Don't View Nollywood with the Rose-Tinted Glasses of Hollywood

 

Don't View Nollywood with the Rose-Tinted Glasses of Hollywood

I have previewed a new Nigerian drama on the psychological consequences of rape in the life of a teenage girl sexually violated by a Roman Catholic priest at a convent in south- eastern Nigeria.
If you replace the leading roles with the famous Hollywood icons, Nicole Kidman and John Travolta and have the location in America, the crime thriller will be nominated in the next Oscars for Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress in a leading role, because of the accomplishments of the cast and crew in the production of the movie. But many Nigerian and other African movies have been viewed with the rose-tinted glasses of the American film industry, popularly called, Hollywood and in most cases, viewed by White Americans who did not understand the nuances of the peculiarities of Black Africans in dialogues and mannerisms.

Are there racial biases in international film acquisition and distribution with the superiority complex of white curators who esteem white filmmakers highly in comparison to black African filmmakers without comprehensive analysis of the content and context of subject and without the broad-minded considerations for diversity and inclusion in the existential dramas of life on earth?
"Our films are good enough for you, but your movies are not good enough for us. "
Is Hollywood the global standard for the best storytelling on motion picture?
The Economist published a selection called, "The Best Films So Far in 2024" without any consideration for the best movies so far in Bollywood and Nollywood on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Showmax and other streaming platforms, cable TV networks and cinemas.

I have seen many crappy Hollywood movies repeatedly shown on M-NET Movies Channels without any consideration for the viewers who paid for the subscriptions.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have paid over 200 percent more for the acquisitions of American and Korean films than what they paid for African films.
Showmax of the MultiChoice Group pays more for South African productions than Nigerian productions.
Are these differences in the valuations based on the quality of the movies or racial bias against black African filmmakers by Western standards? But the French are an exception to the stereotypical views of Africa by Hollywood, because the French have a better understanding of African Cinema than Hollywood and the British which can be seen in their broad-minded Official Selections of the annual Cannes Film Festival where several African filmmakers have won coveted awards, including the most coveted, the Palme d'Or.

Can a white curator of films understand the interpretations of the soundtracks of the Talking Drum in different scenarios of the scenes in the Yoruba political drama of "Saworoide", produced and directed by Tunde Kelani in 1999? 

Can the curator understand the soundtracks of the great Ikoro drum of Igbo people in a film adaptation of Chinua Achebe's all time classic novel, "Things Fall Apart"?

What of the different lighting techniques in Nollywood and Hollywood?

Do you know that the sunlight is brighter in Africa than in America?

The sunlight is the same everywhere on earth?

The colour of the moonlight is more romantic on Bonny Island in the Niger Delta than on Long Island in southeastern New York State.

There are different hues and shades of the colours of the rainbow and the narratives of the movies should be viewed in the different perspectives of the origins of the filmmakers to see the big picture of the different stories of life on motion picture.

"The Black Book", the 2023 Nigerian crime thriller of Editi Effiong, starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sam Dede, Shaffy Bello, Femi Branch, Alex Usifo, Ade Laoye and Ireti Doyle, released to Netflix on September 22 was the number one on the global rankings and "Òlòtūré", the 2019 Nigerian crime drama on human trafficking by Kenneth Gyang starring Sharon Ooja, Beverly Osu, Ada Ameh and Blossom Chukwujekwu was on the top rankings in several countries and were better than several American and Korean films in accomplishments in filmmaking, but Netflix paid less for the acquisition.

I have always insisted that a great movie is a great movie no matter the location or race of the filmmaker. The quality of the content should determine the price for the acquisition and not the location or race of the producer.

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

End Bad Government Protests in Nigeria

The new month of August started with widespread #EndBadGovernance protests in different states in Nigeria.  Banks and other companies were shut and public transport services were suspended in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos, the commercial capital of the most populous country in Africa. Riots were reported in several locations in spite of the presence of both police and military patrols on the major roads and streets to prevent lawlessness and violence.

The majority of people are lamenting the economic challenges of survival caused by the administrative failures of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his oath of office on May 29, 2023. 

Onyeka Onwenu Cries for Love, Peace and Unity in Last Video Message

The shocking news that famous singer, Onyeka Onwenu has suddenly passed away shook Nigeria on 30th of July 2024.

It was reported that Onwenu collapsed after her performance at the birthday party of a friend in Lagos in the presence of several special guests, including Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. 

She was rushed to the Reddington Hospital where all efforts to revive her failed.

Onyeka Onwenu's last message in  a passionate video cried to all politicians and their followers to end political violence and work together in love, peace and unity for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Her last song before she collapsed was her popular, "One Love Keep Together".

She was a celebrated singer and songwriter; actress; human rights and social activist; journalist; politician and former X Factor series judge.

See details of her biography on 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyeka_Onwenu

 

Nigeria - Olympics Opening Ceremony 'Last Supper' Scene: Message from Most Rev Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo

 

PRESS RELEASE

Olympics opening ceremony 'Last Supper' scene: Message from Most Rev Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo

Christians should exercise their right of outrage and boycott

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OYO, Nigeria, July 30, 2024/ -- The religious depictions of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting with contemporary ideological figures that are clearly offensive to Christianity at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2024 in France is to say the least shocking and disrespectful. Sadly, it is a perpetration of deliberate ongoing attempts in Europe and America to repurpose and cheapen Christian themes without regard for peace loving Christians who practice and profess their religion in peace. That this decadent caricature of one of the most cherished events of Christianity is publicized in France, a country with a rich and old Christian heritage, and at the Olympic games detracts from the status of the Olympics and belies all claims to enduring civility and respect for freedom of religion in the West. Christians should exercise their right of outrage and boycott to the extent that the damage already caused can be mitigated and redressed and future occurrences prevented. Governing bodies and organizations should take full responsibility for accommodating such insulting, tasteless art and expressions that can potentially cause further hurt and division in our already hurting and fractured world. Huge thanks to all who correctly expressed outrage on the subject well ahead of this. Regardless of what we go through as African we must never disrespect or thrash religious symbols and sentiments which touch people at their deepest levels of their being. To do this is to throw our humanizing and spiritual values and ideals to the dogs. +Bishop Badejo Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.  SOURCE Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria

On My Advocacy For The Education of Every Girl in Nigeria

On My Advocacy For The Education of Every Girl in Nigeria

I prefer to speak to the future mothers of our nation; their education is the foundation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

- Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Champion of the advocacy for compulsory education of every girl; especially the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in Nigeria.

Using underprivileged girls for child labour should be a crime.

The deprivation of the education of any child is a crime Against human civilization.

Education opens eyes for knowledge and opens doors for human development.

Enlightenment is the vehicle for the fulfilment of life in the world.

Millions of underprivileged Children out of school in the world have dreams; hopes and ideas for great ambitions that will be of great benefit to humankind. But majority of them who cannot read and write are languishing in ignorance and suffering the misery of abject poverty, becoming the burden of humanity when they should have become the beacon of modern civilization.

Read the success stories on.

Nigerians Report Online: The First "Girl Rising" Success Story in Nigeria and How A Free MTN School Bag Made A Great Difference

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-first-girl-rising-success-story-in.html

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/p/international-digital-post-network.html

Merck Foundation FILM Awards “More Than a Mother” 2024

Merck Foundation FILM Awards “More Than a Mother” 2024 

"Merck Foundation FILM Awards “More Than a Mother” 2024 have been launched in partnership with African First Ladies. All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

How to Apply

Who can Apply?

All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa.

Last date of submission

30th September 2024

Where to Apply?

Please share your work as YouTube links on: submit@merck-foundation.com

The Subject line of mail should be:

Merck Foundation FILM Awards “More Than a Mother” 2024

Details:

Specify your Name, Country, Institution Name, and contact details in the email.

Winners will be notified personally via email, followed by a press release for public announcement and on the Merck Foundation and partners website and social media channels."
https://merck-foundation.com/Awards/merck-foundation-film-awards-more-than-a-mother

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 International Criminal Court (ICC) marks 17 July, Day of International Criminal Justice

 

PRESS RELEASE

The International Criminal Court (ICC) marks 17 July, Day of International Criminal Justice

As an independent and impartial judicial body, the ICC plays a crucial role in strengthening the rule of law at the international level

Access Multimedia Content

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, July 17, 2024/ -- Today, 17 July 2024, is the Day of International Criminal Justice, which marks the 26th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) (www.ICC-CPI.int).  The Rome Statute is the first international treaty of its kind, establishing the International Criminal Court, and aiming to end impunity for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. 124 countries are States Parties to the Rome Statute.     ICC President Judge Tomoko Akane remarked on this occasion: "On the Day of International Criminal Justice, it is important that we remember why the ICC was created and how essential it is that the Court be allowed to carry out its mandate fully, without external pressures. Through our work, we fight impunity for the for the most grievous crimes, and with every case we adjudicate, we take a step closer towards building a more just world. As an independent and impartial judicial body, the ICC plays a crucial role in strengthening the rule of law at the international level." ICC Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan KC stated: “The mission of my Office and the Court is to vindicate the promise of international humanitarian law that all lives have equal value, and that all those subjected to violations have the right to justice. The progress made in the past years is significant, yet our work is far from complete. My Office is committed to working with all of our partners to deliver more effectively on our mandate and make the protection of the Rome Statute a tangible reality for all." ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler remarked: “On the Day of International Criminal Justice, we both mark the steps taken towards developing a more just world, free from impunity for these most egregious crimes, as well as critically reaffirm the need for revitalization of this common commitment to safeguard and protect the independent and impartial mandate of the International Criminal Court and its work in service of justice and victims.” To mark the day, the ICC President and First-Vice President Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala will participate in several meetings and events at the United Nations headquarters in New York, including the opening of an ICC exhibition "Common Bonds" (http://apo-opa.co/3zI9mel) and a high-level panel discussion hosted by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute. These and other activities marking 17 July seek to strengthen support for and deepen public understanding of the Court, its mandate and processes, and the Rome Statute system as a whole.  Background: Adopted on 17 July 1998, the Rome Statute (http://apo-opa.co/46pzual) is the ICC's founding treaty, ratified by 124 countries. The ICC is the first permanent international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Criminal Court (ICC). For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int. You can also follow the Court's activities on Twitter: http://apo-opa.co/466WgU8 Instagram: http://apo-opa.co/3LuG3yo   Facebook: http://apo-opa.co/3LxbgAY YouTube: http://apo-opa.co/46cM3pk  Flickr: http://apo-opa.co/3Y2rMkb SOURCE International Criminal Court (ICC)

Psalm 103 Verse 5

 

Monday Morning Vibes
Psalm 103 verse 5 is my double portion with all the thanksgivings to our one and only Almighty FATHER GOD JEHOVAH JIREH.
No filters and no enhancement and not even any powder or cream.
I bathe with Dettol soap for over 20 years now.
The most important thing is Have a pure heart of true love without bitterness, no envy, no jealousy, no malice, no prejudice, no Caprice, no avarice, no greediness, no conceit, no deceit and no wickedness.
Don't grudge,
Don't judge.

Dine and wine with the Holy Spirit.
Join in fellowship with all the hosts of heaven to worship God every day.
You will shine in the light of the countenance of the abundance of the infinite Grace of the one and only true God in existence who created and made us in His beautiful image and after His wonderful likeness.

I am yours lovely,
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.
Aka Orikinla Osinachi.

Just search for Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima on Amazon in every country and see the testimonies of what Almighty God is doing in my life.
Many are called.
But only few are chosen.

Everyone has a story.
But not everyone will make history.

What matters most is not what you have,
But what you can achieve with what you have.

#God
#mondaymotivation
#nollywood
#Psalm103
#lovequotes
#love
#peace
#charity
#success
#champion
#VictoryInJesus
#leadershipdevelopment
#leadership
#leaders

Have a blessed week.

I am still ahead of the curve doing my best for Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

Would Soyinka Want The National Arts Theatre Renamed After Him?

 

Would Soyinka Want The National Theatre Renamed After Him?

Would Soyinka want the National Theatre renamed after him?
No.

Prof. Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel Laureate in Literature would not want the National Theatre of Nigeria to be renamed as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts by the Federal Government.  

It was the breaking news on Friday, July 13,  to celebrate the 90th birthday of Soyinka.

The National Theatre is the epicentre for the performing arts in Nigeria;  the national monument  located in Lagos was constructed by the military administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 for the first Black Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, must understand that the status of a national monument is higher than the status of any citizen of the nation.

The British government has not renamed their national monument, The Royal Opera House (ROH), the home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House after any of the British Nobel laureates or great actors and authors knighted for their achievements in the literary arts, motion picture and theatre arts no matter the magnitude of their status in the world. The same national status of national monument is accorded the British Museum.

There are national theatres in different countries in the world, including the National Theatre of Scotland and the famous Abbey Theatre, founded by WB Yeats is the national theatre of Ireland and has not been renamed after the great George Bernard Shaw or WB Yeats, the founder who were both Nobel laureates in literature.

The National Theatre and the National Museum should remain what they are as national monuments of Nigerian arts, culture and history.

The Nigerian government should establish the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts at the National Theatre. And Soyinka will not disagree with me. He knows the symbolic importance of the national monument and was outspoken against the scandalous sale of the National  Theatre to a United Arab Emirates conglomerate in 2014 by the Federal Government.

"You can liken this to a horrendous fate suffered by the black race, pauperised and victimised by public office holders who transform power into an instrument of repression and oppression," he said.
"Privatisation of the theatre can go haywire and I'm totally against it."

Soyinka is a national treasure of indisputable international status for his great achievements as a creative genius in contemporary art and human rights activism and a lionized scholar who is the author of critically acclaimed books for public enlightenment and academic scholarship. He deserves to be celebrated as President Tinubu said:
“We do not only celebrate Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements but also his unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice. Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth”.

The federal government can also establish a new university in the name of Prof. Wole Soyinka.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Author of "The Prophet Lied" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.