I Don't Chase Men Away...Benita

Benita Nzeribe is one of the few actresses in Nollywood who have worked hard to achieve the goal of becoming an A-list performer. From a humble beginning in 1996 on the set of the Beyond Our Dreams TV soap opera, the Ihiala, Anambra State-born thespian, is now a strong force to be reckoned with in Nigeria’s movie industry.

According to the English graduate of Abia State University it all started when she used to travel "all the way from the East to Lagos for auditions." Continuing, the star actress, who registered her presence in Nollywood in the movies Notorious Virgin and Gold Diggers in 1999, said she has escaped the usual controversies that have always trailed some of her female colleagues in the motion picture industry.

When asked if she is into any relationship, she smiled and did not respond to the question because, according to her, she would rather keep anything about her relationship close to her chest. But not after assuring that 2008 might be her year when the bright sparks in her love life might come to the fore.

Shy and easy going, Benny, as she is fondly called by her colleagues and pals, also shared some of her most kept secrets. She divulged that she is afraid of heartbreaks, and as such has built a wall around her emotions. And any guy must have the right equipment that will enable him scale that wall if he wants to see what she keeps locked up in her heart.

Benny, who has acted with some of the best actors around, told Klieglights that she loves working with Olu Jacobs, Ejike Asiegbu, Fred Amata, Oby Edozien, Joke Jacobs, Uche Jombo, Genevieve Nnaji, Dakore Egbuson, Kate Henshaw and so many of her colleagues who have been professional in the discharge of their duties as artistes.

Benita, who is from the very popular Nzeribe family would rather play down on her family name. This is because she sees herself as someone from a humble background who knows where she is headed. That must be why her background and upbringing has not stood in the way of her life and career.

And like most actresses have said over and again, Benita said she has only heard about the issue of sexual harassment, but that she has never been harassed.

" I have heard people talk about it; I have heard some say they were harassed but I have never been a victim. My determination to succeed as an actress, coupled with the divine guidance from heaven has made it possible for me to have come this far. As a gifted and well groomed actress, any good movie producer will give me my due, and not the other way round as is the case with some up and coming actresses, who because of their urge to get to the top, throw themselves at these moviemakers, and become vulnerable to sexual harassment," Benita said.

Having made a name in Nollywood, one would expect that the good things of life that go with success would have come her way naturally. "I know that I have worked very hard, so it is only normal that I would have everything I need. I have a jeep and a Toyota car to sort my transport problems. I live in a duplex at Ire-Akari Estate in Isolo. There is also a comfortable home in Lekki, where I run to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos." She has indeed done well for herself.

Some men develop cold feet at the sight of a successful single woman; so, is her success standing in the way of her being married? No! is what she said, while asserting that it is not in her character to chase men away, and neither would she look for men, rather they will come looking for her.

She said that right now she would be patient and concentrate on her career, as she still believes that instead of looking for Mr. right, it was better to make herself the right person so men would come looking for her.

Still on marriage, she said her ideal, man must be one who understands her feelings, and who will always be straight with her in all matters.

"A man that loves a woman knows his limits, no matter what he does. And I think that is every woman’s dream," she said.

Aside acting, Benita also revealed that she does a bit of modelling and interior decorations when she is having less work on her hands, and has found it rather interesting and enjoyable.

In the present day Nollywood where movies are churned out on a daily basis, Benita revealed that she has done close to over 100 movies in Nollywood as an actress, and still remembers how bad her parents felt when they found out that she was in the acting career.

She said they did not "kick against my choice, but they were skeptical about my career choice. But thank God I’ve been able to prove them wrong. They let me be after seeing the success I’ve made of myself."

Throwing more light on her background she said "I was born in Aba and grew up in so many places. I attended primary and secondary school in Aba and Umuahia. I also attended a convent school with the hope of becoming a reverend sister." But she left when she felt that was not for her. She recalled that growing up was normal and nice for her. It was "nothing too fantastic with little pains here and there. The fondest memories about my growing up years came when my dad bought me my first car at the age of 14."

Growing up was indeed fun for Benita who happens to be a third child out of four children, two boys and two girls, born to her parents. Her dad is an international businessman, "while mum is a retired chief nurse."

Benita believes she made it big because God has been good to her. She may be up there with the stars but she has never forgotten where she is coming from. One reason no doubt why she has kept her head in the face of her fame and fortune. She has not stopped praying "that we all join hands together to build Nollywood and make it a better place."

While looking back at the journey of Nollywood, Benita opined that government should come in and do more by giving support in all areas that concern the motion picture industry. To her things can still get better if the right attention is given to Nollywood.Benita, who is from the very popular Nzeribe family would rather play down on her family name. This is because she sees herself as someone from a humble background who knows where she is headed. That must be why her background and upbringing has not stood in the way of her life and career.

And like most actresses have said over and again, Benita said she has only heard about the issue of sexual harassment, but that she has never been harassed.

" I have heard people talk about it; I have heard some say they were harassed but I have never been a victim. My determination to succeed as an actress, coupled with the divine guidance from heaven has made it possible for me to have come this far. As a gifted and well groomed actress, any good movie producer will give me my due, and not the other way round as is the case with some up and coming actresses, who because of their urge to get to the top, throw themselves at these moviemakers, and become vulnerable to sexual harassment," Benita said.

Having made a name in Nollywood, one would expect that the good things of life that go with success would have come her way naturally. "I know that I have worked very hard, so it is only normal that I would have everything I need. I have a jeep and a Toyota car to sort my transport problems. I live in a duplex at Ire-Akari Estate in Isolo. There is also a comfortable home in Lekki, where I run to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lagos." She has indeed done well for herself.

Some men develop cold feet at the sight of a successful single woman; so, is her success standing in the way of her being married? No! is what she said, while asserting that it is not in her character to chase men away, and neither would she look for men, rather they will come looking for her.

She said that right now she would be patient and concentrate on her career, as she still believes that instead of looking for Mr. right, it was better to make herself the right person so men would come looking for her.

Still on marriage, she said her ideal, man must be one who understands her feelings, and who will always be straight with her in all matters.

"A man that loves a woman knows his limits, no matter what he does. And I think that is every woman’s dream," she said.

Aside acting, Benita also revealed that she does a bit of modelling and interior decorations when she is having less work on her hands, and has found it rather interesting and enjoyable.

In the present day Nollywood where movies are churned out on a daily basis, Benita revealed that she has done close to over 100 movies in Nollywood as an actress, and still remembers how bad her parents felt when they found out that she was in the acting career.

She said they did not "kick against my choice, but they were skeptical about my career choice. But thank God I’ve been able to prove them wrong. They let me be after seeing the success I’ve made of myself."

Throwing more light on her background she said "I was born in Aba and grew up in so many places. I attended primary and secondary school in Aba and Umuahia. I also attended a convent school with the hope of becoming a reverend sister." But she left when she felt that was not for her. She recalled that growing up was normal and nice for her. It was "nothing too fantastic with little pains here and there. The fondest memories about my growing up years came when my dad bought me my first car at the age of 14."

Growing up was indeed fun for Benita who happens to be a third child out of four children, two boys and two girls, born to her parents. Her dad is an international businessman, "while mum is a retired chief nurse."

Benita believes she made it big because God has been good to her. She may be up there with the stars but she has never forgotten where she is coming from. One reason no doubt why she has kept her head in the face of her fame and fortune. She has not stopped praying "that we all join hands together to build Nollywood and make it a better place."

While looking back at the journey of Nollywood, Benita opined that government should come in and do more by giving support in all areas that concern the motion picture industry. To her things can still get better if the right attention is given to Nollywood.

I’m neither impotent nor gay— Saint Obi

He is one of the most handsome studs in Nollywood and every woman’s dream man. All his several affairs were celebrated on the pages of newspapers putting him under pressure to settle down with anyone.

Then he travelled to the United States and came back to report that he is now married and Nollywood was agog to see who the lucky woman could be. Then about a year later, Saint Obi is celebrating the arrival of his son.

Here, he tells you he is keeping this affair out of public eye so that it does not go the way of the others which were celebrated but never worked out. He also says all those who called him a gay and impotent man could now go and eat their words


How does it feel to be a father?

It feels good to be a father as God is faithful and I feel so much fulfilled, it is not because I am a strongman or I have done what any other person hasn’t done.

There are a lot of people who are married and many years later, they are still trying and hoping for a baby. God is faithful and I am blessed. I can’t quantify what God has done for me.

The mother of your son, your wife, is not known to the public, no one could say he attended your wedding and all...

People who know me very well know I am a very quiet person and I do my things very privately. Even though most of us in our industry seem to be loud, I still want to keep my privacy and I let my work speak for me. Besides, before now, I used to talk about my relationships and a lot of them didn’t work out at the end of the day.

So I decided to keep this one to myself. I have heard a lot of rumour peddled about me but I can’t say it all. Being in public glare has its own stress so I don’t want my family to be involved.

What did they say about you?

As if you didn’t hear it yourself. Some said I may be gay. Others say I may be impotent and the stories are endless and I don’t want to recall them. All I can say now is God is the ever living God and those people may have been eating their words with shame as I am now a proud father.

What made you choose this particular woman and not the others?

You are dragging this into what I do not want to talk about. I honestly do not want to drag my family into public glare because it has failed me in the past.

As a matter of principle, I do not want people to read my intimate secrets in the papers any more. The main story is that it works and very fine too. Most celebrity relationships rarely make it because a lot of time they live their lives in the eyes of people.

The most important thing here is that I have a home, a beautiful and happy home. If I keep that home indoors and not in the eyes of the public, then I would have achieved so much. Several people are enjoying beautiful homes and not in the public eye.

What in your opinion may have failed your other relationships?

I do not know, may be because it was so much in the eye of people. Again, it wasn’t God’s time, it wasn’t my destiny. When you work into God’s destiny, things work effortlessly. You can see it is working and the evidence is overwhelming.

How do you know....?

When you see the hands of God, you know. I am not going into the nitty gritty but I know that the past year and half has shown me the hands of God in action.
She has great qualities others didn’t possess...

I do not think I could go beyond that for an answer no matter how you prod.... but mother and child are okay.

Where was baby born?

Well, he was born in the State of Texas in the United States of America. But he is in Nigeria now.

But you kept the wedding a secret?

I keep telling you that what is important to me is not celebrating my marriage on the pages of newspapers; what people want to know is that I have a home, a happy home.

For me keeping quite about it and it is working is important to me rather than telling people what they want to hear and it fails. I will be very careful now, what is important is that the relationship is God edifying.

You once told me that you wanted a God-fearing woman as a wife. Did you get this kind of woman?

Absolutely. However, there is no way I would love to talk more than this about my family please, Fred.

You have a movie which is yet unreleased, why?

Oh yes, it is called True Colour, it is my second movie as a producer/director. It came after Take me to Mama. I do not believe in filling the market with several movies. I believe in quality and not how many movies one has made.

I am somebody who love challenges and taking it a notch higher, I told myself ‘hey, I am not going to make an average movie.’ I hope to take my movie to a higher level. So

I went to make True Colour in Texas, United States. I also did the rest in Nigeria.

What is the inspiration for True Colour?

I have looked at Nigeria’s image and how messed up it has been and decided to shoot this movie. I give you this story. I had travelled to Slovenia to do a movie. One Nigerian young man lives there and wanted me to feature in the movie.

He already got me a work permit, when I got to Ljubjiana, the way I was searched left much to be desired. I was almost stripped, I guess it was because of the green passport I had. Indeed, I had a valid U.S. visa, Schengen and British visa. Now, as bad as Nigerian economy is, I think Nigeria is better than Slovenia.

I told him I am an actor who had come to make a movie. That was a bad experience for me.

Secondly, I was in the U.S. and someone had given me a cheque of $1000 and when I got to the bank, I felt that a valid travel passport could identify me and the cashier tells me no, we have a standing policy that any Nigerian passport shouldn’t be honoured.

I was ashamed of myself. It was then it dawned on me that the image thing has gone so bad. Now how do you make the difference? Is it by just keeping quiet?

I felt like matching words with action. That was what led to my producing True Colour. The MTV and Channel O show the good side of their places.

Youngsters begin to wallow in the euphoria that you pick money in the streets. People do not know that a lot of people here in Nigeria live far better lives than those in the U.S.

So I tried to use the movie to show a realistic picture of the U.S. so that people learn that living in the U.S. is not a bed of roses.

When you watch Rambo, you see Sylvester Stallone take a helicopter, clear all the enemy and set a hostage free. This is how America is spreading their might across the world.

My movie is not about sermonising but a love story which tells you how Nigeria truly is. You and I know that the Nigerians who do the wrong which causes us to get the bad tag are just a few. And there are millions of Nigerians who are legit and do clean business.

There are several fraudulent people in the U.S. and Europe but they show you the beauty of the society. I think it is high time we began to show the world that there are honest and hardworking Nigerians. Everywhere in the world, movies are perfect ways of redressing these kinds of issues. My movie, True Colour, was well done.

We paid our taxes to the U.S. Government and paid our taxes to the Nigeria Government, we were not hiding to shoot the scenes. We copyrighted the story in the U.S. like we did in Nigeria. If you are coming to equity, of course you must come with clean hands.

I can’t be shooting a movie to redress wrong issues, and go through the back door, I am very passionate about this movie because I am passionate about Nigeria.

A lot of people outside this country do not feel proud to be Nigerians and it is a shame. They claim other nationalities. If we do not speak up as honest people, the bad guy will continue to represent us.

When are you releasing the movie?

We are working out a possibility to see it out in the next few months. I am grateful to Heart of Africa Project, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and Nigeria Film Corporation for their support.

The story is getting commendation for it is all encompassing. It is a mixture of comedy, romance, seriousness etc. We had my humble self, Jide Kosoko, George Davidson, the late Joe Adekwagh, great guy, may his soul rest in peace.

I believe in discovering new people. If someone didn’t give me a chance, I don’t think I would be where I am today. So I also had new faces like Nina Davids.

So how did it start?

I started as a model. Chief Tunde Oloyede of Media International gave me my first chance as a model.

They were to promote Peugeot 306 when it was to be introduced into the market. I was among the cast and I was the lead model and it was on network TV for a couple of months. Then, I came Opa Williams who gave me a part in his movie, Without Love.

I was the antagonist in the movie. Based on that, Zeb Ejiro gave me another chance to play in Goodbye Tomorrow after I was auditioned. Since then, the Lord has been faithful and I have risen to the top echelon of Nollywood. But as you know, to whom much is given, much is expected.

You stopped featuring in movies, why?

So many reasons. If the story is not good enough, I do not want to touch it. These days, several of our screen writers are lazy and some of them recycle some other stories that I do not want to get involved in.

Another reason is that I do not want to waste my energy when the money is not right. One has gone past the stage of acting for anything and then go home to drink gari. If you know you are Ronaldo, you’re not playing because you only need to score goals but because you are going to attract people to the stadium and viewership as well on television.

Some of us have reached that level by the special grace of God and would never wish to be exploited as a lot of the producers want to get you for free. I don’t want to be exploited. When people did not sow in your life, I don’t know what they expect.

For someone like Zeb Ejiro, I could work free of charge. There are several people I have also worked for next to nothing in terms of fee but I don’t like being exploited. Again, sometimes some people gang up against you when they see they can’t bend you.

I have always advised anyone who wished to be in acting to have a plan B. If plan A fails, you make a switch ahead.

What was your plan B Em em, I leave that for another interview.

Challenge?

I see my own movies as more challenging than others I have done for different people. In my movies, I take on three tasks, arranging and organising it as the producer, directing it and of course, acting in it. So one is before and behind the camera. With all sense of modesty, I am passionate about what I do.

I strive for perfection. And it is a lifetime issue for me, I always tell people Hollywod evolved like Bollywood. But Nollywood is lucky to be matching into an already established system. All we need to do is strive to tap into the perfection already existing. There is a lot of work when you strive for perfection.

Every movie I have done has been challenging in their different ways. I have played armed robber but it was different from the other.

Any instances of playing the bad role?

I am lucky to have played the good, the bad and the ugly characters. I have played Reverend father, nice guy, defender of the law, wife batterer. In Amadas, wanted Alive etc, I played the armed robber and even the bad cop in Check Point. One good fortune I have had is that when you see my movie, you do not know what to expect.

I am fortunate and blessed to have this good fortune. What defines an actor is playing different roles in different productions and not playing the cantanckerous old man or the armed robber in all your movies. That way, you are assessed positively.

One on One With Mercy Johnson

Mercy Johnson joined Nollywood not too long ago and like a meteorite, she shot up, even higher than those before her. But within the short period of time, she has recorded more scandals than those who were there before now. Could all the stuff they say about her be true? She gives ‘NONYE IWUAGWU the answers in this interview.

You seem the rave of the moment; you are virtually in every movie. What’s magic?

I am not in every movie o. But I am trying. I tell you, it is just hard work, and there is nothing more to it. I don’t know anybody; I am just on my own. It is only God that I have. It is awesome. I don’t even believe it myself. I can only say it is a favour from God.

So the long months of countless auditions have paid off now…

Yes o. I tell you, I attended countless auditions. I didn’t understand what was happening anymore. I woke up early in the morning and I was at the national theatre going through many auditions. That is why I tell you my success now is basically hard work. I was dedicated. I knew what I wanted and I had to go for it. I was all out for it.

When did the big break come?

I tell you, it came with the first movie I featured in. The Maid by Kenneth Nnebue, was a hit and I played the lead role.

So you never played any waka pass role…

I did not. You can check my profile.

When did you come into the industry?

I came in 2001. But I started acting professionally in 2002. I am now into it fully.

What made you take up acting?

I would say ‘who’ and not ‘what’. I wanted to be like somebody. I saw Genevieve Nnaji on screen when she acted Sharon Stone and I just wanted to be like her. It wasn’t as if I was so much in love with the acting profession. Genevieve was just like the motivating factor. I saw her and I was tripped.

Do you think you are like her now?

I am nowhere near her. I am still learning.

So you don’t even have any intention of leaving the industry since you are aiming to be like Genevieve…

I may move. I have other things on my mind now. I would want to go into some other things later. For now, I am still concentrating on my career. I have not gotten to the level I would want to be. I am being focused right now. I want to go higher than where I am now.

How high do you want to get?

Very high. It is not as if I want to be a Hollywood star. I don’t even want that. Nollywood is blooming and expanding. I want to be a part of that progression. I want to learn more in directing, acting and every other thing. I want to be here when we get to the zenith in the entertainment industry.

How many movies have you featured in since you joined?

They are not that many. I think I have done well over 25 or 30 movies.

These days, you don’t have to lobby movies…

In fact, they are even looking for me right now.

Everybody wants you to be in his or her movie, you must be feeling...

I am just like the girl next door. I come from a very humble background. I am an Igbira babe. I am very down to earth. Anytime I want to do something, I look back. I remember where I am coming from and I think twice. I wouldn’t have been where I am today if not because of where I came from. I thank God for everything. There is no change in me. I am still the same person I have always been. I lost my privacy but it’s fine.

You lost your privacy, yes. But you should be happy with the razzmatazz in your profession…

Not really. There are things I cannot do any more. But I see it as a sacrifice.

Will you swap Acting with any other profession?

I will not. Even for the whole luxury in China.

How much were you paid in the first movie you acted?

I did it for free. But when the movie came out, the producer called me and gave me N50, 000. According to him, I did so well. So I see it like a gift and not payment for a job.

How much do you pocket these days?

Come on! Why should I tell you? I will tell you later but not now please. But all I can tell you is that I am very comfortable.

How do you cope with the challenges of being an actress?

It is not easy o. People expect so much from you. They seem to forget that you are a human being. They see you as a superstar. But in any case, I just believe in being myself. I try not to embarrass my fans; at the same time, I try to live my life. Come on, this life is meant to be lived.

But what are those things you can no longer do because you are an actress?

I don’t think I should tell you.

Just tell me...

Hmmmm… It is so annoying. Well, I and my friends used to go somewhere in Shitta (Surulere) to eat amala. I can no longer do that. I can no longer eat boli (roasted plantain) on the road like I use to.

Is that all?

It is not all o. These days I have to go to Shoprite to buy things and I even have to be careful the way I walk. I cannot even go to Yaba anymore

So you used to go to Yaba (Okirika) market to shop?

Ha! Why are you doing this to me? I didn’t say I shop in Yaba.

I know. But at least you used to buy some things there.

I have told you. I buy things in the boutique. I don’t buy them at Yaba market.

How old are you?

I am a very young girl.

Can you give me a figure, please?

Do you know what I am scared of?

What?

If I tell you I am 22 right now, by the time I spend another ten years in the industry people will now know I am 32 and I don’t want that.

So you are 22 years old?

I didn’t say that o. Lets’ just say I am in my early twenties.

Since you are this ‘young’, marriage shouldn’t be on your list.

It is o! Ha! Are we friends at all?

But you claim you are ‘very young’…

I don’t know what to say again o. Okay, I am not yet 25 but just take it I am in my early twenties like I said before. It is not as if I am thinking about marriage right now. But it is an opportunity every woman would not want to give up or allow to pass her by. The earlier you begin to get serious with a particular relationship, the better for you.

So let’s just say I am ‘arranging’ myself now for marriage.

So you are in a relationship…

Oh yes. I am in a very serious relationship.

Will this relationship lead to marriage?

Oh! Have you not seen my engagement ring? It is white gold!

What if he tells you to quit acting?

He loves my job. Peradventure he tells me to quit, I will beg him and I will beg him and I will beg him. If he insists, I will quit but I will still be in the entertainment industry.

Is the guy in your industry?

Hell no!

Hell no? Were you not doing something with Nonso Diobi back then?

Ha! Nonso is my very good friend. I just finished speaking with him now. I don’t have any relationship with him. I even know his girlfriend.

What of Benedict Johnson?

He is my friend. People even think we are related since we share the same surname, but we are not. He is an Igbo guy. We are very close. I am not dating him.

So you are saying you have not dated an actor…

Eemmm… Can I tell you later?

Why not tell me now?

No.

This ‘no’, is it for me or for the public?

You really want to put me in trouble. My answer is no.

But what of that guy that bought that Rav 4 for you?

Ha! I bought my car by myself.

What!

I said I bought my car myself. But I am working. What would I use my money for? I bought my Honda by myself.

I am talking about the Rav 4 and not the Honda. We hear that you dumped the guy after he bought the Rav 4 for you.

I heard that story as well. But honestly, I bought the car myself. I am making my money. No matter how small, it is still my money.

You are a student of Lagos State University…

Yes.

But we hear you are no longer there.

Did you?

Yes. We hear your G.P was less that one point so you were asked to withdraw from the school.

Well, I saw something on the net with the caption, ‘An Illiterate Star’ with my picture on it. I really felt bad. People had to comment on that.

Since you think it is just a rumour, where do you think it came from?

I don’t know and I don’t intend to find out.

So you are saying you are a bona fide student of LASU…

Yes. I knew when I was coming into this industry; there might be some scandals. But I tell you, this illiterate own really got to me.

Did it get to you as much as it got to you when they said you sleep around with different men?

It is still better than somebody calling me an illiterate star. I felt bad.

Do you think these scandals will affect you in any way?

I make mistakes. I am human after all. I am not perfect. But what makes me a person is the ability to fall and stand up again. Even if I am an illiterate, I still have time to buckle up. Once there is life, there is hope. I am not going to fight anybody concerning this scandal. People have their right to their opinion. I am still going on with my work and doing all the things I should do. I am not going to allow such rumour to affect me. I am living my life like Mercy. That I felt bad about that didn’t mean I had to stop doing my work.

Since you said you are still a student, how are you combining your studies with your career?

I would be lying if I tell you I go to school all the time. It has been pretty difficult. But I just try to do my best.

Which of the actors do you love working with the most?

I love working with all of them. They all have their weak points and their strengths. But I do enjoy all the actors I work with. I don’t have any problems with them.

How come people say you are wild?

Do you mean ‘wild’ as in the roles I play?

No, they say you are wild even in reality.

I don’t know o. I can’t judge myself. But I know I am not wild.

What do your parents do when they read and hear such bad stuff about you?

They just encourage me. My family has been great to me. They all knew it is part of my job and they try to encourage me all the way.

What is the toughest role you have played?

I see all the role I play as a challenge. I always try my best in all of them. I give each and every one of them the same dedication and all that.

Since there is a heavy rivalry amongst actresses, who is your own rival now?

I don’t have any rival. The industry is too big for me to have a rival.

Okay. Who do you envy?

I don’t envy anybody. I only admire Genevieve. She is my idol. I just can’t compare her with anybody.

Have you had an opportunity of working with her?

Yes. I have worked with her twice. She is wonderful. I didn’t even work; I would just say I was learning. While she was acting, I was just looking at her. When I met her, it was like a dream come true.

What is your vision?

I want to get to the zenith of my career. In the nearest future, I think I would want to give back to this society that has given me so much. I am going to go into charity. I may not need to give anybody millions, but the little I can do, I hope to do it.

http://www.nigeriamovies.net/news/news246.php

I dated Tricia’s ex, I never snatched her boyfriend –Oby Edozie

What’s the secret of your long stay in the movie industry?
I would say it is God. I am really not everywhere. That is not what matters. It is the type of movies that you do that matters. I have done very nice movies especially the ones I produced. One of them is ‘The Earth’.

Have you dumped acting?

No. I even played the lead role in the movie. Some other known artistes, including Emeka Enyiocha, Bimbo Akintola and other artistes featured.

What inspired you to become a producer?

I just realised I was gifted. I had a story on my head and I decided to write it down and it turned out to be very nice. I decided to produce it myself. But don’t forget that I still work for other producers as well.

Was it not because the big money is in movie production?

Not really. In fact, I even ran at a loss in the first movie I produced. Like I said, I found out I was gifted and that was why I went into movie productions. It is not going to stop me from doing other people’s works. I am still an actress.

How did you get into this industry?

I came into Nollywood in 1997. I was a student at the Lagos State University. Sola Fosudo was a lecturer there then. My club in school was doing something and I decided to invite him. I went to him and we had a good rapport. That was when I told him I was interested in acting.

He told me there was something called auditioning. I hadn’t heard of it before. He gave me a note to Zeb Ejiro, a movie producer, and I went for an audition for his movie. Sixteen people were chosen for the movie and my name happened to be the second one on the list. That was how I started.

Are you saying it has been rosy for you since you joined the industry?

Let me tell you, there were no GSM phones then. I trekked and I trekked around Lagos for auditions. These days, a young girl would wake up and would want to be a star just like that without working for it.

Anything that is worth doing is worth doing well. These young ones should not be in a hurry to get to the top. You should work for it by going for auditions. When they pair you with a star actress and you perform very well, before you know it, you will be up there. You shouldn’t be in a hurry.

Are you, for any reason, envious of some of the actresses in your industry?

I am not envious of anybody because I am very okay where I am. Nobody is preventimg me from getting jobs. I am very much okay.

Has your being okay translated into a fat bank account?

If I don’t have money, I don’t think I would have been able to produce a movie. But you cannot compare what they pay overseas with what we are paid here. Over there, you could do one movie and buy a house with what you are paid.

Our fee here is still poor but it is better than what it used to be. Technically, we are getting better as well. We are moving up. With time, everything will be okay.

Can you remember what you pocketed as a young actress?

I was paid 10,000 Naira. I wasn’t even bothered about the money. I just wanted to act. I have always had it in my mind that when you are doing something, you shouldn’t always look at the monetary aspect of it. It was the same producer that paid me this 10,000 Naira that later paid me 50,000 Naira, subsequently he gave me a cheque.

How much do you pocket these days?

I can’t say. But it is okay. At least it is better than what I used to take before.

How many movies have you featured in?

I cannot count them. I have a basket filled up with my movies. There are some I don’t even have anymore.

Which of them brought you to the limelight?

I think it was Abuja Connection. I played the role of a society big girl in the movie.

How much of you was in that movie?

None of me was in that movie. I know people see actresses as being very wild and all that. I am not trying to blow my trumpet but Oby is a good babe. I am a home girl. When I am not working I will be at home. I am not a virgin, I am not a saint but I am a good girl.

Are you saying that you are the kind of person a guy can take home to mama?.

Exactly. I am very emotional and very romantic but most people don’t see it. It is only when you come close to me that you will notice that and it is only my man that can testify to that.

And who is ‘my man’?

He is somebody. I don’t believe in flaunting things. I am very happy in this relationship. I don’t want to flaunt it, anyway. When I send out invitation cards by God’s grace, then you will know who he is. Let us save it for now.

You seem to have a lot of scandals following you; how have you been able to handle them?

At times, I see some headlines and I want to go ‘wacko’. There was this one that made me cry so much that my lawyer had to write to the magazine. They said I said Nigerian men were bad. I couldn’t have said such. I mean, why would I say something like that when these people help me a lot.

I am into charity and I have an NGO. If I go to source for funds who will agree to help me if I call Nigerian men bad names? They would have their own opinion about me.

Back to your man, is he comfortable with your being an actress?

He is very comfortable.

Even with what we hear about actresses?

When he first met me, he didn’t say anything. But when we got to know each other very well, he told me I was so different. You need to come close to somebody before you will know the kind of person she is.

Let me tell you, I don’t double-date. When I am going out with a guy, I just give it my all.

Do you think he will stop you from being an actress?

I will be an actress till my last days. When I am old and shaking, there will still be roles for old women. I am going to be among those old women. Acting is till the end of the day for me. I don’t think I would want to stop being an actress.

But your man should not be comfortable with the kind of love scenes you play.

I don’t do raw love scenes. But he is okay with what I do. He watches my movies and he tells me that I didn’t play the love scene well.

When you are in love with somebody, you carry the person along in whatever you do. I told him what we do is just acting and he believed me.

Did you ever think of marrying an actor?

Have I dated any actor? They are lovely guys and they are very cool. But we don’t know what tomorrow will be. I don’t know who I will get married to until that wedding day then you will know who Oby is marrying.

But your man is not an actor.

No he is not. The guy I am dating currently is not in my industry.

Did your parents support your going into acting?

Yes. My dad gave me his total support. He encouraged me. Thank God they supported me from the outset.

It seems you loved your father very much.

He was a wonderful man. In fact, I don’t even believe he has passed on. All the things he never liked somebody doing, I still don’t allow such things. He never liked people smoking, so I still insist that nobody should smoke in my house.

What is this fight we hear between you and Tricia over a guy that is abroad?

Do you mean Tricia Eseigbe, the presenter?

Yes.

I do not know any London-based guy that she dated. For two years now, we have not been communicating.

But we heard that you snatched her boyfriend...

I did not snatch her boyfriend. She dated a man, she had stopped dating the man for three years. I met the guy somehow and I dated the guy. The coast was clear. It was not as if she and the guy were dating and I moved in.

But we hear two of you were friends before then.

Yes. I dated her ex and she started painting me black and calling me names. She went as far as calling me a prostitute. But I don’t care. I know who I am.

How did this whole saga start?

I travelled and I came back and somebody from one magazine called me and said Tricia said I was not a virgin.

Virgin? What brought about that? Are you a virgin?

I am not a virgin o. This virgin issue came about when somebody interviewed me and the whole interview was centred on men and all that. I asked the person if she didn’t have any other serious thing to talk about other than men. In fact, in a passing statement, I told her I was a virgin so that we could move to another question.

The person interviewing me knew I couldn’t have meant that. But she went ahead and used it as her headline.

I learnt Tricia walked into a party and saw the magazine with that headline and she started wagging her mouth. For God’s sake, we all know that headlines could be sensational.

But we learnt that you said that because you were looking for cheap publicity.

That is outrageous! I have done more than enough in this industry. Many people want to interview me on a daily basis. I have passed the level of looking for publicity.

It is when you have an issue with a friend that you know if that person is actually a friend. Tricia is not a friend. She cannot stop me from progressing in life. I am done with explaining myself.

Are you still dating the guy in question?

For goodness’ sake, I am not dating the guy. I dated her ex that she stopped dating for three years, why can’t she be mature enough to move on. I told you this whole thing happened five years ago. We should think of progressing in life and not talking about a man or an issue that happened in the past.

I have outgrown all that. I have better things to talk about. I am done with this. We shouldn’t go back to yesterday. I am thinking about tomorrow.

Don’t you think all these scandals would stop you from getting jobs?

Jobs? I work all the time. I work for people and if at the end of the day I decide not to, then I work for myself. Don’t forget that I am a producer.

Do you think you and Tricia will ever be friends again?

I don’t know. It is only God that knows what tomorrow will be like. I have better issues and projects to handle.

What are these projects you keep talking about?

I am going into charity and I don’t think I will want to flaunt that now. I am still doing the underground work.

Your colleagues are into music now, when are you going to the studio?

I have released mine. But it is going to be for my second movie. It is actually the sound track of that movie. Very soon, you will see it on air.

Looking back over the years, do you have any regret?

I don’t. Being an actress is one of the best things that have happened to me. Initially when I was getting into this, somebody told me that I would not be respected. But that didn’t deter me. I still went ahead and I am very glad that I did.

At times, I don’t remember that I am an actress. I am always myself and I don’t pretend. I am very natural and it doesn’t have anything to do with being a star.

But some think you are very snobbish.

You are chatting with me in my house. Is there any display of snobbery here? I could be a parrot but that has to be with people that I know. You don’t expect me to see somebody for the first time and I will start talking to the person immediately. I am not a snob.

So the stardom thing did not get to your head.

It did not. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. I do not flaunt men either. In life, when you feel you have arrived, you can still come down. Humble yourself and the Lord will lift you up. I still feel I have not done anything. I am still starting.

How far do you want to get?

As far as God takes me. I cannot imagine it. Only time will tell.

Which actors do you admire in your industry?

Nkem Owoh is the first comedian to make me laugh and cry. The guy is so natural. I also love Joke Silva. She is a wonderful actress.

We hear that lesbianism is the in thing in Nollywood.

I have not heard of it. Nobody has approached me and I don’t know anything about it o.

A lot of people get into your industry on a daily basis...

But you have to ask yourself how many of them make it to the top. Some of them come, do a couple of movies and then get out because they don’t have the talent. The movie industry is meant for those who have talents and those who are gifted. If you enter by any other means, you will definitely get out somehow.

I am Single But Not Searching....Ini Edo

Her beauty and sexiness coupled with her acting prowess are  outstanding qualities that have endeared her to many.  Nollywood star actress Ini Edo  is unarguably, the  hottest star in Nollywood today. Since her debut few years ago, Ini’ who has starred in over a hundred movies, made a big comeback   to  Nollywood after the one-year ban order slammed on her by the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was lifted. The Eket,  Akwa-Ibom indigene here, opens up on her meteoric rise to stardom, the controversial “ban,” which lasted for four months, her relationship, life as an actress and more.

A lot of people have argued that your meteoric rise to stardom was sudden. Do you agree with them?
That is not true, I started years ago with auditions and minor roles, like six years. My first audition was for Child of Destiny, in Aba, Abia State. In fact, that was my first movie by Ndubuisi Okoh, from Zelex Productions. I did not plan where I am today and it is not because I am so good. For some reasons, I just have the favour of God and He made it happen. But, I don’t like to admit I came from nowhere, I have paid a few dues. I may not have had it as rough as others, but, in my own little way, I didn’t have it so smooth like that. I had a divine enlistment at the end of the day.

So, what were the major challenges you encountered on your way to the top?
When you come into an industry like Nollywood, it takes time for you to convince people to believe in you and also stake their money on you. Especially if you consider the fact that you are not known. I had to work harder in order to be given a chance to get to where I am today.

When did you get your first big break in Nollywood?
World’s Apart, from the stable of Great Movies Production, was a major break for me, even though I had done other movies before then. It actually brought me to the limelight.

I was already a diploma student of Theatre Arts at University of Uyo when I traveled to Aba for my first movie. A course mate of mine invited us, so my coming into Nollywood was never by accident. But, unfortunately, I never wanted to be an actress, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer or a newscaster. I was an actress in my school days; I was at New Era Nursery School, Eket, my town in Akwa-Ibom State. I eventually graduated with a degree in English and Literary Studies from University of Calabar. I will be going for NYSC soon.

What happens to your acting career when you leave?
My career will still be there. Just for one year, definitely, I will try and cope.
How many  movies have you starred in since your arrival?
Let’s say, I have done over 100 and I do not have my best yet. But Only Love, by O.J Production truly and really touched my soul.

A lot of people, especially your fans, do not know why you were banned. What really happened?
sincerely speaking, I also really don’t know why I was banned. In fact, there were so many insinuations on the cause of the ban. And I could not really pinpoint any, but, whatever it was, I don’t want to go into the details.

It was alleged then that you were fond of abandoning sets?
Well, nobody has the proof for that kind of heavy allegations. Besides, it has never happened with me. I don’t think I have ever left anybody’s set for any other job. The only time I left a set, I was very ill and I also made it clear, besides I left in the middle of the night, in fact, it was almost daybreak when I left, around 3a.m.
   
While the ban lasted, what were you doing and how did you cope?
It was really a break taking period for me, after all the years of hard work. The basic thing was that I rested a lot and also took out time to do my own personal things. Like visiting motherless babies homes and other things that I had wanted to do but didn’t have the time to do them because of my busy schedule as an actress. Soon, I will be starting my NGO; we are still working out the modalities. The break gave me the opportunity to do the research and gather all the necessary materials needed for the take-off. Aside visiting my parents and all the people I hadn’t seen in a long while, I also took out time to reflect on all that had happened to me in the past, both positive and negative.

People are of the view that you are very controversial and rude. How true is that?
I really do not know, better still, ask those who think I’m controversial. But deep down, I don’t think I am. Most times, some people can’t just seem to comprehend what you do and who you are. And I am not rude. Again, people confuse or misconstrue confidence with arrogance. I am somebody who does not like to be intimidated.

And now that you are fully back, what should your fans expect from you?
Even though I have several scripts waiting for me, I still want to take my time before hitting locations. I’m aware I have missed work but I won’t jump on any location. I want to take my time and come out differently. I also want to take a look at those things that were so “bad” that they said I did and see how I will make them better. So, currently. I’m still going through all the scripts before me to choose the best among them. I don’t want to be on every movie anymore. I want to strive and see how I can be very selective in all the scripts coming my way now.

What major lessons would you say you learnt from your ban?
The major lesson for me is that you should not take or judge people from what they look like. I trust very easily and that was one of my major problems. I also figured that, most times, some friends get closer in order to bring you down or get you out of your position. Another thing I learnt from the ban is the kind of responsibility God has put on me as a celebrity. I may not have reache the position or height God has taken me to. It is, generally, an eye opener from God to me.

Who are the showbiz personalities that have the greatest influence on your career?
Liz Benson used to really make me feel like I want to act. Edith Jane-Azu and a couple of others also influenced me. On the foreign scene, I like Julia Roberts and Chalize Theron.

What would you say stands you out and probably gives you an edge over your contemporaries?
I don’t know but I always strive to be myself at all times. I like myself the way I am.
So, how are you coping with stardom?
I still try to be myself.

And how do you keep away male admirers?
I just try to be polite in telling them I’m not available because I’m hooked. The stubborn ones get stubbornness from me as well.

Sometime ago, there were stories about your romance with D’banj?
He is a good friend, we never dated and that’s the truth.

Who is your ideal man?
My dream or ideal man is that man that is going to be good for me in all ramifications. He has to be God-fearing. I can’t compromise that. He has to be neat and decent too.

Are you still searching?
No! I’m not searching. I have found a soul mate and when the time comes, everything will  fall into place.
What are your hobbies?
I like to swim, watch movies a lot, especially foreign. I try to watch Nollywood sometimes.

What weighs you down?
Anything very bad breaks me down and also weighs me down. I’m quite emotional and do not like hearing sad news. Disappointment is another thing that weighs me down.

What is the next level for Ini Edo?
Well, I hope to do a lot more for myself by developing more as a total artiste. I also hope to launch my NGO and start a family.

MY HUSBAND’S DEATH WAS MY GREATEST SETBACK...Stella

Stella Damasus Aboderin is an epitome of beauty. Though married, she is still one of the most ‘toasted’ Nollywood gals. She was recently cornered by Tope Olukole at a function in Lagos. Excerpts:

Can you tell us how you came into acting?
When we were growing up, I used to sing with the junior choir in church and whenever they wanted to do anything artistic in my school – drama, singing, drawing – there was this friend of mine that would tell me to go for it and I followed her instructions obediently. She used to be an opera singer and also a stage actress then.

So, when I was growing up, she made me sing along songs by Bonny M, Abba etc whenever their tapes were played. I would hold an electric kettle cord as my microphone displaying in front of a mirror. Today, the rest is history.

You must be exceptionally talented to have been able to combine singing, dancing and acting.
I think it’s because I have been doing it right from my childhood. It’s like it has become a part of me and I hardly find it difficult doing it. My education too really helped me. And, of course, Jaiye and God are just the brain behind it all.

Whom would you refer to as your mentor?
Jack Nicholson and Cicely Tyson. They are fantastic people and I learn a lot from them.

Would you encourage your children to go into entertainment?
Isabel, my second daughter, seems to be walking towards that path; unlike her sister, Angelica, who rather likes things technical – like the computer, cables, phones etc.

How will you classify your music?
I play all genres of music as a singer. I don’t think there is any music I cannot sing. Apart from my own songs, most of the songs we render at events are copyright songs. We play all kinds of songs – from highlife to reggae; raga to juju; hip hop to oldies, jazz and stuff like that.

What is your beauty regimen like?
I don’t have any special routine. I don’t even know the names of these facial or body stuff. I am just myself because I know I have a good skin.

If there is a change of fortunes today, how do you start again?
The greatest setback I ever had in my life was the death of my husband. I doubt if there would be anything else that would ever derail me. The reason is that Jaiye’s untimely death is still a shock to me.

As you can see, I am just starting from where I stopped. My acting career initially was something I never wanted anything to happen to, because I wanted to be part of it like my mentors; but when the ban of a thing came up, I moved on, and I am still moving on. A man may die. Nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.

What then are you struggling with at the moment?
Before Jaiye died, I used to travel to these African countries like Ghana, Togo, Republic of Benin, to buy things like fabrics, beads, bags etc. I would come back home and design and redesign them. I am trying to put the shop in good shape due to customers’ yearnings. I do a lot of things for a lot of people. Those, and not forgetting my renamed band, G-Factor, are what I’m struggling with at the moment.

What propelled you into fashion business?
Really, when I wore those things, I discovered that a lot of people would just ask me how and where I got them. When I told them how I got it, they would say, ‘Ah! Can you get something similar for me when next you go?’ This I can say motivated me into the terrain. Thereafter, I opened Mon Afrique, an African shop, where all sorts of African items are procured.
How have you been surviving?
God never forsakes His people. I’m managing.

Any man on your mind?
None

My Guy.....A Sex Symbol....Rukky Sanda

Rukky Sanda is everything a man wants - sexy, hot and career-driven. She graduated few years ago from the Lagos State University (LASU) and has since pitched her tent in the English genre of Nollywood.

SAMUEL OLATUNJI recently met the star of ‘Weeping Tiger’ on movie set, and left wishing for more. Industry watchers have touted the Lagos indigene as the next big bang in Nollywood.

Here are excerpts from the encounter:

How did you start acting?

It all began in secondary school, when I participated in stage plays. From there, I think, the desire to go into big time acting started and today the rest is history.

You started out big time in ‘Angel and the Beast’ in 2004. Who introduced you into the industry?

I actually started in 2004, in Angel and the Beast. The movie was produced and directed by Sonny McDon. Well, I won’t say I was introduced into acting as it were. It started when I met a girl who used to work at Chico Ejiro’s office. I told her I’d love to act and they were about to shoot a movie then. So I was auditioned, and I got a role.

Who has been the most romantic actor you’ve paired with?

I think it will be Mike Enzuronye and Desmond Elliot.

You’ve been kissed and caressed in movies, what’s the feeling like?

I see it as part of the job. If the scripts and director demand it why won’t I do it? It is just a job. There is no special feeling. After that, I move on to the next job.

How daring can you be on a movie set?

I can be very daring but I have to draw the line between acting and my personality. I would go to such length as professionalism demands but I won’t be careless. Also, it depends on the script. If it’s what I can work with, I will go ahead with it.

You once said you could be a musician. Why aren’t you pursuing that career path?

I don’t have a good voice.

So far you’ve been scandal-free. What’s the secret?

It is about branding. You have to be at the right place at the right time and most importantly, with the right people. I don’t patronize places and people that can draw negative press.

You are seen as one of the fastest rising actresses around. How have you been able to achieve this?

Maybe it’s due to hard work on my part. When you work hard, things will fall into place for you, as there is nothing in this life that comes easy. You only work for it to come to you.

Are you sure you are not getting these movie roles after a closed door sessions with producers?

Nothing is happening behind closed doors; it’s just that I have been very lucky in the industry. Again, it’s just that people I have done jobs with in the past recommend me for future jobs, so it’s not that there is any hanky-panky going on somewhere. They know I am good, which has resulted in my being where I am today.

Have you ever been sexually harassed? Or, have you ever been asked to trade sex for a movie role?

Do I look like a desperate person? I am comfortable and I’m not desperate. It is when you appear desperate that they give you such ridiculous conditions. I have never experienced that anyway.

Tell us something about your boyfriend?

The much I can say is that he is just a normal person, a Nigerian and he is into business and has been there for me all the time.

How old are you, Rukky?

You want the whole world to know my age? Well, I am 26.

How much would you charge to go nude?

I can never go nude in any movie. We are people of culture in Nigeria and our culture does not welcome some things. Where are the actresses that have done it in the past? So, when I said earlier on that I could be daring, exposure wasn’t what I was talking about. I am not wayward, and I won’t want to create that impression.

What stands you out among Nigerian artistes?

Apart from the fact that I am confident, I also take my time in what I do; read my scripts well to understand the cast and everything that has to do with any movie role I am playing.

Are you still sexually active as you once told me?

Yes, I am sexually active like normal human beings but I am not a promiscuous person or a sex machine.

How far can you go with your man?

It is none of your business!

Is there a big deal answering the question?

I am entitled to my privacy, like you are too.

Do you fancy Ramsey Noah as an actor or sex symbol, because you once told me about your admiration for him?

He is a good actor, period! My boyfriend is a better sex symbol; I don’t need another.

What are you up to this year?

As you can see, I’m on a movie set. I am doing a Christian movie with Emem, and Lancelot is directing it. This is my first movie this year.

What role are you playing?

I am a church member who wants to seduce her pastor. But the pastor refused to be seduced. I am acting alongside Desmond Elliot.

Is he kissing you?

I told you it is a Christian movie.

Don’t Christians kiss?

Na you sabi!

So when are you getting married?

Not now, I need to work on my career.

Should we expect any new thing from you this year?

I am now writing scripts. I just finished one and I’m working on the second.

Are you producing your own movies?

Not now, I don’t have that kind of money.

Would you act in Yoruba movies?

Why not? I’m a Yoruba lady, though I can’t read in Yoruba. I learnt the scripts are written in English. Saheed Balogun spoke with me concerning a script last week. I’m still considering it. But I know I will act in Yoruba movies at the right time.

http://nigeriamovies.net/news/news248.php

Nollywood’s outstanding actresses in 2007 revealed

Though the year 2007 has come and gone, the events of the year are still fresh in the minds of Nigerians particularly, the country’s movie industry, popularly called Nollywood which recorded positive transformations and improvements in terms of quality and number of standard movies produced by the movie makers, as well as superb role interpretations by the Nollywood actors

A recent report, however, has revealed the names of eight most outstanding actresses last year. Among them are;

Genevieve Nnaji:-She is arguably the most prominent actress in Nollywood and has reached the pinnacle of her career as far as movie making is concerned. She made her entry into Nollywood via ‘Most wanted,’ a movie produced by Ralph Nwadike in 1998 where she played the cameo role of a news caster.

It wasn’t until she played the lead role in ‘Ijele,’ an Epic film that she shot to the limelight. Since then, she has starred in over five hundred films and was the former face of lux Beauty soap, a modelling job that made her extremely rich. The beautiful actress and mother of one is still single, drives choice cars and lives, at highbrow area of Lagos, evidence of her financial muscle.

Dakore Egbuson:- This Bayelsa State born dread locked actress, singer and TV Presenter shot into limelight in 2000 through her first movie role in Emotional crack,’ followed by ‘Dangerous sisters’ in 2005. The delectable actress who holds a diploma in mass communication, majoring in PR and advertising has many awards to her credit including the real awards.

Uche Jumbo:-Uche Jumbo has successfully established herself in Nigeria’s movie industry. The Abiriba-Abia State born actress and graduate of maths and statistics from the University of Calabar is today a renowned actress, producer and script writer . She is also into modelling.

Rita Dominic:- The pretty Rita did not disappoint her fans in 2007 as she soared into their hearts with her humidity and roles interpretation. Among her hit movies are ‘Desperate Billionaire,’ ‘Vengeance of a woman” and ‘Girls Cot.” The Mbaise, Imo State born screen diva is a graduate of theatre Arts from University of Port Harcourt (1999). She is single and blessed with stunning and attractive looks.

Kate Henshaw-Nuttal:- She is a talented actress and a microbiologist. She was launched into limelight through a movie titled “when the sun sets, “which was produced by Hints Magazine. Her ability to perfectly interprete her scripts has earned her a niche in the movie industry. She is happily married with three children.

Patience Uzokwor:-Patience Uzokwor is a popular actress and a house hold name in Nigerian moviedom. Her performance in the thespian world is simply breathtaking and sets her far above her peers. Mama Gee as she is popularly called by her fans is known for her wicked roles in movies that many people find it difficult to separate her role in drama from her actions in real life. The seasoned actress, musician, widow and caring mother has toiled to give her children the best of life after the demise of her husband.

Joke Silva:- She has come along way in the make believe industry. Since the early eighties, she has carved out a niche for herself as a serious actress on stage, film, television and radio, primarily in Nigeria and England and a recipient of several awards. Married to veteran international actor, Olu Jacobs, Joke also won the AMAA Best actress award in 2006.

Bimbo Akintola:- She started her acting career in 1995 when she featured in a Yoruba movie titled ‘Owo Blow.’ She is a graduate of Theatre Arts from University of Ibadan and has featured in several chart buster movies. She also held sway in the movie industry in 2007.

After Amstel commercial, I no longer want to do every local movie— DAKORE

Pretty and very delectable showbiz personality Dakore Egbuson is one person that most people love to meet. Her charm, humility and very amiable disposition stand her out as well groomed.

A successful Nollywood actress by every standard, the extremely talented Bayelsa-born artiste was recently chosen as the face of Amstel Malta, the malt drink which prides itself as low sugar content.

The outcome of the relationship is the television commercial showing all over Africa. Dakore talks about the deal and more.

Is it true you got more than N20m to become the face of Amstel malt drink?


I got a few millions, I don’t need to say how much. I was well paid and that is what matters. It doesn’t matter how much. Let us not forget that Amstel Malta is a brand that has supported Nollywood in no small way.

Being a face of that is something most significant and people should stop putting their eyes on how much. I was well paid. That is all I have to say.


Do you know what may have influenced their choice of you as the face of Amstel Malta.
I have absolutely no clue or idea but I think they saw something in me that reflected their brand which they felt would bring a lot of credibility to the brand.

I’m very happy they chose me and I thank God I was able to give a good account of myself in the advert and the response has been amazing and I’m really grateful to the agency. It’s just God in action and I thank Him.

Where was the commercial shot?


We worked in Johannesburg South Africa and it was directed by an experienced American director who has done a lot of movies. He could be checked out on IMGB. These are people who love their work and are so vast in experience.


Compare the shooting and what obtains in Nollywood?


There is no need to make any comparison. The commercial was shot on 35mm celluloid format and you know in Nollywood, we still shoot with DV and all that. These people shoot with the latest equipment obtained internationally with all the techniques and everything, the people, the cameras, the grips, dollies etc.


The make up, wardrobe, boy it was in depth. I have never experienced anything like that before. It was time for a good learning for me and I thank God. It’s gradually becoming very difficult for me to get into doing our regular movies.

The way we do it now in Nigeria, you get to a point where you just have to keep going on and on. And I really want Nollywood to catch up, we really need to.

How many days did it take to shoot a less than a minute commercial and how tasking was it?


It took ten days of working on a daily basis. Don’t forget we shot during winter (in June) in South Africa, it was freezing. All that time I was smiling, I was freezing and we had done about 100 takes of same part.

The thing is that even while I was going through that, I had so much support from cast and crew. If I’m cold, they will cover me with a big robe and when I’m about to commence work, they would run back.


They made me feel like a star in the true sense of the word. It was red carpet all the way. It was fabulous and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world. It was God’s way of showing me where we should be if we redirect our minds towards excellence in Nollywood. I do know we’d get there some day.


A lot of people say very negative things about Nollywood but I’m not going to be one of them. The advert is very inspirational and it shows how a little act of kindness from someone to an innocent bystander propels one ahead.

I don’t want people to get lost about just Dakore - the advert, Let us look at where we are going. I ended up in Hollywood and it is possible.

Has this new project prized you out of reach or are you still within reach by Nollywood producers?


In all honesty, it’s quite possible. A lot of producers may be skeptical about coming to meet me now. Even if it’s not for the money, the fact that they have seen me exposed to that level of production may scare them away.


However, I don’t think they should be scared, they should rise up to the challenge by not only paying me well in their movies, but also increase the entire budget for the cast and crew.


And that is the reason I always say, finances is a big issue in production.


What next?


I’m actually working on several projects now and waiting to see the one that would come out first. I won’t rest on my oars. Television is where I started from, that’s my background in mass communication.


I started with Total sports, Best of football with Dudu Orumen, Whitewood Group, Ben TV in London. I was also the first presenter on Sound City before it became a channel. I joined them in 1998.

I had done all these before the movies started coming. Everything is full circle now and I have matured over the period.


How far has your success changed you?


Can I change who I am? No. I am still around the people who knew me before now. My family, my friends and even you are still part of me. I have a generally innate humility which is instilled by my upbringing and that I can’t change.


I believe if you humble yourself in the face of the Lord, he would lift you high.


Pastor...?


I’m not, but what I said is a reality. I believe in what I read in the Bible and that is what I live on. I’m not a saint but I am working towards salvation.

I believe strongly that humility is key especially in our line of work. Some become big stars and get big headed, while some do not remember those they passed along the streets of life especially those who helped them on the lane.

I’m different you know. I have known you for long, but haven’t seen you for sometime. But meeting has not changed anything or did it?


Do you miss music?


So much. I have really missed music. Now that I have some time I will definitely think music. When I say full circle, I mean I’m back to those things I started doing before the race became faster. I will definitely do.

I miss the studio, I miss writing songs and the band I had may have dispersed but we would see how it goes. Acting is very time consuming. Now that I have more time, I will return. In those hey days, I opened for one of the biggest jazz musicians in the U.S. Now, It is just like a dream, like it never happened.


Education?


Life itself is school, I have learnt a whole lot, I have received so much lessons from life. But it does not mean that school is not important. I will one day take it up again. But these are long time plans and I believe that God in his infinite mercies will guide me through and I will find my level.

Special Adviser or not, I’m still an actor — RMD

Nollywood star actor, Richard Mofe Damijo who was recently appointed special adviser to the Delta state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is learning the process well.
In this brief chat at an event in Asaba, Delta state, he speaks on how he copes with his new assignment, how he handled his female fans while he was actively acting and explains that his new appointment has not separated him from his career.


As a government official now, what is your new job like?


It is challenging, but I am learning the process. I am a fast learner, thank God for that and there are people there who are guiding me in the process of trying to understand that things are done differently here. I’m enjoying it.


What happens to your acting career?


No o ,I haven’t really left acting. I’m going to be doing a lot of local work here to build the industry here, so there’s really no leaving the art. I am going to teach, I am going to coach and I’m going to inspire, so I’m still involved in acting one way or the other.

May be not as much as I used to in front of the camera, but I’m going to be doing a lot behind the cameras for now. For instance in the month of March, we have set in motion the Delta Entertainment Summit where stakeholders in the music and movies business will gather in Warri to talk about the best ways of entrenching the right tenets of showbizness.

We expect people like Emeka Mba of the National Film and Video Censors Board, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, and a host of others in Warri. This will reduce if not stop restiveness in the area and inspire several others to benefit from art.


Now that you have a more tasking job, how do you joggle between your family and this tasking job?
This is not more tedious. Every work is tedious, what you aim for is a balance. Every work takes you away from your family, what you do is to create a balance between your family and your job.


Make a flash back as to how your journey in the arts all started?


I think it just a childhood fantasy and I also studied Theater Arts, so I guess it was a natural calling.


Obstacles and challenges dogged your path, how did you overcome?


Making sure that I sold the idea that being an actor does not necessarily mean being intellectually berated. What I have tried to do is to give the actors some integrity that after the acting you also have some brains.


Is it true that female actresses have to sleep around with producers and directors to get roles?


I didn’t go through that experience myself, so I can’t speak for the others because I don’t think anybody that I have worked with even as a producer or as a director would have had to go through that to get any role from me. For me, merit is what matters.

Sex can only take you so far, but if you don’t have any talent, no matter how many people you sleep with, you will not make progress.

How did you or how do you handle your female fans, every one knows they are too numerous and still come in droves?


There is no written text book on how to handle them. It is by the grace of God. I try being nice to everybody and I try to put everybody in their place and I also make them know that there are limits to every thing in life including star adulation.


If you are opportuned to change anything in the Nigerian entertainment industry, what will it be?
Get rid of all the charlatans.


Who are the charlatans?


Those who give professionals bad name. Those who don’t know anything about the profession but think they must participate.

They don’t research before they write their scripts, they don’t research before they act and when they come up with their films or styles, they are not up to standard and people use that to judge professionals.


How would you describe your self?


A simple Warri boy.


Who is your role model?


I have plenty , but I’ll mention Wole Soyinka and Nelson Mandela.


What type of clothes do you wear?


I wear anything good. Mudi makes my clothes


What about shoes?


I wear anything good that suit me.

No Hollywood actress can match me—Hilda Dokubo

She can be described as the fair skinned goddess of Nollywood that came into the mind of people and left quietly when she was needed most. But Hilda Dokubo believes that the opportunity given to her to serve the people in a different capacity was made possible through the experience she gathered in Nollywood. In this chat with AHAOMA KANU, she discusses her achievements while in government, her fight to eradicate hunger and challenges whoever cares to listen that Hollywood actress are not up to her standards in acting.


What have you been doing lately?
I do something slightly different from entertainment, I train younger people run campaigns on eradication of poverty and hunger. I also run an art school.

What made you run an NGO?
The drive towards helping other people I would say. I was appointed as special adviser to the governor of River state on youths in 2007 and so it opened doors for me to have direct interaction with a lot of young people. As an actress, it is almost near difficulty for you to have that kind of access because there are people out there waiting to be reached but that job provided the opportunity for me to talk with young people who I found wanted to do so many things but they don't know how to do them; they want to be famous and don't know how. Some do not have the opportunity of exploring their potentials. Our educational system was nose diving; people went to school but were not educated. I felt my country has given me so much and it was time for me to give it back so I decided to run a research to find put why young people were getting involved in crime and dropping out from school, the result of that research was what led me into setting up an NGO and gave me four different approaches to help young people.

What were the challenges of coming from Nollywood and holding a political office?
Well I didn't get involved in politics; I just held a political office. My basic challenge was the fact that people did not know whether they were going to see a government official or me. A lot of people came in staring at me and not discussing the main reason they came for in the first place. I also had the challenges of filtering everything you want to say because in the government, you had to sound not exactly like you but like somebody else and I had huge difficulties dealing with that. Another challenge I faced was that as an actress, you take your decisions and go away but it was a different ball game being in government; you had to wait for every other person to see reason along with you or not at all; decisions were not taken based on the importance of the decision but on how every other person other than yourself perceived. You had to wait for them to get to that conclusion and to me, they were delaying action. Another aspect that was very funny to me is that government would use N1 to buy a bottle of coke and then use N1000 to advertise the coke. I did not understand it because we do not do that in Nollywood; in government it was monetary but in Nollywood, it was practical that was a huge challenge for me. I could not cross over like doing things that I wanted so when I could not cross over I had to cross over to the side of running an organization where I can help people dream, realize and use that dream.

As an actress, you used Nollywood as a platform to portray the ills of the society and suddenly you saw yourself in the government, did you find any worries accepting that job and how did you carry people along.
No, I had no problem at all. First and foremost, as an actress and God knows I will die as one, I spent many years being an actress so why should I trade it for something that I did for a few months. I had no problem remaining a mirror to the society, that is who I am and who I will be to the society. I doubt if I am prepared to loose that personality. Leadership is not about being in a position, it is about what you are able to do for the people, it is about impacting lives, it is not a tool for enslaving people; it is a tool for doing things for people. I am a leader just like the little child in the home. We all need to understand that we have a very special role to play in the development of our society, state, and nation.

What were those achievements that you recorded as the special adviser to the government?
I made the young people to voice themselves in ways they were not able to do before I came in and it was called River State Youth Parliament where young people had to look at parliament for themselves and come up with their own articulation of politics. It became youth friendly; they could tell you what each article represents. I also taught them to look at what government says they have given to them so they were able to either accept or reject it. They were able to pick up. I also ensured that during my short stay, young people understood the meaning of the International Youth Day and that young people celebrated Children's day. It took a while at the beginning; they did not understand what the young people were doing so by the end of that year they found out that the children were already speaking for themselves. Another thing that I did which they actually needed to know was that young people found out that they were the government; it was not the governor or minister or ambassador that were the government of the state. I was one government official that did not have any protocol; my door was opened anytime. I got to my office before 8a.m and sat in the office till 6p.m every day of the period I was there excluding Sundays; even on Saturdays, I went to work so that young people would have access to me and till tomorrow I have earned myself a name "Mama" which everybody calls me but at least young people knew that they could speak to somebody who would listen and did listen.
Looking at Nollywood when you started and now, do you think that Nollywood has gotten to that standard we ought to have gotten?
That industry started out of nothing and when you do anything out of nothing and it grows at the pace that we have grown in silence, we should applause ourselves. In terms of growth, I will like to ask are we going forward or backward? Our story line are not improving so much, the story we had before now were storylines that people could identify with especially in the Nigerian society. The story lines that we have today are story lines that are borrowed from some where. In terms of content of our story lines, I think that we still have to go back to our history book to people who are willing to tell us real things; we need to also do a bit of research because we have left that part out for some reasons that I am not sure of. In terms of technicality, I think we are trying to catch up with the trend because today Nollywood is shooting on HD and all that but we do not have it right because it is still a growing industry and very young, we cannot measure it with any other yardstick except with the Nigerians yardstick other wise we will kill ourselves. I think that we have fared on well and if we give ourselves an opportunity to grow and see the essence of art and not just see arts for arts sake, if we begin to see it as a tool for changing the situation around us and developing our nation; if we begin to look at it in that aspect then maybe we will do better jobs than we are doing right now. If you look at the number of people that Nollywood has been able to create jobs for and the number of people that is has been able to sustain within the period that Nollywood started, you will rightly believe that we have done well. Nollywood is the second highest employer of youth labour and the best paid.

Presently, NACA Award, AMAA Award and recently Zeb Ejiro introduced Nollywood foundation, how do you think this will impact positively on Nollywood so that we might get to where we ought to be?
Sometimes there are rewards and sometimes there are awards and sometimes they help you grow while other times they kill you. I am saying this because when people applaud you when you have done badly then you will never know you can do better but when people applaud you for doing very well then you are challenged and do better. It depends on the reason why they are setting up these awards; are they setting it up as machineries to make money or are they setting it up to reward good actors? Whatever it is should be aimed at adding value to the society, I think in a way, it helps the industry because I think that some people are stars to win these awards, some people invest a lot of time and energy into doing a good job.

Not much is done in Nollywood as regards to doing personality movies like Dele Giwa, Obafemi Awolowo why is Nollywood not doing movies on this personality.
I have mentioned earlier that we all need to give ourselves the opportunity to research which may make us believe that our writers are not doing proper research. For instance, if I am writing a script on Obafemi Awolowo, I will find a man who looks like him and speak like him or I will train the man who looks like him to be able to act and speak like him. You would need somebody that was close to him to tell you special things about him. Presently in Nollywood we do not like the doing things properly because everybody in Nollywood is a trader. Anybody who is an investor in Nollywood is a trader; they all want immediate returns, everybody wants to shoot in a week run up location and bring out something they call a movie.

Do you think that is the right time to do a movie?
Obviously not. As a performer, you need at least a week to be able to understand your script, you need time to read your script over and over and then read it aloud to your hearing and begin to internalize your role, then you are able to bring out the script in term of reaction. It is not what we do on the spot which is what we do now; any script that I do after rehearsals comes out better than the one I do without rehearsals. But people are not willing to invest time they are in a hurry and just want to sell their CDs that is the problem; the economic situation in the country does not help.

Can you still remember your first movie in Nollywood?
My first movie in terms of shooting was Jezebel and in terms of release was Evil Passion.

What year was that?
1991

What would you say is the mileage you have gained as an actress over the years?
The first thing that I gained as an actress is the fact that I am sound mentally; I am able to read between your lines and read your lips. I can tell your mood without you telling me, I can do this with ease. It also brought me fame and fortune and brought good will my way but the most important thing is that I have remained me.

Have you ever collected a script because the pay was good?
Never! If I collect a script for good pay and I read through the script and it is rubbish, I will call you up the next morning to come and take your script back. What will my late teacher, Prof. Ola Rotimi say in his grave when he spent six years of his life moulding me?

Despite the volume of work that is produced in Nollywood, we have not really made international film festivals, what do you think needs to be done to get this international recognition?
We do not shoot in the right format that can be produced internationally; we do not shoot on celluloid. Shooting 35mm is expensive and we do not even have the studios to process the pictures. As soon as we shoot them in Nigeria, we will need to go a better studio the closest is South Africa. A lot of times when they give the outline of what they expect, we don't meet them because they want a script that tells your culture and we spend a lot of time trying to be Hollywood instead of being ourselves as Nigerians. Very few film makers know what they have shot, whether it is documentary or not, these are few of the reasons why we do not make film festivals.

For sometime now Hollywood has come to Africa we have seen films like Bamako, Blood Diamond why has Nigeria not been choosing for a location scene?
We as Nigerians have not been able to represent Nigerian as a place where anybody can come and do good movies. Once upon a time there was Mr. Johnson, this movie was shot in Nigeria. The people who were in charge of the movies, late Ogunde, presented Nigeria as place where people could come and do movies. We have not done that and it is not too late. I will never give up on this nation because we can still do it. But if Hollywood comes, are we prepared? Because if they come, they will think that there will be time for rehearsals, are we prepared because the average Nigerian will probably get there and they will give him the script and say call time is by 1 p.m and he will not understand. There are only few professionals who know the meaning of call time. We need to prepare ourselves; we are not prepared yet when we are prepared they will comes.

In terms of preparation what do you think is the involvement of government in all these?
I never want government in anything; they have the kind of help that has only been able to ruin. All over the world, entertainment is a private sector thing. The only thing that the government has to do is to create an enabling environment that allows you to practice. Like when you want to do a story on doctors and nurses, you do not even get a government hospital to use in doing the movie; if you want to do a movie on table tennis and you can not even find a table tennis court to do it. We see NYPD on cast; it is because the New York Police Department (NYPD) has given them permission to do that. Right now, even the Film and Video Censors Board that they have set up is not doing anything other than collecting money. In Nigeria we all know but nobody asks. Many people will tell you what is wrong in the system, things out, what do we get out of this? Nobody will give you practical answers.

How can the government bring enabling environment in terms of
First of all the policy we have about copyright is not right; if I find you infringing on my copyright on say my movie for instance, I should be authorized to arrest with the police and when all the offender has to pay is N5000, there is a problem. Again, for you to sanction my work I have to pay why won't I tell you how you to classify my work.

With the exception of RMD, Olu Jacobs and Eni Onoja just a few Nollywood actors have made it to Hollywood, do you think it is a conspiracy or are we not that good?
We are good and it is not a conspiracy, it is just an opportunity issue. Different people have different dreams and they will get to where they are destined to get. Hollywood is a yard stick because it started before every body else other wise I do not see any Hollywood actress who will beat me today; you hold the script and I hold mine and I will promise you that I will give you a run on every line make my people very proud. What I will say is that we need to set the record straight in terms of creating an environment that encourages the industry and that is not the work of anybody but the government that is in charge of the script.

Nigeria's image has been greatly dented by the militants in the Niger Delta don't you think that we can use Nollywood as a plat form to tell stories better.
If we do that the same government that we speak about will ban the movie; they have banned several other movies in the past and nothing will stop them from banning this as well but I want you also to know that whatever the world knows about Nigeria is not what any ambassador has given but what Nollywood, Nigerian music industry and Nigerian footballers, have done for this country that is the only thing that encourages anybody about this country. We are the major image makers and ambassadors of this country, Nollywood is a good platform for us to say anything that we want. Nigeria's image is not dented by militants; Nigeria's image is dented by the activities of criminals. The Nigerian government hides these criminals under the tag 'militants,' they are not militants. Even though criminals are militants, these so called freedom fighters are greedy criminals. What is their quest? Who are they fighting for? Who are they trying to defend? What are they defending? From what they have done so far, from the amount of money they have received and from what is going on in their community you will know that these people are not fighting for anything but their pocket so I plead with you media people to please stop referring to them as militants because that is not who they are. Also help me tell the Nigerian government that that when you seat and discuss with people that you call common criminals, you endorse common criminal. What ever bad picture is being created is created by the Nigerian government and the criminals that they say are common criminals.

Within three years Nigerian music industry land mark achievement in MTV award, when do you think that Nollywood can win an Oscar?
I do not know when but I think that Nollywood can win an Oscar; it is possible. But let me also tell you something about music, it is a universal thing you, do not need to hear what I am singing, you just need to listen to the rhythm and enjoy it. It is different in the movie industry, some of us who produce cannot classify what we have shot. If we can and also shoot in the right form, we will be able to present them any where. So you cannot win an award if you have not put in anything; the people who won MTV Base award won it because their songs were on MTV. When we begin to produce our movies in its originality and in the right format that are internationally accepted, we will win.

What is your dream for Nollywood?
My dream for Nollywood is that someday we will see ourselves as the mirror of the society and an agency for national development.

What role has your family played
Huge, my family is my major support they are there all the time, they are there when I am on the road, and they have always been there.

What is the composition of your family?
We are six, my mother's children three boys, three girls and my children I have two boys.

How soon are we going to be seeing your face in Nollywood?
The truth is that I am training younger ones and I am also moving on to television to do talk shows. Most importantly, right now, I am turning myself into the people's voice that is speaking up against hunger and poverty; I am the ambassador focused on eradicating hunger and poverty, that is my cross for now knowing that we have to keep creating strategies and concept that will help people move above living below one salary thing. They should live properly and begin to make money. I do not know when I will be coming back to Nollywood but I also know that I have already made up my mind that every year I will do like three or four movies but to come back like I want will be stretching myself too far