Entertainment
2016: Nollywood’s Year Of Biggest Chart Bursters
Going by publicised
Box Office records alone, 2016 is turning out to be a far better year for Nigerian films than 2015. 2016 is barely few weeks away from ending and so far, after what started out slowly, it is safe to say that this has been a good year for Nollywood. Going by publicised box office records alone, it is turning out to be a far better Nigerian film year than 2015. That year’s highest grossing film, Mo Abudu’s ‘fifty’ grossed N50m. so far in 2016 three films have comfortably crossed that mark with one of them set to make double of that.
Fifty, Road to yesterday, Taxi Driver, Oko Ashewo, The First Lady, Tempting Fate and The Visit were the highest grossing films of 2015, making about N150.63million among them. That is about N11m short of the record-shattering N161m grossed by AY’s 30 days in Atlanta which has since held on to the record as the highest grossing film in Nollywood.
AY also leads the pack in 2016 with his new film, “A Trip to Jamaica” having grossed N82m so far after just 10 days in the cinemas. According to figures released exclusively by Film One Distribution ‘the film has been playing in all 28 cinema locations across Nigeria, according to Moses Babatope’ the Group ED/CEO Film One Distribution, Generally, there had been better performance in the Box Office by Nigerian films. This is reflected in the figures obtained recently.
1. A Trip to Jamaica – N82m (figure in 10 days only)
2. Wives on strike – N67m
3. The CEO – N60m (includes figures from Ghana)
4. Fifty – N44m (January to March 2016 only)
5. Ghana must go – N32m
Bovi’s ‘it’s Her Day’ is believed to be another box office success story even though official figures were not available as at the time of this report. The 44m made by Fifty, this year adds to the N50 million it made during the closing part of 2015. N94 million is not a bad figure. The projection with A Trip to Jamaica is that it is on course to take over the number one spot from 30 days in Atlanta within the next two weeks of its stay in the Cinemas across Nigeria, as it looks set to continue to screen to sell-out audience.
By October 25, it was projected that the film would have made at least N130m which is about N31m shy of the record it is looking to break. Stakeholders in the industry have described this development as a welcome one, saying that this will give way to more opportunities for the industry. AMVCA-winning actor, Tope Tedela said, it is good to have these kinds of positive developments where people can recoup their investments because no one just wants to act and make a film, at least we also want finances that can make a solid foundation. So, yeah I’m happy”.
‘AY has over the years created a brand with which he now promotes his content. He has that likeability and he has the platform. Filmmaker, Olu Yomi Ososanya highlighted before continuing. ‘Now, the cinemas can see that Nigerian films can do big numbers and they will now see that giving him a favourable slot also helped. “A Trip to Jamaica screens an average of four times across cinemas.
Producer, director and writer, Tope Oshin whose documentary, ‘Amaka’s kin’ is making its debut at the BFI film festival in London said. “This is definitely exciting news It’s just my hope that we can grow our cinema audience to the point where this kind of Box Office successes will soon be possible for films of other genres as well.”
Part of a report by Jude Martins, a film critic and public relations expert, as well as Moses Babatope and published recently read, ‘With the second half pregnant with intriguing film such as Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO, the much anticipated ’76. The Arbitration, 93 Days, when love happens again, The party and of course, Ayo Makun’s steaming a Trip to Jamaica, we can confidently anticipate a new dawn in Nollywood’s annual gross box office return”.
Infact, those in the know are optimistic about a possible 800 million naira in annual box office takings which even with the devaluation of the naira will be close to $3 million. While the N800m box office takings projection might not seem feasible any longer this year, other highly anticipated releases scheduled for later this year make 2016 a better year than 2015 by more than a mile. So far so good.
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.’