Entertainment
Can Horror Comedies In Nollywood Explode With My Village People?
It has since been established that Nollywood is not actively in the business of making horror films. 90’s Nollywood horror nostalgia is all we have, thanks to YouTube. Only just once, or maybe twice, did Nollywood experience two mainstream horror films – the sequel of Living in Bondage(2019) and the reboot of Nneka the Pretty Serpent (2020).
Away from these studio spectacles, the industry has been on regular programming, with no desire to retrieve the consciousness of its horror past. Maybe that could change in a way that explores the genre of horror as we know it. NiyiAkinmolayan’s My Village People appears to be that stuff, an upcoming horror comedy out in cinemas on June 11, 2021. Of course, Akinmolayan has not labelled it as such, and this is where a rethinking of horror is most useful, especially in this part of the world.
Horror is a spectrum, and it’s also never static. Horror purists, like myself, have consumed the genre in various forms and renditions. Horror can interplay with comedy just as much as it can with romance. Gore and violence don’t define horror; the genre is much complex and multifaceted. Back to My Village People, the film has popular comedian, Bovi in a lead role, a bachelor whose womanising lands him in a bizarre triangle involving a coven of witches.
Like many other Nigerian comedians trafficking their comic sensibilities into Nollywood, and turning into crossover movie stars, Bovi’s role doesn’t come with a spectacular shift. He’s still funny and whimsical, albeit according to what the story demands. But his involvement in such a project shows how permeable the barriers between horror and comedy is. Elsewhere, in Hollywood, comedians are pivoting towards horror as filmmakers.Jordan Peele’s Get Out and Chris Rock‘s new Saw Installment comes to mind. In Nollywood, Basketmouth announced in late 2018 that his first feature film was going to a horror film – The Exorcism of Alu. But since then, the film has been suspended in limbo, yet to be released.
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.’
