A Tribe Called Judah becomes highest-earning Nigerian film

A Nollywood film has smashed box office records, becoming the first Nigerian movie to earn 1bn naira ($1.1m; £900,000) in domestic theatres.

A Tribe Called Judah achieved the historic feat in just three weeks.

Its creator – Nigerian actor, director and producer Funke Akindele – has thanked her fans for the milestone.

“Thank you Lord! Thank you Nigeria! Thank you Ghana!” she posted on Instagram, garnering thousands of congratulations.

The record cements Akindele, 46, as Nollywood’s highest-grossing director.

A Tribe Called Judah is set to eclipse Hollywood hits in Nigerian theatre earnings, including the acclaimed superhero film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which previously held the record as the top-grossing film in the country.

“This achievement isn’t just about numbers; it’s a testament to the power of storytelling, cultural pride, and the unyielding spirit of Nollywood,” the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, said on Instagram.It has hailed the film as a “cultural gem”.

The company also praised Akindele, saying her commitment to storytelling has “etched a significant chapter in the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian cinema”.

A Tribe Called Judah has received rave reviews from both critics and fans and is basking in high ratings on movie review platforms.

The film – which portrays a scheme to rob a mall by a single mother and her five sons battling financial hardship – was inspired by Akindele’s late mother, whom she also dedicated the film to.

“Nollywood has turned to dumping ground for blockheads” Yul Edochie laments

Yul Edochie has lamented the crop of actors and actresses finding their way into the Nigerian movie industry.

The actor wrote on Instagram that everyone now wants to be an actor or actress, even those who can’t speak English.

He wrote:

Everybody wan be actor and actress.All the dummies around want to be actors and actresses.

Nollywood has turned to dumping ground for block heads.

Even people that can’t speak good English have become actors and actresses unlike before.

Nollywood don suffer.

Somehow everything dies in this country.Why??

Friends celebrate as court grants bail to Nollywood actor Moses Armstrong after being detained for allegedly raping minor

Friends of Nollywood actor, Moses Armstrong have taken to social media to celebrate his release from a Correctional Facility.

A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, granted bail to the actor on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

The actor was arrested last month for allegedly raping a minor he adopted. He was charged with rape, intimidation, conspiracy and supplying drugs or instructs to procure abortion.

Nollywood’s C.O.L.D To Hit Cinemas August 12 Nationwide Featuring Pete Edochie, RMD

Nollywood is set to thrill movie enthusiasts yet again with a blockbuster movie, C.O.L.D which will hit cinemas nationwide from Friday, August 12 this year.

The high-budget action-packed film premiers a stellar cast including Pete Edochie, RMD, Hilda Dokubo, Ireti Doyle, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Ik Ogbonna, Keppy Ekpeyong, Lisa Viola (Australian), Femi Branch, Freddie George, and Lincoln Edochie. Produced and directed by Bakia T. Thomas, C.O.L.D is projected to create a new cinema record for a Nollywood movie.

With a blend of the old and new cast, this is one movie you can’t afford to miss. Hence, movie lovers are urged to save the date for a brand new Nollywood adventure.

This smacks of s*xism. There are many male actors engaged in illicit s*xual activity with older women and men – Media personality, Latasha Ngwube reacts to Alibaba questioning the source of income of Nollywood actresses

Media personality, Latasha Ngwube, has berated comedian, Alibaba, who in a trending video tackled actresses and their sources of wealth. In the video, Alibaba questioned actresses who can afford houses worth N45 million.

He shared a personal experience of an actress who he claimed accompanied a top shot to Dubai, stayed with him in a hotel and days later was on Instagram posting ”lounging in Dubai?”.

He asked ”Can you buy a ticket to Dubai”.

Reacting to the video, Latasha said she felt his message is s*xist and beneath him. She averred that his approach sounded like an attack on women.





Actors Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel Agbogidi released by kidnappers

Actors Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel Agbogidi released by kidnappers Actors Guild of Nigeria have announced that kidnapped actors, Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Agbogidi have been released by their abductors.

According to a statement released by the Actors Guild of Nigeria on its official Instagram page on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, the movie stars were released unhurt and in healthy conditions.

It read;”

This is to gladly inform the public that the kidnapped actors Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel Agbogidi have been released unhurt. The elated National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejezie Emeka Rollas announced their release by the abductors who were touched by the spirit of God to set them free and unharmed.

The Guild has arranged for medical checks and psychological support for the victims. On behalf of their families, the National President expressed our heartfelt appreciation to Nollywood industry and Nigerians at large for the support and prayers during the trying period.”

“He urged members to be security conscious on and off film sets and always take precautionary measures on their personal security at all times. Okereke and Agbogidi were kidnapped on Friday, July 29, while they were returning from a movie set at Ozalla town in Enugu state.

On Saturday, their abductors contacted their families, demanding $100,000 as ransom. However AGN President, Emeka Rollas said the guild was only able to raise N1.2 million.

In a video clip on social media, he said “While talking to the abductors, we were trying to explain to them that we were putting some funds together, we were contributing. We said that we have about N1.2 million. And they started laughing at us.

They started mocking us and saying, ‘all those your celebrities posting on Instagram, why haven’t they contributed?’

The actors have however, been released but the statement didn’t say if a ransom was paid for their release.

“The numbers used to communicate with them can easily be traced” – Actress, Monalisa Chinda says after two Nollywood colleagues were kidnapped

Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda has revealed that the numbers used to communicate with her kidnapped colleagues can easily be traced. Monalisa, who is the Director of Communications of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), took to Instagram to question the kidnap of actress Cynthia Okereke and actor Clemson Cornel after they didn’t return home from a movie location. The kidnappers have demanded ransom of $100k. Expressing shock over the amount demanded by the kidnappers, Monalisa said she doesn’t understand why anyone would think Nollywood actors have such money. She added that the numbers used to communicate with the actors in captivity can easily be traced.

Recall that Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in Nigeria, had directed that all SIM cards should be linked to their owners’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) to tackle insecurity in the country. Phone lines not linked to owners’ NIN were barred from making calls earlier this year.

Stella Damasus urges Nigerians to support Nollywood, despite challenges

Veteran actress, Stella Damasus in a video published on her Instagram platform called upon Nigerians to support the movie industry despite numerous underlying issues.

The actress stated that Nigerians should understand that so much work goes into movie production, hence, people should engage in constructive criticism whenever they want to dissect a Nigerian movie on social media.

Damasus mentioned further that no one intentionally produces a ‘bad movie’, therefore, Nigerians should not condemn productions without taking time to see the message in the movies.

“So I’ve gone online a couple of times and I hear people criticizing the Nigerian movie industry, criticizing our films and condemning it,” Damasus said in the Instagram post.

“Not even constructive criticisms but really negative things and it hurts me because they think it is easy to get a bunch of people together, get crew, get cast, get them to different locations, shoot morning to morning, suffer.

“I don’t think anyone wants to waste time and money and intentionally make a bad film. We do our best with the little we have. We try, we push and that’s why we still have a thriving industry today, because of the hard work.”

Watch the video below.

Alleged Rape: Nollywood actor Moses Armstrong re-arrested

Like his colleague, James Olanrewaju, also known as Baba Ijesha, Armstrong is the second Nigerian actor to be entangled in an alleged rape case with a minor.

A Magistrate Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday struck out a remand application filed by the Akwa Ibom State Government against a Nollywood actor, Moses Armstrong, for not being meritorious.

Mr Armstrong, a former aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel, was arraigned on charges of “rape” and “threat to life.”

Like his colleague, James Olanrewaju, also known as Baba Ijesha, Mr Armstrong is the second Nigerian actor to be entangled in an alleged rape case with a minor.

The prosecutor, A. Nyongessien, an assistant state counsel, urged the judge to remand the Nollywood actor to the correctional facility as the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Mr Nyongessien did not provide details of the case but told the court that the punishment for the charge was life imprisonment and that Mr Armstrong would be arraigned at the High Court.

Counter argument

The defence counsel, Emmanuel Pantaleon, in his submission, opposed the application of the prosecution counsel and instead told the court to grant bail to Mr Armstrong.

Citing relevant legal authorities, Mr Panteleon told the judge that the prosecution knew the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the case but deliberately brought it, an action he said was “illegal.”

He further told the judge that Mr Armstrong being a renowned Nollywood actor, would not jump bail.

The prosecutor, Mr Nyongessien, in his argument, urged the court to discountenance the prayer of the defence counsel that the prosecution is illegal.

He also added that the proceeding was provided for by Section 294 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.

He, therefore, asked the court to grant his remand application in the interest of justice.

Ruling

The judge, Samuel Ukoima, after citing different sections of the State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022, said the new law had made the filing of a charge where the court lacks jurisdiction obsolete.

Mr Ukoima said that the new law provides that an applicant should come by way of an ex parte motion.

“The appropriate procedure for remand proceedings is the filing of a motion ex parte setting out the grounds for the remand of the suspect as clearly stated in the law.

“I do not think that the filing of a charge before a magistrate court where the court lacks jurisdiction is required any longer. All that is necessary for an applicant seeking the remand of a suspect is stated in the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Akwa Ibom State.

“Therefore, the application of bail as canvassed by the defence counsel is nullified when the remand proceedings are defective.

“The application of the prosecution counsel is not meritorious and is at this moment struck out,” the judge ruled.

The implication of the ruling, the judge said, is that the defendant has to be rearrested and taken back to the cell. Then he can be brought back by motion ex parte, or the suspect is taken to the High Court and information filed.

Mr Armstrong was re-arrested and taken back to police custody.

The defence counsel, Mr Panteleon, declined to comment on the case after the court session.

Profile

The Akwa Ibom State-born actor, who started his career 23 years ago, lost his wife, Rita, in 2018.

The mother-of-two was returning to her husband’s residence in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, from Lagos when the Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) bus conveying her was involved in a crash at the Ugbogui axis of Benin Ore Lagos Expressway.

The deceased, a Nollywood actress, died from spinal cord injuries sustained during the accident.

Actor Gideon Okeke laments tough working conditions in Nollywood

Former Tinsel actor, Gideon Okeke in the early hours of today, March 9 spoke about the tough working conditions in Nollywood.

According to the ex-BBNaija star and movie actor, the Nigerian movie industry needs to start compensating it’s workers properly.

Nagging on his social media page, Gideon said Nigerian actors are paid “peanuts”, the food is “whack”, and working conditions are “slave-like”.

Speaking further, Okeke admonished his followers never to be envious of actors. The actor went on to state that everything is packaging as they are not necessarily living their best lives.

The actor wrote:

“WAIT !

Awards season is coming again.
You will see all of us looking like PEACOCKS ? on the red carpet.

Like a BAG OF MONEY.
Don’t ENVY ANYONE O.
Na Packaging. Na wash.

Now dem don even Dey give money for
BEST DRESSED.

Taking the light away from the film wey
dem come to appraise.

You IGN’ANT (Ignorant)
like the Americans would say.
We’z be IGN’ANT.”

Music producer Samklef blames Nollywood movies for prevalence of ritual acts

Nigerian music producer, Samklef has opined in a Twitter post that Nollywood movies influenced numerous young men to be involved in ritual practices.

According to him, most men took inspiration from the messages that they conceived primarily from movies.

It would be recalled that in recent times, the bewildering amount of young men engaging in ritual killings has surged immensely. These reports have raised eyebrows across social media platforms as Nigerians have tried to decipher where the practice began.

Joining the discussion on the microblogging site, Twitter, the Nigerian music producer, Samklef stated that most movie producers opined through their production that people can only become wealthy through heinous means, which includes ritual killing.

Samklef went further to allege that Nollywood also promotes “fetish stuff in all their movies”, Samklef in conclusion stated that they can do better as everything is not “religion or juju”.

Read what he shared below.

Viral ”Mummy Calm Down” boy makes Nollywood debut in Kunle Afolayan’s movie

Young social media sensation, Oreofeoluwa Adeoti, popularly known for his “mummy calm down” video has joined Nollywood as a kid actor.

Five-years-old Oreofeoluwa’s rose to fame after a video of him telling his mother to calm down when she tried punishing, went viral.

After gaining national recognition, the young boy became an ambassador to some companies and met with Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and many other celebrities.

Ace Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan met with the young boy, and offered him a chance to break into the movie industry.

Little Oreofeluwa has now completed his first movie role in Kunle Afolayan’s movie titled ‘Swallow’.

Oreofeoluwa acted as Eniola Badmus’ young son, Ayo in the blockbuster movie.

Why I was banned from Nollywood – Veteran actress, Rita Dominic reveals

Talented Nigerian actress, Rita Dominic has opened up on the reason she once got a silent ban from the industry.

The Nollywood veteran bared her mind in an interview with journalist and media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo.

When asked if she has enjoyed her last 23 years in the industry, Dominic said that she has had her high moments and her low moments.

Chude further probed on what her low moment was, and the movie star responded saying:

So let me tell you something, I don’t know if I’ve said this publicly. Many years ago, we worked a lot with the marketers and they weren’t used to talking to management, they were used to easy access, direct access to us. So I started working with a manager which is my business partner Mildred because she manages my career as well and it was a challenge.

”But I was bent on changing things at least for myself cuz I felt like we needed some sort of structure if we wanted to grow – if we wanted this to go further or advance our careers, we needed to start letting them understand that we have management. So obviously, they didn’t like it but they didn’t…

”let me put it this way: I think they gave me a silent ban without saying anything. I used to trickle down certain things that they would say, a few of them, and I can understand. You know, people don’t like change sometimes especially when it’s been the same thing for so long and it has worked for you. I didn’t get work for a long time!

Before then, Mildred and I had been talking. She had already started producing and we had toyed with the idea of forming a company together and shooting productions and adverts. So when that (ban) lingered for a while, I said you know what?

Let’s go ahead with this thing – let’s produce content. That’s how I was put on this other trajectory and I started producing. I did my first film, ‘The Meeting’ and I wasn’t going to do the role but we ended up doing it and The Meeting became very successful.

So the (ban) in a way was a blessing. Sometimes, the powers that be (the universe) may be moving you in a direction you don’t want because you want things to happen in a certain way, but it might actually let you achieve the same goal through a different route.”

Actress Iyabo Ojo slams her colleagues in the movie industry defending Baba Ijesha who allegedly defiled a 14-year-old girl.

Actress Iyabo Ojo has lashed out at her colleagues in the movie industry who have been defending actor Baba Ijesha after news of him allegedly defiling a 14-year-old girl made headlines.

The actress who stressed that there’s no excuse for rape, told those defending the actor by claiming he was framed/setup to get him a lawyer if they think he is innocent.

Iyabo also stated that it is such attitude that make people refuse to go public with abuses they were subjected to by influential people.

She also warned those circulating videos of the actor being caught in the act to desist from such as a minor is involved.

Watch the video below;

Our MCM for today is Bolanle Ninalowo .

Bolanle Ninalowo, also known as Nino and Makanaki by many,  is a Nigerian actor , film producer , influencer, author and model .He was born on May 7, 1980 to Nigerian parents in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. He was born as the second child of eight children, and spent the first 15 years of his life in Nigeria. Thereafter, he relocated to Chicago, USA and spent another 15 years.

Bolanle attended DeVry University in U.S.A and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Subsequently, he bagged a Masters degree in Marketing at the Keller Graduate School Management, USA.

Before Ninalowo’s attempt into the Nigerian movie industry, he first worked as an accountant in a bank in the United States of America, then relocated back to Nigeria, where he worked with Guaranty Trust Bank. Ninalowo’s first attempt into the Nollywood Nigerian movie industry was as a movie producer. He produced his first movie titled ‘Rebirth’.

He has starred in numerous films, some of which includes;
What’s Within ( 2014), Ordinary People (2014), Desperate Baby Mama (2015),Spotlight( 2015), Road to Yesterday (2015),3 Is Company (2015), Dark (2015), Husbands of Lagos (TV Series, 2015-present), Miscellaneous (2016), Shoot to Kill (2016), Wife for Rent (2016), Picture Perfect (2016), The Personal Assistant ( 2017).

Nino is an award winning actor , he won several awards which includes;
Revelation of the Year, Best of Nollywood Award, 2010.
Best Supporting Actor of the Year ‘English’, City People Movie Award, 2017.
The Best Actor in a Leading Role ‘English‘ Picture Perfect’ Best of Nollywood Awards (BON), 2017.
Best Actor of the Year ‘English’ City People Movie Award, 2018.
Best Actor of the Year ‘English’, City People Movie Award, 2018.

Ninalowo is married to his spouse , with whom he has two children , male and female. Nino converted from Islam to Christianity , after he found remedy to his troubles in the Bible , which he says has become his life manual.

Actor, JideKene Achufusi, says stereotyping is a major setback in Nollywood

Nollywood actor, Jidekene Achufusi, popularly known as Swanky JKA has stated that the problem he has with Nollywood is stereotyping.

The award-winning film star made this known during his recent interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Rubbin Minds.

The Living In Bondage: Breaking Free star said that the Nigerian movie industry has not yet evolved into creating projects out of passion. He added that the main focus for filmmakers is how to make big returns, which is why they churn out movies that revolve around similar themes.

The biggest problem I have with Nollywood right now is stereotyping. If its Ghetto movies that is going on right now, everybody will go into Ghetto movies. If it is love and comedy, let’s go! We don’t really do we have a plan, we have a structure. It is all about the money.

“So, if I had come to Lagos before the time I did, I would probably have done more roles well and everybody else will put me on that kind of role and that usually is the case when we look at those veteran actors. We usually do not have anybody who has done a lot of things”, he said.

Court orders paternity test for Nollywood actress’ daughter

A Magistrates Court in Lagos State has ordered that a DNA paternity test should be conducted on the daughter of a Yoruba movie star, Ronke Odusanya.

M. O. Tanimola, the magistrate, gave the order on Wednesday when the case was brought before her at Court 8, Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba, Ikeja magisterial district, Lagos.

The estranged lovers welcomed their daughter in 2019.

The curvy actress and the father of her child, Olanrewaju Saheed, popularly known as Jago, are currently in court for several reasons including the welfare of their daughter, Oluwafifehanmi.

When the matter came up in court on Wednesday, Saheed, through his lawyer, requested the court to order a DNA test to ascertain the paternity of the child, on the grounds of suspicion of infidelity.

The actress and her lawyer agreed to the request on the condition that the DNA fees and other bills be footed by Saheed.

The actress’ lawyer also pleaded with the court to ensure it is a court-supervised DNA test.

Ms Tanimola, ruling, decided on an undisclosed hospital on Lagos Island for the test to be done, and for the results to be sent directly to the court.

She adjourned the case till March 31, for further hearing.

In December 2020, both parties were enmeshed in a messy separation scandal that was broken by a popular Instagram gossip blog.

Among other things, the blog alleged that the famous actress ‘‘ruined the father of her child, financially by making him sell off his assets to fulfill her luxurious desires.”

Responding to the allegations, the movie star said in a post on her Instagram page that the rumours were untrue but she had chosen to remain calm as the truth would eventually reveal itself.

While my silence will be taken for cowardice, I will be calm because the truth always reveals itself. I can defend myself but I won’t, i want my daughter to grow up reading such irritating and fact-less information. The court of social media has always been myopic and manipulative.

“Remember you did not make me, you cannot break me. Bank statements can reveal who has been receiving money from who and for what. Investigate before publishing. For the platform used for peddling such absurdity, seeds sown will surely germinate,” she said.

Odusanya, 47, made her acting debut in the 2001 Yoruba film, “Baba Ologba.”

Also a cross over actress, she has featured in several Nigerian films.

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