A newly released Nigerian epic movie, Lisabi has topped the Netflix chart in Nigeria and entered the top 10 charts in Kenya and Mauritius. Lisabi is a legendary story of local rebellion against an oppressive empire and its agents derived from a Yoruba historical account.
Released on Friday, September 27, Lisabi is produced by Niyi Akinmolayan and features an exciting list of actors. These include Boma Akpore, Adebowale Adedayo, Gabriel Afolayan, Ibrahim Chatta and Lateef Adedimeji.
Set in the 18th-century Oyo Empire, the movie attempts to tell to retell the story of the Oyo Empire, but from an angle not expected and not unfamiliar. It tells the story of Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala and the Egba people’s fight against the mighty Oyo Empire in the 18th century to highlight how bravery and unity can guarantee independence.
The Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful West African states at the time, exerted significant control over many neighbouring peoples, including the Egba. This control was marked by heavy tribute demands and forced labour.
Songodeyi, the ruthless head of the tribute collectors, alongside his brutal subordinates, terrorizes the Egba people, despite their compliance with the tribute demands. Their cruelty has no bounds—they take more than what is owed, rape young women, and kill anyone who dares to resist their tyranny. As their oppression worsens day by day, life becomes unbearable for the farmers and villagers of Egba land.
Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala was a resourceful Egba farmer who organised a rebellion against the oppressive Oyo rulers. With his strategic brilliance and leadership, Lisabi forms the Aaro society, a communal work group that secretly becomes the backbone of the uprising.
He also turned out to be a skilled military strategist and farmer who united several Yoruba groups to launch an attack against the Oyo Empire between 1775 and 1780.
According to the movie, Lisabi (Lateef Adedimeji) used the combined strength of his fellow farmers and the support of different deities to equip his folks to fight an evidently superior force and win their freedom.
Before gaining their independence, communities such as Ijaiye, Gbagura, and Igbeyin were all under the control of the Oyo Empire. Lisabi’s rebellion marks a turning point in Egba’s history, as he leads his people to victory and freedom from the Oyo Empire’s domination, cementing his legacy as a hero and liberator.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Video - Nigerian Netflix epic, Lisabi tops chart in Nigeria
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
How a beauty queen became the face of South Africa-Nigeria tensions
She does her best to assimilate with her peers and rarely volunteers her origins. This, she says, shields her from persistent bullying – a phenomenon she’s faced since childhood after moving to South Africa as a baby.
“I try not to show where I am from or look Nigerian. I hide my identity socially,” Solarin told Al Jazeera. “Because I’ve had to do it for so long, it has become normal.”
Her earliest memories of the tensions between South Africans and Nigerians date back to kindergarten, where she was mistreated by a peer.
“It was disheartening. A child, just four years old, hated me even though we were in the same school, looked the same, and did the same things,” Solarin shared.
“My school life was tough because I was bullied for my background. I was called names, especially the derogatory term, makwerekwere [a local slur for foreigner]. South Africans have this idea that if you’re not one of them, you don’t deserve to be here,” she added, her frustration still palpable.
Solarin was brought up in Pretoria, but she doesn’t feel like she belongs in South Africa. Even decades on, she says it’s still easier for her – and other young Nigerians – not to disclose their heritage.
“Not many Nigerian children here will say ‘I am Nigerian’ because they are scared of the backlash and the hate. It’s just not safe for them,” she said.
South Africa has a long history of simmering anti-foreigner sentiment, and social tensions directed at other Black Africans in the country have turned violent over the years.
However, it’s recent events that have deepened Solarin’s disappointment with South Africa when, last month, 23-year-old beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina faced such severe xenophobic harassment as a finalist in the Miss South Africa (Miss SA) pageant that she eventually exited the competition.
Chidimma Adetshina debacle
Adetshina, who was born in Soweto, Johannesburg to two immigrant parents, proudly spoke of her Nigerian heritage during Miss SA, sparking outrage from South Africans on social media.
Many insisted she had no right to represent South Africa in the competition.
When the controversy around Adetshina began, Solarin said she raised the matter for discussion with some of her international relations professors at the University of Pretoria, but was largely ignored. Her peers, on the other hand, tried to justify their belief that Adetshina should be disqualified based on unfounded rumours that her father may have been linked to criminality.
“[Adetshina] was bullied online because her father was Nigerian. If it had been any other nationality, there wouldn’t have been a problem,” Solarin said. “People even said her father was a drug dealer. Where does that come from? It’s the assumption that all Nigerians are criminals – it’s annoying.”
For weeks, Adetshina endured trolling and abuse, with the online vitriol amplifying existing South African-Nigerian tensions that are fuelled by economic frustrations and stereotypes about foreigners.
South Africa suffers from widespread unemployment and sluggish economic growth. While the government does little to improve the situation, many find it easier to turn on migrant African communities, accusing them of taking jobs and increasing criminality. These tensions inevitably spill into social media debates, where xenophobic rhetoric soars.
Adetshina’s situation came to a head when a video went viral of her celebrating her Miss SA qualification with her father, who was dressed in traditional Nigerian attire. The backlash was swift and relentless.
South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie – known for his xenophobic rhetoric – only added fuel to the fire.
“We truly cannot have Nigerians compete in our Miss SA competition. I wanna get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already,” McKenzie posted on X.
This statement set off a barrage of online abuse, escalating into manifest threats – despite the fact that Adetshina was born in South Africa and therefore qualified to compete.
The South African Department of Home Affairs launched a formal investigation. Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber alleged that Adetshina’s mother had committed identity theft when registering her as a South African citizen.
While the government admitted Adetshina had committed no crime, her mother – who claims South African and Mozambican descent – became the subject of a criminal investigation. Both women denied any wrongdoing, but the pressure eventually forced Adetshina to withdraw from the Miss SA pageant.
“I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and me,” she announced on Instagram in August, days before the Miss SA final.
The abuse had become too much to bear, leading her to quit social media platform X and limit her Instagram engagement. Adetshina later went on to compete in and win the Miss Universe Nigeria contest, representing her father’s homeland on the basis that she carries dual citizenship.
In interviews, Adetshina shared how the ordeal left her questioning whether she would ever return to South Africa. The emotional scars were so deep that she admitted she would seek therapy to cope.
‘Disappointed in South Africa’
For Solarin, Adetshina’s withdrawal was disheartening.
“I was very disappointed in South Africa,” she said, her voice filled with regret. Solarin, who dreams of one day becoming a public figure in the political arena, hopes to educate people about the consequences of the social tensions between South Africans and Nigerians.
However, “I don’t see a future for myself in South Africa”, she confessed.
Solarin’s mother, Doris Ikeri-Solarin, who is the head of the civic group Nigerian Union South Africa, says Adetshina was unfairly targeted by anti-Nigerian sentiment.
“This young lady was born, raised, and educated in South Africa. Whatever happened before she was born, she had no control over it. She grew up with the ambition of becoming a beauty queen, and suddenly, because of this tension, she has fallen victim. Even if it turns out her mother was involved in identity fraud, Chidimma shouldn’t have to bear the consequences,” she said.
She views the bullying of Adetshina as a symptom of a deeper rivalry.
“This goes beyond Chidimma. You see it in sport, in school competitions – any time there’s a Nigerian involved, there’s this underlying envy. South Africans don’t want Nigerians to outshine them,” she said.
Ikeri-Solarin compares the experiences of her two daughters: 21-year-old Anita, who studies in South Africa, and 23-year-old Esther, who studies in the United States.
“There’s a stark difference. In South Africa, they see foreigners as threats,” she said, adding that the government should do more to educate citizens. “People migrate all over the world. There are South Africans living abroad, and they’re not treated the way Nigerians are here.”
South Africa witnessed outbreaks of severe xenophobic violence in 2008 and 2015 in which dozens of people were killed. NGO Xenowatch also reported 170 incidents of xenophobia in 2022 and 2023 and 18 incidents in the first quarter of 2024.
South African foreign relations analyst Sanusha Naidu explained that anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa is Afrophobic. However, she cautioned against interpreting the Adetshina debacle as South Africans targeting Nigerians more.
“Let me put it this way, Nigerians give as they get,” she said of the online social rivalry between both states.
Naidu said tensions between large African countries were political, economic and social.
“I think the challenge is not about South Africa and Nigeria and whether we [are] Afrophobic towards them … There are many competing factors and drives and push and pull issues that informed the way we react,” she said.
‘Needs aren’t being met’
Harvest-Time Obadire, a Nigerian who moved to Johannesburg to attend high school in 2001 and later pursued a master’s degree in sustainable energy, has had a different experience than Solarin.
“In person, I haven’t faced xenophobia. My interactions have been pretty normal. Online, though, that’s where the confrontations happen,” he said.
Obadire believes the root of the social tension is frustration on both sides.
“Everyday South Africans feel like their needs aren’t being met, and then they see someone who’s different from them seemingly getting ahead. On the other side, Nigerians are open about their success, which creates friction,” he explained.
Unlike Solarin, Obadire found university life in Johannesburg welcoming and even secured employment after graduation. However, when asked about the Adetshina controversy, he admits both sides could have handled it better.
Meanwhile, Joseph (not his real name), a South African security guard working at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto – where Adetshina was born – claims that many foreign nationals give birth at the hospital and attempt to register their children as South Africans through illicit means.
“Money talks here,” Joseph said, alluding to corruption in government services.
In Soweto, 22-year-old Patience Dlamini harbours negative views about Nigerians, echoing widespread stereotypes.
“Nigerians commit a lot of crimes,” she said, though she admits she has no proof. “I don’t think the government would lie about her [Adetshina’s] mother stealing someone’s identity. They need to get to the bottom of it.”
Dlamini’s sentiment is shared by other young South Africans who believe that Nigerian immigrants dominate sectors like hospitality and retail while contributing to unemployment and crime.
The social media storm around Adetshina even spurred pranks between South Africans and Nigerians on the e-hailing platform Bolt – which is big in both countries. The taxi app allows users to book “intercountry” requests. People in both countries took advantage of this last month, with Nigerians requesting rides in South Africa and South Africans requesting rides in Nigeria before cancelling them. The so-called ‘Bolt war’ caused prices to surge, left some riders stranded, and led to Bolt restricting intercountry requests.
‘Being a successful migrant is a crime’
Alex Asakitikpi, a Nigerian sociologist based in Johannesburg, warns that online tensions can have real-life consequences. He attributes the conflict to economic rivalry between South Africa and Nigeria.
“The comments made by some South African ministers about Chidimma certainly escalated the issue,” he said.
Asakitikpi, who moved to Johannesburg in 2012, acknowledges that while he has experienced xenophobia, most of his South African colleagues have been supportive.
“I overlook the subtle hostility. But I’ve taken precautions, like stopping communication with certain individuals. I don’t visit them anymore, nor do I invite them to visit me,” he admitted.
He argues that politics and media narratives often fuel xenophobia towards Nigerians.
“It’s unfortunate. Just recently, the South African government denied a Nigerian sports team visas. Such actions institutionalise antagonism,” he said.
Olorunfemi Adeleke, a migrant rights activist, agrees.
“In South Africa, it’s almost like being a successful migrant is a crime. The moment you succeed, you face a barrage of investigations,” he said.
Adetshina’s experience, while tragic, underscores the complexities of South African-Nigerian relations, analysts say.
These tensions, though most visible online, reflect deeper issues that both countries must confront if they hope to foster peace and mutual understanding.
Both South Africans and Nigerian social analysts agree that the rivalry doesn’t benefit either country or its people.
By Qaanitah Hunter, Al Jazeera
Monday, September 16, 2024
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Nigeria’s creative industry is growing rapidly, but analysts say more needs to be done to overcome challenges and fully realize its potential for economic growth.
Monday, September 2, 2024
Hounded South African beauty queen wins Nigeria contest
Ms Adetshina cried tears of joy as she was named Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday.
"This crown is not just for beauty; it's a call for unity," the 23-year-old law student stated after weeks at the centre of an intense media storm.
She was invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria after her position as a finalist in the Miss South Africa contest sparked a wave of criticism.
Some people in South Africa had questioned her eligibility to compete in the beauty pageant because despite being a South African citizen, Ms Adetshina's father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots.
In interviews Ms Adetshina said she was born in Soweto - the South African township next to Johannesburg - and grew up in Cape Town.
The row over her nationality sparked an investigation with the organisers of Miss South Africa asking the nation's home affairs department to look into her eligibility.
After an initial probe, the department announced that Miss Adetshina's mother may have committed "identity theft" to become a South African national.
However, the statement added that Ms Adetshina "could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time".
A day after the announcement, Ms Adetshina dropped out of the contest, saying she took the decision for her and her family's safety and wellbeing.
By now, her ordeal had made headlines around the world.
After hearing of Ms Adetshina's story, the organisers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to participate in their contest.
They said she would be able to "represent her father's native land on the international stage".
After winning the contest on Saturday, Ms Adetshina will represent Nigeria at November's Miss Universe competition.
Her success has been celebrated on social media.
"Your story is inspirational - you are stronger than you think and we love you our African sister," one South African woman wrote on Instagram.
Another supporter said: "Trust me guys we Nigerians are proud of her... she’s our very own sister, a very smart, intelligent girl, our Nigerian blood runs through her veins."
However, others alleged the contest was "rigged" in Ms Adetshina's favour - an accusation the Miss Nigeria organisers have not responded to.
"She's undeserving," one Instagram user said.
"She has never lived in Nigeria and was merely invited to compete after the final delegates had been chosen... she arrived in Nigeria for the first time after 20 years last week, only to be given our crown. This organisation reeks of sheer bias."
Another wrote: "In all honesty you won out of pity... feeling very sorry for the other contestants who were there long before you came."
At the Miss Universe contest in November, the law student's rivals will include Mia le Roux, who won this year's Miss South Africa competition after Ms Adetshina dropped out.
Ms le Roux became the first deaf woman in history to win the crown.
Wedaeli Chibelushi, BBC
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Nigerian singer, actor and activist Onyeka Onwenu dies aged 72
She had just finished a performance at a private party on Tuesday night in Lagos when the singer became ill. Hours later, she died at a nearby hospital, having suffered a heart attack, according to local reports.
The Nigerian president, Bola Tinubu, was among those paying tribute to Onwenu and said she “lives on in her immortal masterpieces”.
The singer is best known for the disco anthem One Love (1986). Another of her hits, You and I, was repurposed for the 1999 movie, Conspiracy – which she also starred in – and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic soundtracks of Nollywood, the world’s second-largest film-production industry.
She was born in Obosi, Anambra, in January 1952 to Dickson Onwenu, a politician in pre-independence Nigeria, and Hope Onwenu, who was also a singer, and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. She completed her education in the US – at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and the New School, New York.
Upon her return to Nigeria, she launched her pop career while simultaneously working as a broadcaster at the state-run Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). While there, she wrote and narrated Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches, a 1984 collaborative documentary between the BBC and NTA, about corruption in the oil-rich country.
A contemporary of the jùjú maestro King Sunny Adé, they recorded the popular 1989 duet Choices, about consent and birth control, a stunningly bold move in a country that remains largely conservative decades later.
Another of her peers was the radical musician-activist Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì, who married 27 women in a 1978 ceremony. When he was arrested six years later by the military government of the day, Onwenu pushed for his release. In My Father’s Daughter, her 2021 memoir, she revealed that after his release he asked her to marry him, a request she emphatically turned down, although with good humour.
“I told him that I was a jealous lover and would not be able to cope as an appendage to his harem,” she wrote.
Onwenu released four albums before switching to become a gospel singer in the 1990s and was awarded national honours by Nigeria in 2003 and 2011.
Her self-assuredness as a confident woman was routinely misinterpreted as arrogance.
Ed Keazor, a historian and lawyer who knew Onwenu for more than two decades and represented her in the mid-1990s, said: “People often described her as being something of a tough nut. I’ll say this: she was even harder on herself. She pushed herself hard and expected the same from others.
“She was more than a client,” he said. “She was my big sister and heroine.”
Onwenu kept a very private personal life but is survived by two sons from a marriage in 1984, which she said she left because she was constantly depressed. “I raised my children [alone], from kindergarten to master’s degree,” she once told the press.
The best-known example of her tenacity was a three-day hunger strike at the premises of her former employer, the NTA, in July 2000. According to the BBC, she was protesting at being barred after complaining that the national channel was playing her music but not paying thousands of dollars in royalties it owed to her.
In her later years, she became a politician, and had a three-year stint as the head of the National Centre for Women Development, before focusing on the arts again.
The British-Nigerian film-maker Biyi Bandele cast her as grandmother to the twins Olanna and Kainene in the 2013 film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel Half of a Yellow Sun. Five years later, she also starred in Lionheart, Nigeria’s first Netflix original, alongside Nkem Owoh, her co-star in Conspiracy.
By Eromo Egbejule, The Guardian
Friday, June 7, 2024
Tribunal orders Multichoice to give one-month free subscription to subscribers in Nigeria, pay N150m fine
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) on Friday slammed N150 million fine against Multichoice Nig. Ltd. for disobeying its order on subscription rates hike for DStv and Gotv packages.
The tribunal, sitting in Abuja, also ordered the pay television operator to give one-month free subscription to all its Nigerian subscribers on the DStv and Gotv platforms, for flouting its order.
The three-member tribunal chaired by Thomas Okosun, in a ruling, found Multichoice culpable of contempt by flouting its earlier order restraining the pay television operator from implementing hike in its subscription rates for DStv and GOtv.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CCPT had, on 29 April, restrained MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to begin on 1 May.
Mr Onifade, a lawyer and subscriber, had approached the tribunal contending that the eight-day notice given by Multichoice for a price hike was insufficient.
Respondents in the case were MultiChoice and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
He urged the tribunal to restrain Multichoice from implementing the tariff hike from 1 May as planned, pending the hearing determination of the petition.
The tribunal granted the ex-parte motion of the applicant and stopped Multichoice from going ahead with the price increase in the interim.
However, in defiance of the tribunal’s order, MultiChoice hiked its subscription rates for DStv and Gotv packages on the scheduled date 1 May.
Following the price hike, Mr Onifade, on 7 May commenced contempt proceedings against Mohammed Sani, Manager of Abuja office of MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd, over alleged disobedience to the order made by the CCPT.
The Notice of Consequence of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) marked: CCPT/OP/02/2024 filed on 7 May by Mr Onifade warned Mr Sani against disregarding the tribunal order.
MultiChoice, through its lawyer, Moyosore Onigbanjo, a Senior Advocate Nigeria, filed a preliminary objection praying the tribunal to decline jurisdiction in the suit.
Mr Onigbanjo argued that such a price dispute case had been decided before in favour of his client.
Mr Onifade, in his response, urged the tribunal to discountenance the company’s objection and direct it to pay the sum of N10 billion or any amount the panel might deem fit in the circumstance for deliberately disobeying and failure to comply with the interim order.
The lawyer argued that the issue he brought did not border on price regulation or increase.
He explained that what he placed before the court was whether the company gave adequate notice in respect of the 1 May subscription price increase.
“It is our submission that the eight-day notice issued by Multichoice Nigeria Ltd is insufficient in law.
“A monthly subscriber should be given at least a month,” he said, praying the tribunal to dismiss the preliminary objection for being a waste of time of the court.
Delivering the ruling, the Thomas Okosun-led tribunal agreed with Mr Onifade’s submission, prompting the panel to affirm its jurisdiction and rule against the company.
The tribunal subsequently fixed July 3 for hearing of the substantive suit of the claimant.
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Monday, June 3, 2024
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Nigeria's movie industry continues to captivate audiences and attract significant foreign investment. With vibrant storytelling and improved production quality, foreign investors are now eyeing a slice of one of the world's largest film industries.
Related stories: Nigeria bans smoking, ritual killings in movies, music videos, skits
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Thursday, May 23, 2024
Nigeria bans smoking, ritual killings in movies, music videos, skits
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Tuesday announced that it would henceforth restrict the depiction of smoking, ritual killings and money rituals in movies, music videos and skits.
NFVCB’s Executive Director, Shaibu Husseini, disclosed this in Enugu at a National Stakeholder Engagement on the “#Smoke-Free Nollywood” campaign, which was organised in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Mr Husseini said the federal government would prohibit the depiction and glamorisation of smoking, violence, criminal acts, immoral acts, ritual killings and money rituals in Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry.
He said the country faced a film “industry emergency requiring bold and ambitious actions” from parents, guardians, and stakeholders.
“Therefore, after a series of engagements, the NFVCB, in collaboration with CAPPA, decided to make Subsidiary Regulations to address smoking in movies since this aspect was not expressly spelt out in the extant Law.
“Today (Tuesday), I am delighted to announce to you that the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, under Section 65 of the NFVCB Act 2004, has approved the “Prohibition of Money Ritual, Ritual Killing, Tobacco, Tobacco Product, Nicotine Product Promotion, Glamorization, Display in Movies, Musical Videos and Skits” Regulations 2024. We have forwarded the approved copy to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Gazette,” the official said.
Mr Husseini explained that the goal was eradicating smoking in movies and skits.
He added, “We will work with the industry to see how we achieve zero, completely smoke-free Nollywood.”
He identified the tobacco industry’s tricks to promote smoking but expressed confidence that the government was prepared to counter them.
Mr Hussein said: “Of recent, we realised that tobacco industries hide under the banner of entertainment to flaunt smoking. The NFVCB is well prepared to take leadership in this regard and has planned and begun implementing innovative ways to achieve its mandate, especially at this crucial time when the National Assembly is insisting that there is “Need to Curb the Rising Spate of Cultism, Trafficking, Consumption of Illicit Drugs and other Substances among Youths in Nigeria”.
“The Board had been urged to undertake detailed enlightenment programs in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, local communities, faith groups and other institutions, as well as impose restrictions on home movies promoting social vices.”
Participants at the event included veteran and top filmmakers, producers, scriptwriters, marketers, and distributors from across the country, such as Zeb Ejiro, Fred Amata, Segun Arinze, Bolaji Amusan, and The Aneke Twins, as well as leaders of various guilds and associations in the Nigerian film industry.
Smoke-free Nollywood
The participants affirmed their commitment to a pro-health Nollywood by signing a pledge to ensure a smoke-free Nollywood.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, stressed the need for stakeholders to work towards a Smoke-Free Nollywood in the interest of a healthy future for Nigerian children.
Mr Oluwafemi said, “Shockingly, studies have shown that smoking remains prevalent in Nigerian movies in contravention of the NTC Act and the Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, which explicitly prohibits tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorships in movies and entertainment. There is also a clear provision for warnings that should accompany any tobacco depiction necessary for “Historical Accuracy and Artistic Expression.”
“With the power to tell the Nigerian story, shape our future, and build a genuinely productive society, Nollywood ensures that the growing concerns of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria are addressed. Movies and music videos must reverse the role they play in painting smoking and tobacco use as an excellent way of life.
“With more than five million young Nigerians aged 15 years addicted to smoking cigarettes, our job, not just as movie practitioners and industry experts but also as parents, is to rise to the occasion and act right to protect our children and prepare for a smoke-free future. We are at a point where we must stop the glamorisation of smoking and, instead, promote healthy lifestyles.”
In-Country Coordinator of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Michael Olaniyan, who delivered a presentation titled “A Code of Practice for Smoking in the Entertainment and Plenary for Next Steps”, urged stakeholders to be careful not to breach the NTC Act while shooting movies.
He added that the Act demands the prohibition of avoidable/unnecessary smoking scenes, avoidable/unnecessary tobacco use of any kind, glamorisation of tobacco use, tobacco brand marking, tobacco product placements and sponsorship by tobacco companies, among others.
Consensus
The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC)’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ali Nuhu, backed the move to rescue “vibrant and energetic youths from the claws of smoking-related and early health challenges.”
Mr Nuhu, who was represented by the NFC’s Director, Public Affairs, Brian Etuk, lamented that most Nigerian youths have become victims of circumstances having taken to smoking habits, with consequential health challenges and damage to body organs.
“We must, therefore, use the power of film/movie to help address the gradual but avoidable drifts that are ultimately life-threatening.”
Concurring, Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke, noted the “incredible influence” Nollywood holds over public perceptions and behaviours and urged film industry professionals to promote public health by making movies smoke-free.
The Alliance Coordinator for the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Olawale Makanjuola, congratulated the NFVCB, adding, “We all know the role film, and most importantly, Nollywood, plays in our culture. For us, there is no better partner than the NFVCB and the creative industry in ensuring our screens remain smoke-free, thereby strengthening our public health infrastructures.”
Warner Music to Expand Into Lagos, Nigeria
Warner Music Africa (WMA) is planning to establish a new creative hub in Lagos, Nigeria.
The move will mark the opening of Warner’s first fully-owned office in the market. WMA says that its expansion into Lagos will enable it “to provide more of its A&R, Operations and Marketing expertise to Nigeria’s creative ecosystem”.
WMA’s plans to expand in Nigeria arrive at a time of significant recorded music industry growth in the wider Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region.
According to IFPI, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) was the fastest-growing music region in 2023. It was also the fastest-growing music region globally in 2022.
Recorded music revenues in Sub-Saharan Africa grew by 24.7% in 2023, fuelled, according to IFPI, by a 24.5% rise in paid streaming revenues.
Ahead of the opening of its new office in Lagos, Warner Music Africa’s management team, including Alfonso Perez-Soto, President of Emerging Markets, Warner Music; Laverne Thomas, Operations Lead, WMA; Temi Adeniji, Managing Director, WMA, and Yoel Kenan, CEO, Africori, met with government officials in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja last week.
According to Warner Music Group, this “pivotal journey” saw the executives engage in meetings with key government officials to “establish crucial relationships and to bolster WMA’s mission of empowering Nigeria’s vibrant creative sector”.
During the Warner executive team’s visit last week, they met two senior ministers and the Special Advisor to the President of Nigeria.
Amongst them were: Minister Ayodele Olawande, Nigeria’s Minister of State For Youth Development, who provides insights into youth empowerment initiatives and holds a crucial role in the creative sector for national development. They also met with Minister Hannatu Musawa, the country’s Minister for Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, and a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician.
The WMG team also met with Adeagbo (Oluwadunsin) Ayomide, the Special Advisor to the President on Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy.
WMG says that its meetings in Nigeria underscore its “longstanding commitment” to the market.
In 2019, Warner Music Group invested in independent Nigeria-based music company Chocolate City in a deal that WMG said at the time will “dramatically grow the reach of African artists around the world, and will create new opportunities for global superstars in the region”.
In 2022, Warner Music Group acquired a majority stake in Africori, a prominent African music distribution, music rights management and artist development company which has offices in Johannesburg, London and Lagos.
WMG first invested in Africori in early 2020. The original deal gave WMG access to what it called “Africa’s largest catalog and A&R network”, as well as enabling WMG to establish a presence in many African markets for the first time. WMG’s publishing division, Warner Chappell Music, also inked a global deal with Africori in 2020.
In addition, the Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund (WMG/BFF SJF) has contributed more than USD $400,000 to Nigeria’s creative sector via its Repertoire and Core Funds.
For example, it contributed $200,000 in 2022 to the West African Vocational Education and $150,000 in 2023 to The Sarz Academy which nurtures emerging talent in music production.
Meanwhile, WMG noted on Wednesday (May 22) that Temi Adeniji and Alfonso Perez-Soto’s leadership “has been instrumental in driving the success of Warner Music’s global artists in Africa and their local repertoire across the globe”.
According to WMG, they have played “a pivotal role” in signing and promoting superstar Nigerian artist CKay, whose viral single Love Nwantiti has achieved significant success, recently being certified 8x platinum in the US.
Additionally, WMA recently signed 26-year-old Nigerian singer-songwriter Joeboy, who has amassed 2 billion streams over the past five years.
As part of the deal, Joeboy has created his own record label, Young Legend which will partner with Warner Music Africa for global distribution of its artists’ music.
Earlier this week, Temi Adeniji, Managing Director at Warner Music Africa and Warner’s SVP of Sub-Saharan Africa, joined the MBW podcast to discuss the rise of music from Africa and more.
By Murray Stassen, MUSIC BUSINESS WORLDWIDE
Monday, April 8, 2024
Video - Trailer for Nigerian documentary COCONUT HEAD GENERATION
The words and emotions of students at the University of Ibadan in southwestern Nigeria, presenting spirited debates over power imbalances and heated discussions around ethnicity, feminism, and gender.
Related stories: Kannywood filmmakers in Nigeria face jail if they show violence
Idris Elba to direct short film ‘Dust to Dreams,’ in collaboration with Nigeria's EbonyLife Films
Friday, April 5, 2024
Kannywood filmmakers in Nigeria face jail if they show violence
Filmmakers in northern Nigeria's Kannywood movie industry have been told they risk a jail term if they portray violence in their work or have scenes with cross-dressers in them.
Kano state's censorship unit says it wants to protect society as films play a huge role in shaping behaviour.
The bans resulted from public complaints, it says.
There is rising concern about violent crime. The authorities also say cross-dressing is not part of local culture.
Kano's authorities are under pressure to deal with an increase in robberies committed by gangs.
"Whether we like it or not Kano has a thug problem and films contribute to it by their portrayals and it is where some learn how to go about it," said the censorship unit head, Abba al-Mustapha, in a video shared on social media.
Kano is one of the 12 mostly Muslim states in northern Nigeria which implement Islamic law, or Sharia. alongside secular law.
Mr Mustapha said that cross-dressing, when men wear women's clothes or vice versa, was against local practices.
Such scenes are often included in films to inject an element of comedy.
He said directors who had already finished films that contain banned scenes had one month to make changes.
However, he said that films already in circulation would not have to be withdrawn.
"We can't control what has happened in the past but we can draw a line from now and make things better which we hope to do."
Film director Aminu Mukhtar Umar told the BBC the bans might stifle creativity and freedom of expression which is the backbone of any movie industry.
"The better way to do this would've been to bring in experts on these issues to meet with Kannywood writers so that knowledge would be gained on how to go about it."
Mr Umar had issues with the censorship unit in 2022 for his film Makaranta, which was deemed immoral.
It was a film about sex education and also tackled issues like female genital mutilation.
Kannywood, which really took off in the 1990s, is inspired by India's Bollywood films, which explains the affection for songs and dance in the majority of its films.
It is based in Kano, hence the name. Although not all films are made in the state, it is by far the main market so even those films produced elsewhere would have to comply with Kano state regulations.
Kannywood plays second fiddle to southern Nigeria's more glamorous Nollywood scene, which is better known globally.
However, it still produces hundreds of films each year, which are also popular in countries where there is a Hausa-speaking population such as Ghana, Cameroon and Niger.
In order to comply with Sharia, male and female actors are not allowed to touch each other even if they are portraying a husband and wife.
By Mansur Abubakar, BBC
Monday, April 1, 2024
Netflix hikes subscriptions fees in Nigeria
Netflix prices are going up in Nigeria. Starting today, the premium plan with 4K + HDR and downloads on six devices jumps to ₦5000. The standard plan also sees a bump, going from ₦3600 to ₦4000. While the basic plan stays put at ₦2,900, the price for the mobile plan has also been increased.
Since October last year, Netflix has been revising its subscription prices globally. The streaming platform also ended its free plan in Kenya which ran for two years.
"As we invest in and improve Netflix, we’ll occasionally ask our members to pay a little extra to reflect those improvements, which in turn helps drive the positive flywheel of additional investment to further improve and grow our service," the company said.
Since 2016, Netflix says it has invested about $175 million in film content production in sub-Saharan Africa, creating over 10,000 jobs within this period. Netflix holds the number two spot among streaming platforms in Africa, with an estimated 1.8 million subscribers by the end of November 2023; that's about 33.5% of the market share.
Relates story: Video - Netflix Hit The Black Book examines Justice in Nigeria
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Idris Elba to direct short film ‘Dust to Dreams,’ in collaboration with Nigeria's EbonyLife Films
Backed by Nigerian superproducer Mo Abudu, the short film titled “Dust to Dreams” is written by Elba and will feature a star-studded cast topped by Seal, alongside Nollywood actresses Eku Edewor and Atlanta Bridget Johnson. Former Nigerian Idol contestant Constance Olatunde (also known as “Konstance”) will also be making her film debut.
The project is part of a collaboration announced last year between the “Luther” and “The Wire” star with Abudu’s EbonyLife Films, to develop emerging African talent and support creative industries throughout the continent – as well as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), through its program called Creative Africa Nexus (Canex). Abudu will serve as both executive producer and producer.
Plot details are scant, but a press release shared the following synopsis: “Set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, Nigeria, the film follows the relationship between a mother and her teenage daughter, as she meets her father for the first time.”
Expressing her excitement about the collaboration, Abudu shared, “I am delighted to be working with Afreximbank and this incredibly talented team. ‘Dust to Dreams’ is a story close to my heart, and I’m thrilled to bring it to life with such passionate collaborators.”
Abudu has been described by Forbes as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman” and ranked as one of the “25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television” by The Hollywood Reporter.
Elba – a Brit of Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian descent – made his feature directorial debut in 2018 with British crime drama “Yardie.”
By Leah Collins, CNN
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Monday, March 4, 2024
Nollywood actor John Okafor has passed
"I announce with [a] deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu didn't make it," said Actors Guild of Nigeria President Emeka Rollas on Saturday.
He said the actor had a cardiac arrest.
Okafor rose to fame two decades ago in the film Mr Ibu - which became his career-long nickname.
It is still regarded as one of the best Nigerian performances in a comic role.
He went on to star in more than 200 Nollywood films - including Keziah, 9 Wives and several Mr Ibu sequels.
"Rest well, sir," said actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie in her tribute. Law professor and former UN rapporteur Joy Ezeilo said the actor was a "beloved" figure who "brought laughter to many".
Nigeria's Culture Minister Hannatu Musawa described him as a household name who had made families smile throughout his career.
According to local reports, Okafor died at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos state.
The actor's health issues first came to public attention last year. One of his legs was amputated in November after fans donated to a crowd-funding scheme for his medical bills.
Since then, his son Daniel Okafor and adopted daughter Jasmine Chioma have been arrested on suspicion of hacking into his phone and taking $60,700 (£47,800) for themselves.
The pair have not commented since their arrest in January and are expected to appear in court on 11 March for the next hearing.
Okafor's last years were "tumultuous", Nigeria's Punch newspaper said, with the actor claiming to have survived several attempts to poison him.
Local media say he is survived by his 13 children.
By Natasha Booty & Mansur Abubakar, BBC
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Davido commits ₦300 Million for orphanages in Nigeria
Davido made this revelation in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
The pledge on Tuesday, February 20 is an outcome of the Adeleke Foundation founded by Davido in 2022 with the help of other charitable organisations, in a bid to help vulnerable children.
In July 2023, he announced the foundation donated over 200 million to orphanages in the country and 13,818 children benefited from it. He also promised to donate some more money in 2024.
In the press release posted at the time he said: "I founded the DAF in 2022 with a strong desire and passion to continually assist and create a proper framework for the ongoing charitable works to benefit the good people of Nigeria...", arts and entertainment online portal xtribeafrica reported.
The charitable tradition began back in 2021 after the singer's birthday, when he made over ₦200 million in donations after sharing his bank account details on his Twitter (now X) page.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Disney's enticing limited series 'Iwájú' is set in a futuristic Nigeria
Journey to a world where nothing is as it seems with #Iwájú, an all-new limited series from Disney Animation and @Kugalimedia. All episodes are available February 28 on @disneyplus.
“Iwájú” is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. The exciting coming-of-age story follows Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds. Kugali filmmakers—including director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola, production designer Hamid Ibrahim and cultural consultant Toluwalakin Olowofoyeku—take viewers on a unique journey into the world of “Iwájú,” bursting with unique visual elements and technological advancements inspired by the spirit of Lagos. The series is produced by Disney Animation’s Christina Chen with a screenplay by Adeola and Halima Hudson. “Iwájú” features the voices of Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, Siji Soetan and Weruche Opia.
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Love for Anime grows in Nigeria with second Eko Anima Festival
Monday, February 5, 2024
Tyla's win over Burna Boy and Davido at Grammys 2024 fuels South Africa-Nigeria rivalry
South African singer Tyla's victory at the Grammys, beating four Nigerian nominees, has fuelled the rivalry as the two nations prepare to face off at the Afcon semi-finals on Wednesday.
"South Africa won today but Nigeria will win on Wednesday where it matters most" one user wrote on X.
Tyla won for her song Water in the Best African Music Performance, over Davido, Arya Starr and Burna Boy.
Nigerians have called on their national team, the Super Eagles, to avenge them.
"No Nigerian won a Grammy, but a South African won. This is Nigerians being generous so that when we win them in AFCON, they will have something to banter with," another user wrote on X.
Nigerian Afrobeats giant Burna Boy was nominated in a total of four categories but did not walk away with a golden gramophone, yet his spellbinding performance at the award ceremony left the audience in awe.
Despite the fierce rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa, Davido extended his congratulations to Tyla on X and told her to "keep soaring".
South Africa was also represented by comedian Trevor Noah who was at the helm of the prestigious award ceremony as he was hosting for a fourth time.
Monday, January 29, 2024
Video - Nigeria box office revenue soars as popular releases draw crowds to cinemas
Nigeria's cinemas have announced cumulative revenue of 21.5 million dollars over the past three years. Analysts attribute the strong performance to a combination of popular film releases and a surge in ticket sales
Related story: Top Foreign Movies That Were Filmed in Nigeria
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Top Foreign Movies That Were Filmed in Nigeria
Nollywood may be the heart of the Nigerian film industry, but it's not just local talent that has fallen in love with the vibrant landscapes and rich culture of Nigeria. In recent times, foreign filmmakers have also been drawn to this country to capture its beauty and authenticity on the big screen.
If you're a movie enthusiast and want to explore Nigeria from a different perspective, here's a list of foreign movies that you shouldn’t miss.
Foreign Movies Filmed in Nigeria
Black Is King
Black Is King was written and directed by Beyoncé. This 2020 American musical movie was filmed in Lagos, Nigeria and five other countries. The film received praise for its cinematography and depicts the story of an African prince.
After his father died, the prince was exiled from his kingdom. Later, as he grows into a man, he receives guidance from an ancestor, played by Beyoncé.
Nigerian Prince
NFL fans may be reminded about the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho when reading the title of this movie. While watching Wanogho’s journey from Delta State, Nigeria to Alabama might have been fun, this movie from director Faraday Okoro focuses instead on a Nigerian-American teenager sent to Nigeria by his mother.
While there, he joins his cousin, who is operating an online scamming business, to get enough money to fly back to the United States. This movie was filmed in Nigeria and the US.
The Mark of the Hawk
This 1957 American drama film stars Earl Cameron in the lead role. Partially shot on location in Nigeria, it tells the story of the brother of an indigenous resistance leader who gets caught in a hostile environment when African villagers decide to reclaim their land from British colonists.
The Price
The Price is a 2017 American drama movie focusing on a young Nigerian-American man struggling with prescription drug dependency. While he has high ambitions, he chooses to follow a criminal path, leading him in the wrong direction.
It was filmed in Nigeria and the United States and received positive reviews from critics after its initial release.
Mister Johnson
Mister Johnson is said to be the first American movie to be shot on location in Nigeria. Based on the 1939 novel by Irish author Joyce Cary, this movie was released in 1990 and stars Maynard Eziashi as Mr. Johnson.
The film explores the challenges faced by Mr. Johnson due to his African heritage while working for the British.
Foreign Movies that Depict Nigeria But Were Filmed Elsewhere
Tears of the Sun
Tears of the Sun, released in 2003, stars Bruce Willis as a Navy SEAL officer sent to Nigeria on a rescue mission to retrieve an American doctor. She operates a mission hospital, which is located in the Nigerian jungle.
Contrary to expectations, this movie was not filmed in Nigeria. It was mainly shot in Hawaii, with some parts shot in Los Angeles and Virginia. The movie depicts the horrors of war.
Black Panther
Black Panther is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character. It debuted in 2018, starring Denzel Washington. Filmed in the United States, it is set in the fictitious African area known as Wakanda.
However, while the location isn't real, several inspirations for the movie were taken from Nigeria. In many scenes, specific text appears on the screen, which is inscribed on walls in a throne room. The text’s script is derived from Nsibidi writing which comes from an area in southeast Nigeria.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 superhero film that is part of the X-Men film series. Directed by Gavin Hood, the movie serves as a prequel to the X-Men series and explores the backstory of one of its most iconic characters, Wolverine, also known as Logan, played by Hugh Jackman.
Lagos, Nigeria is depicted in the movie's first scenes when Major William Stryker travels to the area. However, it isn't the actual city. The production primarily utilized Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as a stand-in for Lagos. Additionally, some scenes were shot in New South Wales, Australia.
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War is the third instalment in the Captain America film series and a crucial chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The movie explores the complex dynamics within the superhero community and the moral dilemmas that arise when the Avengers are divided over the Sokovia Accords, a government initiative designed to regulate and oversee their activities.
In one of the scenes, the action appears to be happening in a market in Lagos, Nigeria. However, keen viewers will recognize that it was shot elsewhere (apparently in downtown Atlanta and Puerto Rico).
Summary
These foreign movies offer a fresh perspective on Nigeria’s diverse culture, history, and landscapes. From intense war dramas to gripping thrillers, poignant historical narratives, and action-packed adventures, each film provides a unique cinematic experience.
Grab some popcorn, immerse yourself in these captivating stories and take a virtual journey through the heart of Africa's most populous nation.
Friday, November 24, 2023
Daughter of Richard Pryor Shooting Nollywood-Hollywood Film In Nigeria
Rain Pryor, the daughter of American comedian and actor, Richard Pryor, has commenced shooting of her Nollywood-Hollywood film project in Nigeria.
The untitled film centers around the Yoruba Ifa Mythology, a subject she has studied over the years, then decided to make a movie about.
As an actress, Rain has featured in several film and TV credits and sitcoms including Head of the Class and Rude Awakening.
The film, which is her debut directorial role, is a cross-cultural affair that unites Nollywood and Hollywood talents, with Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola in the lead role as Oba Fagbemi.
“I am a fan of Nollywood. In the last year and a half, Nollywood has flooded the United States through Netflix and other streaming platforms, and I have watched King of Boys, Jagun Jagun among others. I have also watched Adekola’s acting range and what he can do and believe he possesses what is needed for the character of Oba Fagbemi in the film, and that’s why I chose him,” said the 53-year-old actress who was renamed Osunyemi Oriomodun (Osun Priestess).
For Rain, the project is life-changing as it was for her late father who had visited Africa during his lifetime.
“I have a family that is rich in tradition and culture, and when I travelled to Nigeria to learn about the Yoruba culture, predominantly Ifa, I thought how can I collaborate with Nigerians and Black Americans to create something that is a mixture of Hollywood and Nollywood? My father made profound changes in his life when he came to Africa, and felt that he found his soul and himself, and here I am, doing the same thing, finding my place.”
Arguably the first of its kind, in terms of magnitude of the collaboration between the two film industries (Nollywood and Hollywood), Rain is confident it will excite viewers in the United States and Nigeria with its rich and cross-cultural plot.
Working closely with her to achieve this feat are Nigerian filmmaker Bola Attah, and Arts Consultant, Chike Nwoffiah. Both serve as executive directors in the project contributing their expertise to the success of the film.
By Samuel Abulude, Leadership
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