By Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter
Redstrat, the producers of Rubbin' Minds, one of the hottest youth talk shows in Nigeria made me a ‘celebrity’ on Sunday 11 May 2008.I was invited to be part of their live programme on Channels Television in Lagos, Nigeria. They also invited Nollywood star actress Stephanie Okereke, Actor/film maker, Kunle Afolayan and Chika Chukwu of Fuji House of commotion fame.
Chude Jideonwo and Emilia Asim-Ita hosted the show, while the third director of Redstrat Adebola Williams was behind camera. We were asked to talk about what we thing generally of the last Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA).We also talked about challenges of Nollywood and what has improved to date.
Most of the speakers agreed that the AMAA got into hitches because of the last minute changes. People should not just see the bad side; there is also a good side to the change in venue. Speakers and most people that phoned in also agreed that Nigerian movie makers should do more research and training.Kunle said movie makers should tap into the corporate world for support.He said people can give some minutes of endorsement in their movies or seek sponsorship for the screening of their films. He did same for his yet to be released movie, IRAPADA and it worked.Kunle is one of the sons of late actor and film maker,Adeyemi Afolayan oterwise known as Ade Love.Kunle's film is one of Nigeria's finest so far.Already, he has been winning awards with it.He also had a screening in UK and Silverbird Galleria sometime back.He told me after the show that it would be released soon.
Stephanie and Chika shared Kunle's opinion.They also said training and re-training is the key.Stephanie Oscars or Hollywood did not get there in a day but if we must achieve greatness in what we do all hands must be on deck.
I supported what they all said and added that most Nigerian movie makers are not bold enough to do a media preview of their work before release because they are not confident of it. I also said that from the little I know about Nollywood, they should stop acting a whole movie in two or three days. It creates rooms for mistakes. I am tired of hearing that Nigeria is the third largest movie producng Nation in the world.Lets talk quality and not quantity
For instance, you see someone doing a flash back of 1928 and also wearing the same cloth he wore at that time in 2008.We all laughed over it but the message was passed.anyways, it was nice rubbin' minds with all of them.Another one was when an actor was shown to have died in a movie after falling off a three storey building without bruises.Is that possible?
Haba!Let me borrow the words of Ayo Animashaun, "change must change!"
If you have ideas and ready to bring change to Nollywood, don't fold your arms...just do it!
Photo (from left)-Stephanie Okereke,Niyi Tabiti,Emilia Asim-Ita,Chika Ike,Kunle Afolayan and Chude Jideonwo after the live television show on Sunday.
Story & Photos by Niyi Tabiti
Photo 3- Our friend, Uche Iwuji showing off her new look at the lecture organised by Aka Ikenga, a popular group in Igboland,Nigeria.
KOK is a prominenet member of Aka Ikenga.
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