So, What is NOLLYWOOD?

Dame Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, famous Nigerian actress trained in the UK and  featured in "A Warm December" directed by Sidney Poitier.

The first groundbreaking Nigerian home video was Jimi Odumosu's "Evil Encounter", a 1980 horror movie for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) that was pirated on video cassettes at the Alaba International Market on the outskirts of Lagos. 

The first Nigerian movie, shot directly on video was  "Soso Meji" of 1988 by Ade Ajiboye, followed by Alade Aromire's "Ekun" (1989), 

"Turmin Danya" (The Draw")/in 1990,  was the first commercially successful Kannywood home video; Jide Kosoko's "Asiri Nla" 1992 and "Asewo To Re Mecca" of 1992 by Adebayo Salami, popularly known as "Oga Bello".

Prince Jide Kosoko

Jimi Odumosu

Adebayo Salami

Chris Obi-Rapu

Dr. Christian Chika Onu

Any documentary film on the history of Nollywood without them is not the conmplete true history of Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

The first Nollywood blockbuster home vodeo movie in the Igbo language was "Living in Bondage" 1 of 1992 by Chris Obi Raou and the sequel, "Living in Bondage" 2 of 1993 by Chika Christian Onu of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). 

How Nollywood Redefined Conversations on African Cinema and Culture 

https://shadowandact.com/how-nollywood-redefined-conversations-on-african-cinema-and-culture 

From Analog To Digital

https://shadowandact.com/the-nollywood-phenomenon-from-analog-to-digital-2

Is Nollywood a child of necessity or a phenomenon of ingenuity?

The guerrilla filmmakers in Nigeria who started the phenomenon of the first indie film industry in Africa were driven by necessity, ingenuity and opportunity.

How I Fell in Love with the Cinema

My great father of blessed memory, Sunday "Sunny" Eke loved going to cinemas almost daily, because he loved movies; especially #Hollywood western cowboys movies of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, war films and #Bollywood movies such as "Sholay" and "Seeta aur Geeta" and I loved the Bollywood legends; Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini,, Dharmendra Singh Deol , Sanjeev Kumar and lest I forget the most celebrated nautch dancer in Hindi romantic films, Helen Anne Richardson Khan.  My father never sat down to watch any movie on TV. He would just glance at the popular Bonanza western cowboys series and Combat series on World War 2.

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/09/how-i-fell-in-love-with-cinema.html

The Most Appreciated Film Writer in Nigeria
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-most-appreciated-film-writer-in.html
Do you know that the Alpha Man, EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima is the most appreciated film writer on #Nollywood and the film industry by filmmakers and other major stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry since 2012. He has written on the Academy Awards and Cannes Film Festival since 2008 to date and accurately predicted the winner of the Oscars for the Best Picture and Best Director in 2017 won by Guillermo del Toro for "The Shape of Water". He has also written definitive articles on Nollywood and history of the Nigerian cinema published on Indiewire and by SHADOW&ACT Author Post List 

https://shadowandact.com/author/MichaelChima.

Nigeria: #Nollywood, #Kannywood and the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/11/nigeria-nollywood-kannywood-and-academy.html

Fincho: The Making of the First Nigerian Film in Colour By Sam Zebba

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/fincho-making-of-first-nigerian-film-in.html

Photo of Chinua Achebe and Hansjürgen Pohland on the Location of "Bullfrog in the Sun" in Ibadan
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/12/photo-of-chinua-achebe-and-hansjurgen.html

GIOVANNI ROSMAN: The First Canadian Actor in Nollywood

http://totnaija.blogspot.com/2020/08/the-first-canadian-actor-in-nollywood.html?m=1

Why Nollywood Filmmakers Have Failed To Qualify for the Oscars and Cannes
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2019/04/why-nollywood-filmmakers-have-failed-to.html

When Will Nollywood Movies Make the Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival?
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-will-nollywood-movies-make.html

TOP 20 Nigerian Filmmakers From 2012-2020

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/05/top-20-nigerian-filmmakers-from-2012.html

Bankrolling Nollywood: The Challenges and Benefits of Film Finance
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2019/03/bankrolling-nollywood-challenges-and.html

über Nollywood
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/uber-nollywood.html

Anachronisms in #Nollywood Igbo Epic Movies and Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò History
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/anachronisms-in-nollywood-igbo-epic.html

The Importance of a Database, Library and Museum for the Nigerian Film Industry
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-importance-of-database-library-and.html

Does Our National Assembly Know Anything About the Nigerian Entertainment Industry?
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/12/does-our-national-assembly-know.html

NOLLYWOOD is the National Treasure of Nigeria
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/12/nollywood-is-national-treasure-of.html

#Nollywood Rising: Welcome To Asaba!
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/11/nollywood-rising-welcome-to-asaba.html

Netflix Needs Cinemas and Cinemas Need Netflix
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/09/netflix-needs-cinemas-and-cinemas-need.html

The Encyclopaedia of Nollywood and the Nigerian Film Industry
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-encyclopaedia-of-nollywood-and.html

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

The Hatchet Job on "Lagos in Motion" Photo Book That Failed

The Hatchet Job That Failed

A fellow Nigerian went on Amazon Books to dismiss my photo book, "Lagos in Motion" that was selling for only US$3 and advised that  Amazon should not sell such a complete waste of money. I am sure he must have celebrated his hatchet job and waited for the book to be dropped. But the book is still on Amazon and selling for US$20 and others are selling it for more than US$32 per copy. And guess what! A book trader is selling the same book for US$404.00 (+ $ 111.39 shipping) a copy! 

https://www.amazon.com.mx/Lagos-Motion-Africas-Largest-Megacity/dp/1536934925

The intellectually ignorant Nigerian did not know why I published the photo book of selected photographs from my "Lagos in Motion" documentary film. It is to document the making of the documentary film and not to compete for the World Photography Awards or other competitions. The book is for the foreign tourists and visitors to see my positive images of Africa's largest megacity and not the usual  horrible living conditions of Makoko and other slums in Lagos state.

 

I was born and bred in this dynamic city that is one of the most resilient cities in the world and the dynamic economy has made Lagos the 4th largest economy in Africa.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.

"Omo Ghetto: The Saga" Grossed N124 Million Within 7 Days - Breaks Box Office Records in Nigeria

#omoghettothesaga

#Nollywood

"Omo Ghetto: The Saga" Grossed N124 Million Within 7 Days - Breaks Box Office Records in Nigeria.

I predicted this happening when it was released on #Christmas Day, December 25, 2020.
Cinemas should let it run till #Valentine's Day.

The most profitable Nigerian movie so far is The Wedding Party 1 that grossed over N453 million from the box office with a film production budget of only ₦60 million. 

The sequel, "The Wedding Party" 2 is currently having the record for the highest grossing Nigerian movie with N500 million from the box office, but it cost N300 million to make it. So, if you subtract N300 million from N500 million, you are left with only N200 million. So, the producers did not make any profit. They lost millions of naira. 

The fact is they would have made more money from movie merchandising of "The Wedding Party" franchise. But they were clueless about how to do so.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series.

When Mark Zuckerberg Met Me and Later Met President Muhammadu Buhari

#mondayvibes💋✌🏼️ 

#Facebook  just posted these two photos this morning to remind me from four years ago when the celebrated Cofounder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg met with me at the Afrinolly Space in Oregun, Lagos, courtesy of Mr. Chike Maduegbuna and Mrs. Jane Maduegbuna during his first visit to sub Saharan Africa. And afterwards, he went to Abuja to meet with His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. 

My meeting with Mark was not a coincidence and he walked straight to me and we had a handshake before he turned to the other two men in the office of Mr. Chike Maduegbuna, the CEO of Afrinolly Space; the one in suit was a branch manager of Wema Bank and the other one beside him came from Air France office in Lagos. Mark Elliot Zuckerberg is an American media magnate, internet entrepreneur, and philanthropist and according to @Forbes has a Net worth of 98.3 billion USD (2020) And I can be described as a Nigerian media magnate, internet entrepreneur and Christian philanthropist. My net worth?

Only Almighty God knows what I am worth. And in Silicon Valley, I am known as a startup evangelist,  developing iPost mobile video app and iNolly OTT multimedia video chatting, sharing and eCommerce app.

https://angel.co/u/mmichael-chima-ekenyerengozi

###

ART IS A FIGURE OF SPEECH

Original NFT by EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima

Price US$100, 000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

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

O Tempora, O Mores! Oh! Chico Ejiro!

                                                   Chico Ejiro.

Those celebrating their selfish egos in the entertainment industry of Nigeria while #Nollywood is mourning the shocking passing of Chico Maziakpono Ejiro,  one of the titans of the Nigerian film industry are only confirming their true characters.

Today, I found myself wearing the same clothes I wore the last time we met during the 9th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in November, 2019 at the Landmark Retail Boulevard on Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria. I was reflecting on what we discussed before the Honourable Federal Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed joined us where we sat in the lobby. 

Without Chico Ejiro and his fellow trail blazers and torch bearers of revolutionary guerrilla filmmaking in the 1990s, the phenomenon of Nollywood would not have become what has attracted the attention of the rest of the world. His over 200 movies have become subjects of film studies and African studies in different universities in Nigeria and foreign countries. 

I cannot imagine going on to produce the new documentary film, "Nollywood Rising" without the prominence of the leading role of Chico Ejiro in the making of the phenomenon of Nollywood.  So, since the shocking news shook Nollywood yesterday, I have been in a surreal mood. As I always do in such unforeseen circumstances beyond human control, I fall back into arms of the great Comforter in communion with the Holy Spirit. For the light of the Holy Spirit shines brightest in the darkest moments of human existence. 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series

The Best Antimicrobial Facemasks for Protection From COVID-19

 

The Best Antimicrobial Facemasks for Protection From COVID-19

Wear them to prevent spread of the virus, especially for those who may be asymptomatic, carrying the virus without realizing it.

When you cough or sneeze into an antimicrobial mask, positively charged ions in the fabric will inhibit and eliminate bacteria on the surface of the mask, said Keane. Antimicrobial masks also help to eliminate odor from use.

Particularly popular among antimicrobial masks are copper masks, which contain — you guessed it — copper, which helps kill bacteria and viruses that come in contact with it. A recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine found that the COVID-19 virus died within hours when placed on a copper surface.

Order Antimicrobial Facemasks on AMAZON 

Continue reading on

 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1231803

Does Our National Assembly Know Anything About the Nigerian Entertainment Industry?

The American entertainment industry is getting $15 billion from U. S Congress, which adds in new copyright laws against illegal streaming.

Does our National Assembly know anything about the Nigerian entertainment industry?

2020 has been the most challenging year for the global entertainment industry, including #Hollywood,  #Bollywood and our #Nollywood  with the unprecedented shutdowns of film and TV productions and cinemas due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and hazards of the #Coronavirus  in workplaces.  And the. American government has been very responsive to the economic shortfalls in Hollywood, but the Nigerian government seems either clueless about how to respond to the deficits in Nollywood or confused. I have heard more about government concerns over #fakenews in the social media than government concerns about shortfalls in Nollywood that is the second biggest and largest employer of labour after agriculture. 

The negligence of the economic challenges in the entertainment industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is due to the administrative incompetence of the government officials appointed to oversee the Nigerian entertainment industry from Lagos to Abuja.

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) recently hosted the Zuma Film Festival, but not a single call to action on the shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian film industry. I watched the Director-General of NFC in a live TV interview on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on the Nigerian film industry, he did  not address the economic crisis iin Nollywood or Kannywood. It was unbelievable and that was why I ignored their film festival that has not even improved over the years.  They cannot even learn from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), except only to submit a Nigerian movie for the annual #Oscars.

Hello DG of NFC, a working visit or study of AMPAS will be great for your knowledge and the benefit of the NFC.
The hands of the Honourable Federal Minister of Information and Culture (FMIC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed are full, so he cannot carry the whole "Wahala" of the Nigerian entertainment industry on his head. The DG of the NFC can be more pragmatic and responsive by addressing the critical situation of the Nigerian film industry to the Nigerian government; especially the National Assembly.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor of the NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series.

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

NOLLYWOOD: The Past, Present and the Future

I am working on a documentary film on "Nollywood Rising: The New Generation".

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry published since 2013.

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

Special hardcover editions are available for purchase from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

 

The Drama of the #EndSARS Protests

The Drama of the #EndSARS Protests

The enactments of the melodramatic scenarios of the #ENDSARS protests from Lagos to Abuja and ending up in Delta State are going to be featured in a live performance on stage with the action choreography by one of the best action choreographers in the Nigerian film industry.

My "Sleepless Night" of 2002 dramatised the June 12 protests of 1993 featuring the outstanding actor, Funso Alabi of blessed memory and dramatic choreography by Segun Adefila and the Crown Troupe of Africa.

It was cosponsored by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos, Otunba Dele Momodu and my United Artists For Human Development (UAHD).

This new stage drama will be full of histrionics.

I am the writer, producer and director. And I have completed casting for the historic roles of heroic protesters, Aisha Yesufu and DJ Switch. 

The following is an excerpt from the drama written in verse.

We are marching with our bare feet.

As we stomp on the street.

The echoes of our screams rent the skies 

In A Decade of Tongues.

Bekederemo! 

What are you going to tell Achebe and Okara?

What are you going to tell Saro-Wiwa?

Tell them the truth, the bitter truth

We have eaten the sour grapes of wrath.

Sour grapes of the wrath the earth.

We have bitten our tongues as we gnash our teeth.

 Even The Masquerade of Ngbilebiri has stopped dancing. 

As our mothers' singing has turned to mourning.

Who can dance to the Song of a Goat? 

In the hysteria of Nigeria.

Bekederemo!

Bekederemo!!

Bekederemo!!!

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

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

©All rights reserved. No copying, duplicating, lifting, paraphrasing and quoting of any part of the text without the authorisation and permission of the author.

FORBES: The Best Children’s Books About Entrepreneurship For Kids

Eevi Jones, bestselling author.

The Best Children’s Books About Entrepreneurship For Kids

by Stephanie Burns

 

A lot of parents (myself included) are always looking for ways to expand our children’s mind - especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. If you are eager to teach your kids about being a business owner, there are a few books that stand out. I sat down with Eevi Jones, an award winning & bestselling children’s book author, and the founder of Children’s Book University™, to get her take on what makes a children’s book great for budding entrepreneurs.

 From Forbes.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein (Author)  Mark Pett (Author)

Description

Being Perfect Is Overrated

Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes! One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone! But in the end, readers (and perfectionists) will realize that life is more fun when you enjoy everything--even the mistakes.

From the award-winning children's book author Mark Pett: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is the perfect find for parents looking for teacher gifts or award winning children's books for their own collections. This book teaches growth mindset in a fun way, in the spirit of Your Fantastic Elastic Brain and Beautiful Oops. Like the little heroes in Rosie Revere Engineer, Most Magnificent Thing, and The Day the Crayons Quit, little Beatrice Bottomwell is an inspiration for kids who dream big.

Praise for The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes:

"Beatrice offers a lesson we could all benefit from: learn from your mistakes, let go, laugh, and enjoy the ride." --Jennifer Fosberry, New York Times bestselling author of My Name Is Not Isabella

"This funny and heartfelt book conveys a powerful message about how putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect can suck the joy out of everything. Beatrice's discovery that you can laugh off even a very public mistake shows the importance of resiliency and helps perfectionist kids keep things in perspective. Most importantly, Beatrice reminds the reader that it's more important to enjoy the things that you do than worry about doing them perfectly." --A Mighty Girl