Entertainment
Nollywood Traces Rise of Nigerian Films
While Americans sweat the fate of independent film at places like Sundance or South by Southwest, movie-mad Nigerians flock to the outdoor electronic markets of Lagos to buy the latest offerings from Nollywood.
Inaugurated in 1992 with “Living in Bondage,” an exploitation number about witchcraft and social climbing distributed on VHS, the contemporary Nigerian film industry is one of the world’s largest, according to “Nollywood Babylon,” a documentary by Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal.
The film profiles the explosive success of this truly populist cinema. The filmmakers provide a cursory survey of the evolution of Nigerian cinema — from colonial origins and decline during the economic hardships of the 1970s and ’80s to its resurrection as a D.I.Y. video phenomenon — before focusing on the contemporary scene.
We follow Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, a 37-year-old director at work on his 157th feature (take that, Fassbinder!) and learn of the stories and themes, characteristic of Nollywood movies, that propel his success: cautionary tales, rags-to-riches narratives, broad comedies and dramatic thrillers full of sex, money, religion and violence.
The documentary concludes with a provocative, if shallow, examination of the impact of evangelical Christianity on Nigerian movies. The exploitation and wish-fulfillment ethos of Nollywood, Addelman and Mallal also imply, has a narcotic function on the culture, arresting its development from “tradition to modernity.”
Such questions call for a deeper, more rigorous treatment than they are given here, though, for all its limitations, “Nollywood Babylon” serves as an intriguing primer.
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.’