Nigerians Report Online

Over 205, 000 pageviews in April.

Our target is to reach over 1 million pageviews monthly without buying fake Views, fake Likes and fake Followers like others on the internet.

The most advanced NIgerian owned digital news blog published by International Digital Post Network Limited currently in the advanced stage of launching the OTT streaming news, entertainment and eCommerce mobile video platform.

View it on https://angel.co/u/michael-chima-ekenyerengozi

Target is reach over 200 million users of GSM phones within 12 months.

This is the future of NIgerian news media and entertainment industry.

- By Ekenyerengoz Michael Chima,
The CEO, International Digital Post Network Limited, Lagos, Nigeria.
Publisher/Editor
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 
247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter
https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

The Renaissance Man, Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

The Renaissance Man
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

I stopped working for salaries in 2000 and registered my own company, King of Kings Books International .

After working as the youngest professional script writer.in Africa for the NIgerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10 at 18.

Art and Features Editor for Kiddies World magazine of Hon. Babatunde Ereola at 24-25;

National Program Consultant for the UNICEF in Nigeria at 25;

IEC Field Officer for the Center for Education, Population, AIDS and Drug Abuse (CEPADA) at 32;

Production Manager of "Money Wise" on DBN TV in Lagos at 35 and left after two  years to start my indie publishing company at 37.

Already a national celebrity at 13 when I won the first prize in the national essay competition on "What I Like Best About NIgeria".

Represented Nigeria at two international book fairs for children's books in Japan for my illustrations on traditional farming tools in Nigeria when I was 20 and the youngest participant and ten years later, I curated one of the most successful and sold out group art exhibitions in Nigeria on Arts against AIDS for the celebration of the World AIDS Day in 1993 organized by NNNGO of Nigeria at the National Museum in Onikan and National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos. My oil  paintings, "Eruption of the Love Virus" and "Metamorphosis of the HIV in the T-Cell" were the first artworks to be sold. 

Then I directed my second stage drama, "Sleepless Night" on the June 12 political crisis at the French Cultural Centre in Ikoyi in 2002 cosponsored by my United Artists for Human Development (UAHD), French Cultural Centre and Otunba Dele Momodu, Founder and Publisher of the popular OVATION lifestyle and high society magazine. Then later founded and incorporated my second company, International Digital Post Network Limited, Publisher of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series, the first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry since 2013. This digital media company is developing the most advanced mobile video app in Africa that will be for news, entertainment, eCommerce and fintech combined. My ultimate goal is for the mobile video app to be used for wealth creation and distribution for the reduction of poverty by 80 percent.

iPost NIgeria: News By the People for the People

My iPost, the  revolution of the news and entertainment industry in Nigeria to be launched soon.

News by the people for the people.

iPost mobile video app was one of the 10 finalists of the annual Fund for Internet Research and Development – FIRE Africa Awards in 2014 for outstanding tech innovation.

https://www.fireafrica.org/2014-fire-awards

"Eagle Wings", The Best War Film in the History of Filmmaking in Nigeria

 

"Eagle Wings", The Best War Film in the History of Filmmaking in Nigeria

"Eagle Wings’, a Nollywood and the Nigerian Airforce film collaboration is the best war film in the history of filmmaking in Nigeria since "Palaver", the first film shot in NIgeria by the Academy Award winning English filmmaker, Geoffrey Barkas in 1926.

Other notable NIgerian war films include "Ija Ominira" (Fight For Freedom) of 1979 directed by Dr. Ola Balogun and produced by Adeyemi Afolayan, aka "Ade Love", classified as one of the classics of the Cinema; 

"Cry Freedom" (1981) by Dr. Ola Balogun, "Battle of Love" (2003),  "Across the Niger" (2004), "Laviva" (2007) and "76" (2016) by Izu Ojukwu.

"Eagle Wings" is one of the best NIgerian films in 2021 and the best in original screenplay, best cinematography, best casting, best visual effects and the best directing in combat choreography.

“The film explores the often tragic, yet thrilling business of fighting for life, peace, and the freedom to love in the face of great violence. An uplifting journey through a terror-filled landscape and the power of newly found love, faith, duty and sacrifice ," said the director Paul Apel Papel.

Eagle Wings’ follows the story of an Air Force Fighter pilot who must navigate his way to safety amid an insurgency. It highlights the sacrifices of the military in combating insecurity and keeping the peace of the nation. The movie also explores the often tragic, yet thrilling mission in battling for life, peace, and freedom to love, in the face of great danger.

Starring Nollywood stars Enyinna Nwigwe,Femi Jacobs, Yakubu Mohammed, Francis Duru, Sadiq Daba, Keppy Ekpeyong, Uzee Usman, Saeed Muhammed, Patience Ujah, Jamila Ibrahim and  Abdul Zada.

The film is a poignant action war drama about an Airforce Fighter Pilot who is caught in the harrowing world of insurgency.

The director and producer, Paul Apel Papel, is a Colorado Film School-trained filmmaker.

“Overall, it is an uplifting journey through a terror-filled landscape and the power of newly found love, faith, duty and sacrifice,” he noted.

With this project, Papel said he will be able to successfully tell not just any story, but an original African story from a place of power and grace.

Papel said he has pushed all boundaries and taken new risks, not just with the storyline, but also with the quality of production he seeks to put out.

This first of it's kind to be shot using the Atlaslensco Orion 2x Anamorphic lenses on the ARRI Alexa Mini cameras, shooting OpenGate-the first to be ever done in West Africa and Nollywood. 

Alexa Mini is the favourite of the best DPs in Hollywood. ALEXA Mini LF was used to shoot the British war film "1917" (2019) by Sir Roger Alexander Deakins CBE, winner of five BAFTA Awards for Best Cinematography, and has had fifteen nominations and two wins for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.  Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes CBE, Academy Award winner for "American Beauty" (1999) directed "1917" and received ten nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, and three wins, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Mixing.

*Eagle Wings" can be converted to an IMAX film by DMR (digital re-mastering). IMAX's 3D conversion technology enables live-action movies that were originally shot in 2D to be converted into stunning IMAX 3D.

#Nigeria #nigerians #Nigerianarmy #specialforces #armedforces #military #airforce #soldiers #security #insecurity 

#film #africa #love #war #battle #insurgency #terrorists #bokoharam #terrorism #entertainment

The Scramble for Nollywood and The Status of Lagos State

The Scramble for Nollywood and The Status of Lagos State

Everyone wants to have a bite of a hot pizza. 

I hope the current scramble for Nollywood by the major streaming video services from America is not like the scramble for Africa by European powers  (between 1881 and 1914).

Entertainment is Power 

I wonder if the Nigerian government knows the dynamics of the overwhelming power of our entertainment industry beyond the glitz and razzmatazz and surplus  economic returns.

The internet has become the most powerful vehicle of the entertainment industry since the inventions of the cinema and television.

The sociocultural, socioeconomic and sociopolitical powers of entertainment can define and determine the future of a nation and the civilization of the people.

Entertainment generates more revenues for America than oil. 

That is why California is the richest state in the United States.

The economy of California, with a gross state product of $3.2 trillion as of 2019, is the largest sub-national economy in the world.

California is the home of Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Mountain View, the headquarters of the entertainment industry and of the Big Techs, including Apple, Alphabet and Meta. And is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization and four of the world's ten richest people.

Without the internet, these Big Techs will not be Big and without entertainment, they will not become the biggest tech giants in the world.

Lagos is the powerhouse of the economy of Nigeria and the capital of the entertainment industry in Nigeria, the home of Nollywood and the home of Yabacon, the Silicon Valley of Nigeria where there are the first tech unicorns in Africa. And Lagos can become to Nigeria what California is to America. 

As it has been noted that if California were a country, it would be the fifth largest economy in the world, likewise Lagos would be the fifth-largest economy in Africa if it were a country.

The realization of the awesome developments of tech startups connected to the entertainment industry in Lagos is what has attracted the biggest American streaming video services to Nollywood. 

Disney already has a base in Nigeria with the long term partnership with Kugali Media.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/11/africa/disney-africa-kugali-iwaju-partnership-spc-intl/index.html

I am excited about the Scramble for Nollywood and the competition for our original content. 

Only the best is good enough for us. 

As we say in my mother tongue of Igbo language, NKIRUKA, which means that the future is greater. 

This is the Big Picture of Nollywood I saw coming years ago. The future is here.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

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There is No Scarcity of Content

"There is no scarcity of content.

But there is scarcity of content of premium quality."

- EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima.

Thousands of movies, series, documentaries, music videos and shows are produced every day. And majority are offered free to view online and offline. But millions of people are still willing to pay for the subscriptions to watch the best content for their entertainment 24/7.

What is the secret of the success of ABC, Disney, HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and other top content producers and distributors in the world?

UNiQUE CONTENT!

We are always anxious and curious to see what is unique and exciting.

Excitement is the joy of Entertainment.

Any content that does not excite us cannot attract us.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLLYWOOD MIRROR® So,

247 Nigeria,

Nigerians Report Online,

TALK OF THE TOWN By Orikinla