Entertainment
How Banned Nollywood Stars Bounced Back
It would be recalled that in
the year 2005 several A-list Nollywood actors were banned from all forms of acting and commercial activity in the Nigerian Movie industry. The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria placed a one-year ban on eight actors, Stella Damascus, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Genevieve Nnaji, Chinwe Okeke, Ramsey Nouah and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, for charging too much for movie appearance owing to their popularity and fan base.
In the end, the actors were ‘Vindicated’ as they returned to acting and carried on with their normal work in the industry as though nothing had ever happened. Today, hardly anyone remembers that there was ever a ban on names like Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey Nouah and Omotola because they all went on to achieve individual success following the ban.
For instance, Omotola went on to make the 2013 Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world a list including pioneers, icons, artists and world leaders. Genevieve Nnaji, on her own, has gone on to ink major deals with corporate brands as well as to enjoy positive media reviews both locally and globally from the Oprah Winfrey show to CNN.
Ramsey Nouah has also enjoyed corporate deals as well as the media spotlight from international platforms. Other than the aforementioned corporate deals, their exploits also spread into Nollywood as they re-launched their acting careers following the “break” with major, best-selling movie appearances. It is clear that they have enjoyed sizeable recognition and successes in their careers regardless to being deemed too “pricey” by Nollywood marketers and the Nigerian Actors’ Guild.
But each of them was and is armed with a distinguished understanding of acting and all the dynamics of 21st century theatre and media maneuverings. Even if these three were not totally distinguished, Joke Silva was. And yes, she was also a part of the banned Nollywood A-list actors in 2005, only her name was not announced, probably owing to respect for her status.
In sum, if these Nigerian movie stars did not have a rich catalogue of movies that they acted in or produced, if they did not have the requisite acting skills, if the media was not favourably disposed to them and their every move and if corporate brands did not consider them worthy of several endorsement deals, then it would have been a different story altogether today.
The truth is, however bright one’s career gets, there is only so much buzz it can garner if there is no substance behind it or enough work from the artists in question. Otherwise, no sooner has the buzz faded than the truth will come to the fore, and at this point reality sets in faster than the speed of light, and the world realises that it was all a charade, that the prior buzz was nothing but a flash in the pan.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
