Entertainment
Nollywood in 2023: From the Oscars to the closure of NetNaija, a look back at a landmark year for the Nigerian film industry
This year has been marked by several highlights in the Nollywood film industry. From sending Mami Wata to the Oscars to shutting down download site NetNaija, here are the moments that marked the year.
First, Mami Wata’s sending to the Oscars broke a two-year stretch without Nigerian submissions. This black and white film, directed by CJ Obasi, tells the story of an African mermaid in a village facing chaos. The film’s Oscar selection was hailed as a victory for the Nigerian film industry and recognition of Pidgin English as a foreign language.
Another notable moment was the release of the film The Black Book on Netflix. Directed by Editi Effiong, this big-budget thriller attracted attention thanks to its international star cast and high production cost. This success has sparked discussions about the future of film productions in Nigeria.
When it comes to box office receipts, epic indigenous language films have dominated. Orisa, directed by Odunlade Adekola, broke the record for the highest Nollywood box office opening and became the highest-grossing film of the year. Kesari, directed by Ibrahim Yekini, also performed well, as did Afamefuna in the Igbo language. These successes showed the potential of films in indigenous languages.
However, the year also saw some tough times, including the shutdown of download site NetNaija. The fight against piracy has been a major area of concern this year, and the closure of NetNaija was seen as a victory in this fight.
Finally, Nollywood has been represented in several renowned international festivals. Films like Orah and I Do Not Come To You By Chance were picked up and won major distribution deals. Additionally, the short films Her Perfect Life and Iyawo Mi, directed by Mo Abudu, were screened at festivals and contributed to the international visibility of the Nigerian film industry.
In conclusion, the year 2023 has been full of highlights for Nollywood. From sending Mami Wata to the Oscars to shutting down NetNaija, box office success and international representation, the Nigerian film industry continues to make its mark on the global stage.
Popular Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon has narrated how his limited social media presence hindered his growth in the entertainment industry.
The Yoruba actor made this known in his latest interview on the Echoo Room Podcast.
Speaking about the challenges he encountered early in his acting career, Deyemi said he was constantly rejected by producers following his limited social media presence despite his talent.
“Not having Instagram followers hindered me. I would tell myself, ‘I’m the guy who comes to kill himself on set. Why am I being judged by the number of followers I have?
“I said to myself, there is no point fighting it. There’s always going to be a new set of people who focus more on the brand than the craft. So I said let me start some brand-building.”
YouTube Music Nights will present a special live concert featuring Burna Boy to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the singer’s critically acclaimed album, ‘African Giant‘.
The concert which is set for July 26, 2024, will be streamed live on Burna Boy’s YouTube channel, allowing fans all over the world to join the festivities.
Head of Music at YouTube in Africa, Addy Awofisayo in a post said; “We are thrilled to present Burna Boy on YouTube Music Nights, celebrating his 5th anniversary of the groundbreaking album, African Giant.”
Expressing his excitement in a post on his official page, Burna Boy said; “Celebrating the 5th anniversary of ‘African Giant’ with a special performance in London, supported by YouTube Music, has been an incredible experience.
“This album holds a special place in my heart as it represents a pivotal moment in my career and a powerful statement of African pride.”
Popular Nollywood actor and producer Kevin Ikeduba said he would rather die than cast unqualified actors in exchange for sex.
The movie producer, who stated this in an interview on Hip TV’s Trending, emphasised his commitment to professionalism.
Expressing his frustration with the high rate of unprofessionalism in the industry, Ikeduba stated: “The movie industry is very big. What works for A, may not work for B.
“Kevin that people know, would rather die instead of giving a girl a role for sex because I am very passionate about what I do. So most times, when I meet mediocre people on set, it hurts me. I will never ever do that.”
Lack of followers hindered my growth – Actor Deyemi Okanlawon reveals
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