Young talent managers are stepping up to professionalize the fast-growing content creator market that is coming to millions of mobile phone screens across Nigeria and the rest of Africa.
Some of the top talent already earn six-figure dollar sums with everything from comedy skits to travelogues and cooking shows. Most of that is earned through partnerships with brands trying to reach consumers who are glued to clips on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Olufemi Oguntamu, CEO of Penzaarville Africa, a Lagos-based talent management agency, said good creators such as his clients can bring in more than 8 million naira ($5,000) per video on average. But with higher production values they can easily bring in more than twice that. Penzaarville manages talent including travel vlogger Tayo Aina, who has 1 million YouTube subscribers, and comedian Broda Shaggi, who has over 12 million on Instagram.
Now content creators are leveraging their social media stardom to transition into Nollywood and television under the guidance of their managers. Taiwo Adeyemi, Founder of Boxx Culture, a talent management agency, said that film producers often approach his clients, not just because of their talent but also their ready-made audiences which run into the millions in some cases. “Nollywood producers are constantly trying to cast people who are content creators to boost the reach of their films,” said Adeyemi, whose clients include Ariyike Dimples and Koye.
While there’s plenty of glitz and excitement around being a creator in Lagos and the mini-fame that comes with having tens of thousands of followers and fans, not everyone is guaranteed to make a living. That’s where the talent managers come in.
In a fledgling creator market, where even Nollywood movie stars have not always been professionally represented, talent managers for online creators are playing a vital role in laying the groundwork for opportunities with major brands and other partners. Unlike in more developed entertainment markets, talent management here encompasses not just career guidance but also agency representation, as well as media affairs, and much more.
The potential is significant in a market which is overwhelmingly young and locked in to their mobile phones. The Africa creator economy is projected to hit a value of nearly $18 billion by 2030, according to Coherent Market Insights, though that total estimate includes other third party enablers, such as fintech companies.
Behind every great video lies a major investment of time, effort, and money spent on hiring recording gear and technical assistance, from editors and production managers to makeup artists. So managers are increasingly important to help the creators manage their costs as they gamble with higher production figures to attract more viewers. But their primary role is bringing in more lucrative brand partnerships.
Oladapo Adewunmi, founder of Lagos-based content and talent agency Apollo Endeavor, says managing partnerships with distribution platforms like Instagram and YouTube is relentless work given the 24-7 nature of social media and the internet. “We are constantly looking out and pushing for more opportunities for the creators and their content to be optimized to generate revenue,” says Adewunmi, whose clients include Josh2Funny and Brainjotter,
The money might be good but it’s important to note that not all brands will work with every creator, and that goes both ways. Oguntamu says he looks out for credibility and alignment of values between the brand and his client. “The brands have to be credible. Regardless of whatever amount you want to pay, I need to be sure that it’s not a brand that will create problems for my clients,”he said.
That confidence is driven by a certainty that the move to self-made creators is just beginning to take hold in the market. “The creator economy is just starting, creators are becoming the new thought leaders and shaping the minds of people,” stated Adewunmi.
By Torinmo Salau, SEMAFOR
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Netflix cuts original Nigeria productions
Netflix has denied reports it is pulling out of Nigeria but local film producers and industry insiders told Semafor Africa the streaming giant has been cutting back on original productions.
“We are not exiting Nigeria,” wrote a Netflix spokesperson in an email.”We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our members.”
However two filmmakers who have worked with Netflix on Nigerian productions said some local filmmakers were told last month that their Netflix original projects were either being put on hold or shelved. The conversations with filmmakers were said to have come days after Netflix threw a glamorous “Lights, Camera… Naija!” party on Nov. 2 with a raft of Nollywood actors and celebrities at a venue in Lagos.
The devaluation of the local currency and runaway inflation are said to have made production costs unsustainable in the near term.
Filmmakers said they believe Netflix will continue to license Nigerian films, but likely only ones which already had some traction at local cinemas or elsewhere rather than investing in production.
Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, whose comments are believed to have sparked the speculation, said he never suggested Netflix was exiting the country: “I clearly said they are cutting down on their exposure.”
Netflix signalled its Nigeria ambitions with the acquisition of Lionheart, a film produced in 2018 by industry veteran Genevieve Nnaji, as its first original in the country. The streamer has since commissioned and co-produced multiple original series and films in the years since, opening up a new medium for Nollywood’s deep bench of screenwriters and producers to complement theatrical releases.
The King’s Horsemen, a Yoruba language epic that premiered on the platform in 2022, became the first cinematic adaptation of a novel by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. Last year’s hit crime thriller The Black Book had the kind of global reach that appeared to signal to audiences that the world was ready for African storytelling and that it would be a big part of Netflix’s content future.
Yinka Adegoke and Alexander Onukwue, SEMAFOR
Related story: How Nigerian filmmakers mismanaged Netflix funds, splurged on luxury cars – Basketmouth
Friday, December 6, 2024
How Nigerian filmmakers mismanaged Netflix funds, splurged on luxury cars – Basketmouth
Basketmouth’s remarks come on the heels of Netflix’s decision to halt the acquiring of movies and funding movies in the country effective November 2024 as revealed by Victor Ohai, president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria at the just concluded Zuma Film Festival in Abuja.
Netflix’s latest decision comes almost two years after its biggest rival in Nigeria, Amazon Prime Video, made a similar move.
Netflix has, however, debunked the reports, saying it remains committed to investing in Nigeria.
In a recent interview on Arise TV, the 46-year-old comedian made some damning allegations, which according to him, were some of the challenges the streaming giant contended within its dealings with Nigerian filmmakers in the past years.
Since it entered into Nigeria in 2020, Netflix has helped Nollywood gain further global recognition.
By 2022, Netflix, in its ‘Socio-Economic Impact in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria’ report, revealed it invested $23 million in Nigeria, funding over 250 titles and creating jobs.
However, this was much less than the $125 million it invested in South Africa due to better infrastructure and higher returns.
Diversion of funds
Basketmouth alleged that most Nigerian producers divert substantial portions of the budgets allocated for streaming platform-funded films to personal luxury.
The comedian-turned-filmmaker said, “When the streaming platforms came in, they provided significant funding to producers. But these producers would take the $1.5 million or whatever they’re given and use about 10 per cent to make the movie. The rest? Houses, cars, and personal expenses. I can’t call names, but they know themselves.”
Averted transparency
Basketmouth expressed frustration over producers undermining Netflix’s initiative to pay actors directly and criticised the ripple effects of such practices on the quality of Nigerian films.
The stand-up comedian said, “I’m not generalising, but most of them—70 per cent or more—misuse these funds. When the platforms noticed, they started paying actors directly to ensure transparency. But even then, these producers would go behind the scenes and demand that actors return half of their pay.
“When you do that and expect your movie to be 100 per cent, it can’t. That’s why some of our epic movies look like stage plays. The horses? They’re lean and coughing!
“If you’re given $1.5 million to make a movie, use it all for the production. That’s how you get quality, but cutting corners for luxury and lifestyle shows in the final film product.”
Despite its vibrant creativity, Nollywood faces systemic challenges such as piracy, limited infrastructure, economic challenges and inadequate internet access, making it difficult for streaming platforms to achieve high returns on investment.
In November, Basketmouth released his debut feature film, ‘A Ghetto Love Story,’ starring Akah Nnani, Beverly Osu, Patience Ozokwor, Efe Irele, and Chioma Chukwuka. FilmOne Entertainment revealed that the movie grossed ₦51 million in Nigeria and Ghana, with ₦22.3 million from its opening weekend.
By Nosakhale Akhimien, Premium Times
Related stories: 3 Nigerians selected for Netflix Development Lab to engender more local African content
Monday, November 25, 2024
Video - Nigeria pushes to replace foreign cartoons with local ones
Nigerian officials say foreign cartoons are contributing to cultural dilution among the youth. To address this, the country's National Orientation Agency plans to support the production of more local content, a move experts believe could also create jobs and grow the film industry.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina emerges second at Miss Universe 2024
The final moments of the prestigious event at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico announced early Sunday morning saw an electrifying face-off between Nigeria and Denmark, as the two women stood poised to claim the crown.
The competition, described as one of the most thrilling in recent years, celebrated the talents, intelligence, and elegance of women from around the globe.
In a post via Instagram, the organisers said, “The final two! Nigeria and Denmark, two incredible women, one unforgettable moment.”
Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, ultimately won the crown taking over from Miss Universe 2023, Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.
Meanwhile, Adetshina’s exceptional performance and grace earned her widespread admiration from judges and audiences alike.
Earlier, Adetshina’s official withdrawal from the Miss South Africa 2024 contest, which she had advanced to the final stage of, caused controversy a few months ago.
She made the decision in response to worries expressed by some South Africans who questioned her nationality.
Nevertheless, Adetshina went on to represent Taraba State and win the title of Miss Universe Nigeria.
This is not the first time a Nigerian has achieved this feat.
On November 16, 2001, Nigeria’s Agbani Darego became the first Black African to win the coveted Miss World title at the age of 18.
As a result of her success, “Agbani” became a phrase linked to slender beauty in Nigeria, where many women looked up to her appearance.
As the first Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria winner to win Miss World, Agbani’s triumph rippled throughout Nigeria and was a great moment for the continent.
By Makua Ubanagu,Punch
Friday, October 25, 2024
Netflix's new Nigerian movie Hijack '93 out today
On 25 October 1993, four teenage boys boarded a Nigeria Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja with a clear agenda: hijack the aircraft, take all 193 passengers hostage and force the government to bend to their demands.
The moment the pilot told passengers they could unfasten their seatbelts, the young men - aged between 16 and 18 - sprung into action.
After entering the cockpit with a fake gun, the second step of their plan was to declare that the commercial aircraft - which had several leading politicians on board - was now being controlled by the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD).
'Remain calm, we will not harm you,' they reportedly told the terrified travellers. 'You will be told where the plane will land you.'
But despite their claims that there would be no casualties, the teenagers' carefully constructed plan quickly descended into chaos - culminating in the death of a crew member following four days of tense negotiations.
31 years on from the incident, Netflix has dramatised the case in their film Hijack '93, which lands on the streaming platform tomorrow.
Here FEMAIL delves into hijacking that had Nigeria on tenterhooks in October 1993 - and why the men have since been celebrated as heroes.
Political unrest in run-up
The 1980s and 1990s were a particularly turbulent time for politics in the West African country.
In 1983, the Nigerian military staged a coup to overthrow President Shehu Shagri's elected government.
Over the next 10 years, power only passed through the hands of the military, which resulted in internal uprising and power struggles among leaders.
In 1990, Major Gideon Orkar attempted to overthrow the government through a failed military coup - after General Ibrahim Babangida took power via the same means five years before.
Three years later, the country went to the polls for the first time in over a decade - with Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who was the leader of the Social Democratic Party, winning over the National Republican Convention's Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
Although MKO Abiola won in a landslide and secured eight million votes, the military government proceeded to annul the election - citing security threats.
At the time, military leader General Ibrahim Babangida said in a statement that 'these steps were taken to save our judiciary from being ridiculed and politicized locally and internationally'.
However, the decision led to unrest among the population amid growing fears there would be indefinite military rule.
A Western diplomat in West Africa told the New York Times in 1993: 'The military has only themselves to blame for this mess.'
Hijacking plane with a toy gun
After three months of protests, teenagers Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal decided to send a message to the Nigerian government.
When they boarded the Nigeria Airways plane, the foursome had already prepared statements demanding MKO Abiola be instated as the country's rightful leader, which they handed out to passengers.
They also demanded the military return embezzled money to the state and reopen a series of closed newspaper companies and universities.
Before the incident, Ogunderu - who grew up in a middle class neighbourhood and was one of five children - told Sahara Reporters that some of them had not even been on a plane before.
Speaking to Neusroom in 2022, Richard Ogunderu's father Yemi described him as 'strong-willed and obstinate'.
He added: '[Richard] would tell me, "you old men just sat there bemoaning your fate, won’t you do something about this country?"
'The relationship between us was beyond father and son. We relate like brothers. I didn’t even know when he became a member of MAD. He had never discussed activism with me even though he knew I’m highly opinionated about socio-political issues.'
Speaking to The Punch, one of the hijackers said they targeted this specific aircraft because it 'flew the calibre of people we wanted to deal with'.
As well as China's vice president Rong Yiren, there were also top Nigerian government officials on board.
Speaking to the Sahara Reporters in 2009, Richard Ogunderu - who was the group's leader - explained: 'We were on a mission.
'We wanted to show the evil [military] regime that young people were prepared to go the extra length to free Nigerians from the yoke of military dictatorship.'
He then revealed how he was the one to enter the cockpit, where he pointed a fake gun at the pilot and told him to redirect the plane. A fellow hijacker later claimed that Ogunderu pretended to be a student who wanted to look at the plane's controls.
Although reports stated that Ogunderu wanted to land in Germany, the plane didn't have enough fuel - as their planned journey should have only taken just over an hour.
As such, the hijacker settled on Niamey in Niger instead - where they were met with armed forces.
While the aircraft was still in the air, the hijackers doused themselves in the six litres of fuel they had smuggled onto the plane and threatened to set themselves on fire if passengers didn't follow orders.
Threatening to blow up plane
After the plane landed, the hijackers began negotiations with the police - with the foursome initially demanding they get more fuel so they could fly to Frankfurt.
When this was denied, they teenagers urged the government to recognise the results of the June Nigerian Presidential election.
If MKO Abiola was not sworn in as President in 78 hours, the teenagers claimed they would set the plane on fire.
In an interview with The Nollywood Reporter in July 2023, Richard explained how he was connected to a BBC journalist to 'tell the world their message'.
He added: 'I said we were going to burn the plane within 78 hours if our requests were not met.
'Of course, that was just a scare tactic. We've decided to let the pleading passengers go the next day.'
In the first two hours, the hijackers released women and children - before releasing a further 129 the following day, including the Chinese vice president.
However, they refused to give up the crew or Nigerian government workers.
At first, the authorities offered not to arrest the hijackers - as long as they released the remaining hostages.
Ogunderu added: 'We were not afraid, at that moment, death meant nothing to us.'
Rescue operation leaves one dead
For four days, authorities held off on entering the aircraft - fearing the hijackers may detonate a bomb.
But on 28 October, police stormed the plane in the middle of the night.
'They thought we were asleep, so they came under the cover of the night and fired several shots,' Ogunderu said. 'They bombarded the plane.'
The rescue operation claimed the life of crew member Ethel Igwe while Richard was also injured. One of the hijackers later said over 300 shots were fired during the mission.
Richard told the Nollywood Reporter: 'I am deeply sorry about [Ethel's] death, and that in itself was one of the reasons we were clamouring for democracy.
The military government was notorious for wanton killing and abuse of human rights. That should never have happened.'
Following this, the hijackers were arrested and were sentenced to over nine months in prison in Niger. They claim to have served their sentence in one small cell, which also served as a toilet.
Remembered as 'heroes'
Despite the teenagers' efforts, the interim military government was replaced by General Sani Abacha's dictatorship.
The late dictator was in power from 1993 to 1998 and was the last successful military coup in the country's history.
Although they were unsuccessful in achieving their goal, Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal are seen by some as modern-day 'heroes'.
Speaking to The Punch in 2023, Benneth Oluwadaisi said he wanted to 'fight for the stability of democracy in Nigeria'.
In response to the report, one X user wrote: 'These guys are heroes, honestly. The way they went about it, though, wasn't plausible, but they have earned my respect for their courage and brevity.'
Another added: 'In as much as this is a wrong thing to do, I'm proud of them. They fought for freedom, democracy and what they believed in.'
By Lydia Hawken, Daily Mail
Related story: 3 Nigerians selected for Netflix Development Lab to engender more local African content
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Video - Nigerian Netflix epic, Lisabi tops chart in Nigeria
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, 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
Video - Creative industry has room for growth in Nigeria
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 AnÃkúlápó 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.
Related stories: MultiChoice will pay settlement of $37.3 mln to Nigerian tax authorities
MultiChoice opens film school in Nigeria
Monday, June 3, 2024
Video - Investors eye a slice of "Nollywood"
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
Idris Elba to direct short film ‘Dust to Dreams,’ in collaboration with Nigeria's EbonyLife Films
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.
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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
Related stories: Video - Nigeria box office revenue soars as popular releases draw crowds to cinemas
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
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