Faces at Nollywood @20 presidential dinner

 

From top left, lady with Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Susan Peters, Fathia Balogun, Uru Eke and Chika Ike. See more photos below..... 

Oge Okoye and Damiete Charles-Granville with Isabella Ayuk

 

 

Read More

Jonathan splashes N3 billion new grant on Nollywood

President Goodluck Jonathan at a presidential dinner to celebrate the industry at 20, held at State House, Marina, Lagos unveiled a N3 billion  package to help turnaround Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood, which has seen growth in production and sales within past years, but remains heavily criticized for low content quality.

The president said the package, to be launched as “Project Nollywood”, will include grants for the best film scripts, a capacity development fund, and funds for supporting the industry’s infrastructure”.

He added that the scheme will be launched in the first week of April, and will be managed by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

“I assure you that my Administration will continue to give Nollywood every possible support and assistance to take the Nigerian movie industry to even greater heights of success,” the president said. “I have invited the private sector to this dinner because I believe that they can also support efforts to further develop our entire creative industry.” said Jonathan.

A previous revolving loan scheme of $200 million (N32 billion), announced by the president in 2010 has been plagued by complaints of inaccessibility.

The president said only N766 million of the loan had been released.

“I have asked NEXIM and the Bank of Industry to redouble their efforts in assisting the industry to access loans,” he said.

Read More

PHOTO:Nollywood Actor, Kanayo .O. Kanayo Now a Pastor

 Kanayo.O.Kanayo

Veteran Nollywood Actor, Anayo Modestus Onyekwere popularly known as Kanayo.O.Kanayo is now a pastor. I’m sure you’re as surprised as i am.

I saw the actor’s photo on a church banner where he was mentioned as one of the ministers in a 3-day spiritual programme,. That means he’s now born again.

It seems a lot of Nollywood stars who retire from the industry end up in politics, music or pastoral duties. It’s great that he chose to to touch the lives of others.

Read More

Popular Nollywood Actor, Kenneth Okonkwo Dumps Acting For Evangelism

For some time now, star actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, who played the movie role of ‘Andy’ in the popular movie ‘Living in Bondage’ has not been seen in most movies as he used to in the past.

What Todaysnigeria.com can confirm to you is that the prolific actor has added the gospel of soul winning for God to his already acquired two professions; acting and law profession. The actor surprised many when he was seen at a lawyers’ forum few years ago.

Now, Kenneth has shown that aside from acting and law practice, he is a good Evangelist; a fisher of men for God. Kenneth Okonkwo recently headlined a 3-day crusade held in Ikorodu, Lagos as a guest minister of God of the event. 

The '3-Day Explosive Fire and Total Deliverance' crusade was tagged ‘Night of Dominion’ and was held between September 26-28. 2012. The service took place at Evangelist Peter Nwabueze’s Christ Mission Worldwide Church, Owode Onirin, Ikorodu Lagos. 

Liz Benson, Pat Attah, Eucharia Anunobi are the few actors who have become 'fishers of men', will Kenneth dump acting to face the God's minister full time? Or will he keep doing the three professions?

ACTOR ARINZE OKONKWO AND WIFE IFEOMA

Read More

Famous Nollywood actor Ramsey Noah is highly rated for his remarkable public relations

Millions of people in Africa and the rest of the world have come to know more about Nigeria and Nigerians through what they have seen in thousands of Nollywood movies circulated by legal and illegal distributors on the street and on the internet. Nollywood has been able to improve the international public relations of Nigeria with Nollywood stars being accorded celebrity status in many countries.

Nollywood stars like Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Omoni Oboli, Ramsey Noah, Desmond Elliot and Jim Iyke have been received as VIPs by the governments of different African countries and welcomed like diplomatic ambassadors. But many of them have not been able to use their local and international celebrity status positively, because of their poor knowledge of public relations at home and abroad.

In fact those who claim to have managers are not faring better than those without any. In most cases, their so called managers have little or no professional knowledge or expertise of public relations talk less of the best practices. So, majority of them have ended up with either poor or bad public relations over the years. But there are few of them who have been able to appreciate good public relations and have won more fans and patronage.

Among them are Ramsey Noah and Omoni Oboli who have proved to have the best public relations so far. Their ratings have been based on the reports of their private and public interactions in Nigeria and abroad on and off the set of their movies.

Read More

(A MUST READ) : How To Differentiate Nollywood (Nigerian Movies) From Hollywood Movies

You Know It’s A Nigerian Movie When;

1. The title of the movie tells u the whole story line

2. A lady is about to go to bed at night and yet her face is fully made up.

3. Someone will be shown 25 years after and he will be wearing the same clothes he wore earlier

4. When there is a flashback in a flashback.

5. When a film talks about past events in the 80s and 90s and you see MTN, ETISALAT and GLO banners in the background.

6. The lyrics of the soundtrack is literally the plot of the movie.

7. A car is about to have an accident when the steering wheel suddenly starts turning and the driver will eventually hit an “ewedu” stem and the driver will be seen with his head on the steering wheel with no damage to windscreen, nor any scratch on the car whatsoever.

8. The same song is played ON and ON and ON throughout the movie (whether it is an action/love/drama scene)

9. The actors waste unnecessary time to perform an act that shouldn’t take more than a fraction of a second e.g An actor will spend fifteen good minutes of his time threatening to kill someone, spend another five minutes looking for his gun (while the mumu victim will stand there watching) and then spend another ten minutes shouting “I WILL KILL YOU TODAY” after which he tots his gun (the sound is often times not in sequence with the trigger pull) and then the victim screams ” I AM DEAD, YOU HAVE KILLED ME, I AM DYING” and then he dies.

10. Advert floods d first half hour. Thank God for fast forwarding

11. A car will hit someone at top speed and that person will still be lying on the bonnet of the car

12. The bad characters are completely evil and the good characters are completely good, one track personalities

13. You have to reduce the volume for the soundtrack and increase it to hear what the actor are saying, so you have to hold onto your remote control.

14. When you see a village girl speaking phonetics

15. Almost all endings will happen in church, when at the end of the movie, a pastor and his team prays and the wicked/evil person manifests, confesses and then drops dead. . . To God be the glory. This always happens when the director/ producers have run out of ways to end the movie.

16. A ghost will be looking on both sides of the road before crossing

17. When married women wear club-appropriate outfits all day, everyday- even when cooking in the kitchen or attending to someone at the store.

18. You can predict the movie by mere looking at the DVD casing

19. When the film advertisement ends with GO GRAB UR COPY NOW!!!!!! as if its going out of existence and ur entire being is dependent on it

20. When it is marketed and distributed at 51/52 Iweka road Onitsha, 12 Idumota lane or Pound road Aba.

21. An actor leaves his house in a red shirt and is seen in the car with a blue shirt and arrives his destination in a red shirt.

22. When a hospitalized patient dies by shaking violently on the hospital bed.

23. When Jim Iyke or anoda actor is putting on SUNSHADES in a CLUB at NIGHT

24. When a man suffers a gun shot injury to the tummy and is shown in the hospital with bandages on thier head and a cast on their arms and legs. .

25. When a club scene with people dancing lasts for over 15 minutes with no dialogue or incident.

26. When Aki and paw paw must act in the same movie and usually as bad boys or trouble makers, Jim Iyke is always a bad/hard man, Mercy Johnson is always a village girl/student

27. Some Nigerian home video can be boring and the producers don’t help matters by extending it to PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR, PART FIVE AND PART SIX (to be contd). Funny thing is everything in that movie can be acted in 20mins if it was directed properly like the Hollywood movies.

28. When a house is supposedly on fire but wont be consumed in flames

29. When a village igbo setting has all of the cast scantily dressed with ankara or animal skin, like NOBODY wears shirt & trouser in the village.

30. The gateman is so silly that he can be insulting his Boss(es) right in there presence without getting fired….Wonder if that is possible with the rate at which people seek for employment…( e.g. Baba Suwe Films)

31. When u see the cameraman’s image on the body of a shiny car, with his camera raised up and usually clad in white singlet and short knickers.

32. When it is distributed by Zeb Ejiro, Produced by Zeb Ejiro, Written by Zeb Ejiro, Screen Play by Zeb Ejiro, Make up by Zeb Ejiro and Directed by Zeb Ejiro

33. When a couple is making love in their room with no one watching and yet they cover themselves with thick blanket and start to struggle and sweat like they were forced to do it in a public place

34. The lil boy or girl have difficulty remembering his/her lines and picks his/her words one by one

35. It is only in Nigerian movies when a prayer warrior/ pastor says ”HOLY GHOST FIRE! to an evil person and you will see fire balls, fire whips, fire missiles appearing. Wonderful! I love my native movies.

36. Most women just love Nigerian home videos and i wonder why. Perhaps its because it feeds their emotions e.g The “wicked” husband of that “innocent” woman finally got what he “deserved” in the end OR the mother in law mistakenly ate the poison she prepared for the wife (Women just love these movies…especially the married ones and their reasons aren’t far fetched)

37. When every slap sounds like a gunshot

38. When Funke Akindele comes up with OMO GHETTO and Fathia Balogun copy cats with ONOME AGANGA, then Femi Adebayo brings JELILI and Mercy Aigbe vexs and releases……

39. When ur mother and sisters all gather in the parlour watching the tv with rapt attention and periodically turn to each other and say “this kind thing dey happen o ”

40. When u see an actor/actress remembering what happened in 1972 …and at the back u see vote for Goodluck Jonathan 2011 fresh air billboard..in 1972 41. U already know what’ll end at d beginning of the film

42. To God be the glory. Watch out for part 2

Read More

UNBELIEVABLE! "Married Nollywood Actresses Sleep Around Like Dogs"

If they can do stuffs like this in movies, who knows what they would do in secret places? 


There is fire on the mountain in Nollywood but nobody seems to be running. Controversial actress, Shan George has dropped a bomb that has brought to the fore what many have been discussing in secret for a long time. In a recent chat, Todaysnigeria.com gathered that Shan George stated point blank that majority of her female colleagues, especially the married ones, are nothing but cheap dogs who abandon their husbands' at home to have sex with top politicians and businessmen for financial rewards. "Most married actresses in the industry sleep around like dogs and nobody is talking about it". 


These are people who have been lured to bed with whiff of money by top politicians and bizmen. These same people will be claiming to be happily married, feign love to their husbands," she stressed. Todaysnigeria.com observed that Shan George's revelation have been attracting reactions from some actresses. Although it is common knowledge in Lagos and Abuja that some actresses are indeed neck-deep in this show of shame, but no one has been bold enough to raise up the issue until now. However, some actresses have accused Shan of being one of them for her to know that such is going on. 




They say she's bitter because all her four marriages could not stand the test of time, and more frustrated over the fact that she doesn't have any man to call a husband at moment. But Shan has insisted that she's saying the truth and also cleared the air about are past marriages, saying "I have never being caught by any of my ex husbands sleeping around. In fact, I am a one-man, one-woman person."

Read More

Ara - ‘I married my ex-husband because I was shut out of the world’

One of Africa’s leading female drummers and singers, Aralola Olumuyiwa popularly known as Ara, will certainly not live to forget her past in a hurry.

Few years ago,she got married to her ex-husband, Prince Nurudeen Olalekan Saliu, a marriage she described as her “greatest undoing.” In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, Ara explains the circumstances that led her to go into that marriage, her present predicaments as well as the plans she has for tomorrow.

Motherhood seems to have tamed you. You’re more relaxed than the last time we saw you before your marriage

Yes, it has.

So how has it affected you?

Before I had my son, I had always loved children and I used to visit orphanages to spend time with the kids. So, when I had my baby, it softened me and made me appreciate life and God the more.

So whenever I’m down and losing hope because I’m human, I look at my boy and realize I have a reason to go on in life because God has given me this gift for a reason. I asked God for a boy and I got everything I asked from Him.

So, you probably asked God for a husband too?

I didn’t.

You didn’t ask God for a husband?

No, I didn’t ask God for my ex-husband. At that point in time, I didn’t see any need to ask and that was the greatest mistake of my life.

You walked into it with your eyes shut?

Yes, I did.

You were at the peak of your career and all of a sudden one heard that you were getting married and nothing was heard of the guy before. What did you see in him?

There’s so much I can’t talk about on the pages of newspapers. But at that time, some things were programmed and you can’t walk away from it. The major thing was that I was leaving things with my management for years and was shielded from the world.

I had no friend, I didn’t socialize. And I wasn’t allowed to do so not because I didn’t want to. Even my parents did not have easy access to me during that time.

It was that bad. At a point, I was told he was the best for me, that nobody loved me and wished me well, that the only person that wished me well was my management.

And of course, I bought the story. It got to a point that my mother fought her way backl into my life as she refused to go and I really appreciated her coming into my life at that point in time. I tried dating during that period but it didn’t click.

This guy was somebody I’d dated between 1994 and 1995 before he left the country. He messed up in the process, causing our break up. Later, he returned to me and I forgave him. But he messed up again and I forgave him again. After a while, he left Nigeria and I told myself that I was done with the relationship.

But it then came to a point, when I needed a shoulder to lean on and he was the only one who could stand the pressure from my management. So, I found in him a friend again, somebody I could naturally share my problems with.

But naturally, he would never have been my choice in terms of my kind of man. It happened that he was the only one around me at that time I could talk to because I realized a lot of things went wrong with my management deal and set up. So, naturally, I gravitated towards him.

So you married him out of sympathy?

Yes that was part of it but there’s more to it that I can’t talk about.

So finally, it ended. How did that feel?

It hurts for one reason because I never prayed for my child to come from a broken home. I regretted the marriage and everything but I don’t regret my son. My son came to me at a time I needed someone of mine. But now, he can’t see his dad the way I would have wanted him to because I’m separated from his dad.

But you’re still very good friends

I wouldn’t say we are good friends at the moment, but we tolerate each other because sometimes he needs to speak with his son and I wouldn’t deny him access to the boy. Recently, he had another baby from another woman and I cut off from him totally because this is Nigeria and I need to protect my son and myself.

I wouldn’t want a situation where his new woman would think her man is coming back to me. She ’ll see me as a threat to having her way in the man’s life. The moment he had another son, I warned him to stop calling my son the way he used to, not because I don’t want him to but because I don’t want to have problem s with any woman.

Does he take responsibility?

Not at all. I’ve been the sole provider for my son.

You talk like someone who isn’t interested in any relationship again?

I wouldn’t say I’m seeing anyone at the moment. I wish I could. I want to but I don’t know who to trust and I can’t allow anybody into my life because I’m answerable to my son. I can’t afford to allow him see many men in my life.

I want him to grow up knowing that I’m a responsible mum who did everything to give him the best in life. The father isn’t there so I’m both the father and the mother. I have so many men who are saying they love me but I don’t know them. I want to know them but I sense that they are not genuine.

They just want Ara but people would say how would I know them if I don’t give them a chance. But the thing is that I smell a rat. My heart was broken and I’m a very emotional person. I’m sensitive and naturally show so much love and I want it too. But I find it difficult to see love around me.

I keep saying that my sister-in-laws are lucky to have my brothers because I see the way my brothers treat their wives but I don’t see most of it out there. And because I look younger than my age, I get more of younger toasters and I can’t do that.

Talking about love, is it that while growing up, you lack love?

There was love in my family. I’m my father’s ‘last wife’ because I’m very close to him. Like I said, my sister-in-laws are lucky to have my brothers because they saw a love-filled environment My brothers understand what it means to take care of a woman.

So what it means is that, let me just say that I find it difficult to trust. I’m not trusting and anyone shouldn’t blame me. There’s so much pressure on me from men but I’m just not seeing it now.

You’re not available for now?

I am but I’m not trusting.

Of all instruments, why did you pick the love for percussion?

I don’t know where I picked that up from.

Does anyone play that in your family?

Except in my extended family, my mother’s side. I grew up in Warri and from my primary school, I’ve been the head of the cultural group. In Akura where I schooled, I was the social prefect, the head drummer. I won a lot of competitions, beating all the boys hands down.

How did it feel being the school drummer while the boys queued up behind you?

It was fun and I had those stars. It was a lot crazy in secondary school because all the boys wanted to know me but I was a tom-boy who didn’t give a damn about boys. Besides, I grew up in a house full of guys. But guys would think because I relate with them freely then, I liked them and wanted to date them. But it was so because I grew up in a home with all-guys. So I relate more freely with guys. I found myself doing those things that got me into a lot of trouble in school. I used to sneak out of school to eat and it wasn’t because I was from a low class home. I was from a well-to-do home.

I was in a boarding school where we had rodents in the beans and I couldn’t eat their food sometimes. So I used to go to the hostel mistress to ask for permission to go outside and eat but she wouldn’t allow me to go.

So what I do is to wait for her to go inside and make sure that the gateman is also away from his post and I’d sneak outside to eat, buy bread, sardine and other things to eat. But whenever the school authority found out, they’d bring me out in front of the assembly and embarrass me but the next day, I’d be gone again.

Way back then, they actually thought I was going out for boys, they didn’t know that I didn’t even care about boys. I didn’t know what it was to date a boy until way after my secondary school and people

were shocked about it. I was just having fun.


Being the head drummer, my first performance on stage was at Adegbemile Cultural Center in Akure. I went back to Akure recently and I stood on that stage and had a nostalgia of where it all started from.

So when was the transition from drums to talking drum?

I had always loved the talking drum but what kept me away from playing it was because I saw that it was played by only men. I was very inquisitive and would ask my uncles and aunts why it was played by just men and if I could touch it.

Then, I was close to an old man called Olopade but we called him Bami Lopa Come. He’s from Ondo State but he’s late now. So I’d go to him, carry his drum and my great grandfather had a place in Ondo town where drummers were . So I had access to all these drums. And from my maternal side too, I’m a descendant of Alaafin Of Oyo.

So naturally, when the brand Ara was being formed, I tried my hands on the saxophone, acoustic, drums and those days at the big resort owned by my manager, they had talking drums as the door bell. So one of those days, instead of just picking the stick and hitting it to indicate that I wanted to come inside, I just picked it up and start playing it. Although it was the souvenir type of drum , I started making sounds with it.

Someone then noticed how I made sounds with it and asked if I wanted to play it. I told him I’d always wanted to. So my manager asked me if I was sure and I said yes.

But he drew my attention to the fact that women don’t play it but that if it was something I wanted to do then, I should go ahead and give it a try. So I got the real one. He wanted to get the band members to teach me but they said they didn’t know how to teach me. So I bought the CDs of the musicians I’d known over the years because my father loves music till date and we used to listen to Fela, Ogunde, King Sunny Ade, Obey and others. So I started learning and that’s how I started playing the talking drum.

How has being a female talking drummer affected you?

When people see me, they just make their hands into the talking drum and I just laugh. People go crazy about me especially women. You know men pretend a lot. It has opened doors for me and that’s the instrument God used to bring me out. It has brought about positive returns in my life and I thank God.

So what was it like the first time you played the talking drum?

That day, before I got on the stage, I was jittery because I knew I was breaking a major tradition. And I wasn’t sure of what would happen thereafter but I was sure I wanted to do it. Then I had a dream the day I had my first show, I had dressed up and was waiting for my bodyguards and just laid on the pillow for like five minutes. Then I saw a vision which I wouldn’t like to share because it’s personal. But that was what gave me the courage.

What was the reaction the crowd like?

Wow! They were at first skeptical about me and if I could play it. But when they heard me, they went gaga because they didn’t believe I could. Then they applauded and gave me a standing ovation because after I was through, I did a full split. I noticed that people who play talking drums are back up instrumentalists. Then I said to myself that I must do something different. So I sing, dance, and learnt how to play the talking drum with my hand under my leg, with a split from the back and in different ways.

So to round up my performance on that day, I did a full split with the talking drum with my head back and my hair flowing. I’ll never forget that day. In fact, when people were shouting, I thought my trouser had torn and they were laughing at me because it was so thunderous.

So when you look at the industry today, how does it make you feel when you seen that we have studio recording artistes and not musicians?

You see, there are very few of us who are musicians in this country. People ask me for my album but I don’t have a single album in the market. And I tell people that I’m not a recording artiste, I’m a performer. I freeze up when I’m in a cubicle and find it difficult to play my talking drum when I’m in the studio. I’m a free spirit, a performer who doesn’t like to be caged. Of course there are studios out there but I can’t afford to take my entire band to record my live music. There are studios all over Europe that do that but I can’t afford it. The day I find a studio in Nigeria that can record my live performances because whenever I’m performing, I get high on my audience but I don’t smoke or drink. My audience gives me the highness that I want and I want to see them while recording my songs. So for now, I have just singles.

How many singles do you have now?

From inception, I’ve done three. I remember I was privileged to be in the same bus with late Sunny Okosun and Victor Uwaifo in the UK where we went for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards where I won an award. I was sitting right behind them where they were discussing about how possible it is to compare artistes who use CDs with live performing musicians. We live performers are underpaid. You can’t see the best of Ara without my full band.

My full band is about twenty one. But these days, I’m made to play with less than fifteen because they can’t pay the price. Some organizers would prefer to invite an artiste who would perform with his CD than we live performers and there are a lot more a live performer has to get in place like rehearsing my beat, dance scripts, pay my band members, engineers, costume.

Can you imagine Fela coming on stage and is telling the DJ to play him track 2? It’s a disaster. But I’ve been made to do it because these days if I don’t do it someone else would take the money and they still want to pay me the same amount paid to a CD artiste. It doesn’t make sense and it’s what is killing the industry. If you want real music, go for people like Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Ara, Yinka Davis, and we are the ones that aren’t being appreciated. But I’m not criticizing the CD artistes because that’s what they know how to do. I’m criticizing the organizers because they need to see the difference. I want to get on the stage and while the drum is rolling, I want to be able to conduct and control my band.

So how has that affected the music industry?

It has because that’s why you see that everyone is lazy. Nobody is thinking deep. I’m happy that the likes of Tuface is using a live band now because he’s a deep artiste, not because I collaborated with him but because I believe in him. I’m happy that some of these artistes are realizing the importance of originality. People are no longer writing good lyrics. One of my fans told me that he’s tired of paying money to watch artistes who use CDs to perform on stage.

In your time, female artistes aren’t so many. So how do you feel to see that female artistes are everywhere?

It’s a thing of joy and pride but if I say that all of them are still single ladies and are still paying their dues, I’m watching them and happy for them. But I’m praying that they won’t make the mistakes people like us have made. I was with the Ibru sisters last week and was telling them my personal experience. They were shocked that I went through all I went through and I’m still standing.

What were you telling them?

I was telling them what I experienced in my marriage. Even the men I opened up to couldn’t believe I went through all I did and I’m still able to do all I do on stage.

Was your experience that bad?

Yes it was bad.

Was he a wife beater?

I don’t want to talk about it. You’re recording so I can’t talk.

Read More

Stella Damasus – I am at peace with myself

Nollywood star actress Stella Damasus on Wednesday signed a multi-million naira fashion label deal with “SDA Collection” as the Brand Amabassdor of Amvictorious, a Houston Texas, USA based fashion label company which creates unique, one-of-a kind American-made lifestyle products for brides, babies, men, women lifestyle amongst other products, in Lagos.

The ceremony, which was presided over by the VP International Logistics, Mr. Edgar Dominguez, saw an elated Stella shed tears of joy as she thanked her stars for the privilege of identifying with a world class brand.
She took time out after the ceremony to speak to Showtime Celebrity on the new deal as well as her exploits in the acting business.

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU
You mentioned sometime ago that you don’t brand every product that comes your way. What’s the reason for the rejection?

There are certain things I don’t like to talk about. But the truth is, I only look out for things that will benefit me in the long run. And one of the things that puts me off from some of these contracts is the attachment of a time frame.

For instance, a one year, two year deal is unacceptable to me.I have been discussing for the past two months with the management of AM Victorious. We have spelt out terms and conditions for this deal.

My lawyer as well as my manager who is currently in America looked at the project thoroughly and we found out that it’s beneficial to both parties.

In terms of agreement and duration of the contract, its okay. So many other brands have approached me in the past but because of the unfavourable terms and conditions, I turned my back on such deals.

I don’t want to start a journey that will end in two years. It takes a longer period to make impact on something. Moreover, it’s not easy to represent a brand and help that brand become a market leader.

What I agreed with the company is that instead of making it a duration thing, let us make it a life-long business plan. My business plan is to make money and also get myself involved in something that will be beneficial to me. So, this deal is beneficial to me as well as it is beneficial to AmVictorious. We are not into this deal based on duration. I’m also building a relationship that will last in my lifetime and also allow my children benefit from it.

That’s the reason I accepted the deal, and why I haven’t accepted other contracts that came my way in the past. The fact that the Amvictorious is giving me an opportunity to do business with them that can last for a lifetime is a factor.

How do you feel about becoming the brand ambassador of Amvictorious?

I’m excited and I looked forward to it.

I actually flew into Lagos from Abuja to seal the deal. It’s very important that finally, I have seen it come to pass. This is the first time I would be signing a contract of this nature before the media; to publicly identify with a product.

I’m humbled knowing that there are a million and one other celebrities out there, who are more popular than I am; celebrities who are doing bigger and greater things internationally than I am.

So for the company to chose me over these celebrities not just as a Nigerian but for the whole of Africa, means that I should continue doing the positive things that I have been doing.

I’m honoured that Amvictorious singled me out to be part of this project. For me, it’s God’s blessing because I have been praying for something that I can be proud of. And today, my dream has come true. I’m very excited.

Stella Damasus is into acting, music and fashion. What are you doing at the moment?

I’m involved in a lot of things. I’ve just finished the final audition for my foundation: Stella Damasus Art Foundation where I am offering a three-month training for talented young Nigerians free of charge in the areas of acting and singing.

I’ve also just finished auditioning applicants for the second session. I did the first session last year, and I have graduated some people. I also have a new company, which is based in Abuja. We are doing a lot of things ranging from organising seminars to producing movies.

We organised a seminar in Cameroon recently , and after the seminar, we decided to make a movie for the people to see how quality movies are done. We are currently editing the movie titled: “The Unspoken”. It will be out very soon.

I am also doing a documentary now, which is very dear to my heart. And when it commences I will let the press know about it. My new deal with Amvictorious took a lot of my time . We had series of meetings and consultations. The company is planning to set up a branch in Abuja. All these things took a lot of my time.

At the moment, I’m a columnist with PM News. I make sure that I write my column every Wednesday in PM News.

I’m trying to be the best I can be in whatever that I’m doing.

For sometimes now, your have not been regular on screen. What happened?
I’ve done three movies that are yet to hit the market. I did “Behind Close Doors” Part 3 and 4”. I shot the movie about three years ago.

I don’t know why it has not been released into the market up till now. I also did “Bent Arrows” a Lancelot Imasuen production which is yet to be released too. And recently, I did “Two Bride and a Baby” by Blessing Effiong,”. The premiere has been done at the cinemas.

The most important thing is not about flooding my face in movies that would make me a better person. Within this period, I went back to school to study acting in the UK. In fact, I’m actually going back there very soon.

I want to improve on my acting skill and my diction. I must continue to avail myself of the opportunity of being retrained.

Recently too my production company did a 13 episode TV Show called “Changing Life”, showing on AIT, OSTV, UK and Ghana. Soon we will begin airing it in Canada.

Right now, I’ll soon start shooting the second season of the show as well.

When you have all these projects in front of you, I need time to sort out my life, business and my children.

My first daughter is going to be thirteen, in August, while my second daughter will be ten too. I need time to stay with my children. I want to be part of their growing up.

I take out a few months in a year, do the things I need to do, and go back to tender my children. I try not to expose them to the public, until they have come of age and decide what to do with their lives. Whether they want to become stars like their mum, is left to them. Paying attentions to my kids is very important to me. That is why I’m not so particular about featuring in movies nowadays.

All these projects in your hands suggests that your music career is suffering?

Not really. My music is not suffering. I’m not a recording artiste, but I own a band and I still do my live performances. I don’t go to night clubs to perform, instead I perform at weddings, product launching, naming ceremonies and all that. You might not see me on screen doing music, because I’m concentrating on my band now.

For the past one year, I have been working on my own songs, trying to arrange them well because after over 15 years in the industry, my fans are expecting something good from me.

I have to be careful not to come out with something that will not meet their expectations. And before the end of the year and by God’s grace I will drop two singles.

When you look back today, what would you say may have gone either wrong or right in your acting career?

I don’t ever regret anything that I have done or gone through. They are all part of my working experiences. I like the pace at which my career have gone. And if after 17 years of being in an industry and I’m still so relevant that people still believe in me and want me to endorse their products, then, it means that God dictates my pace. I can’t run faster than my legs can take me.Since I surrendered myself and my career to God, He’s been able to order my steps. I’m not allowed to be everywhere. I’m only at places where I have to be attended to. I don’t have any regret at all. I’m happy the way my career has turned out. I’m happy with the pace with which I’m going.

Over the years, how have you been able to cope with the temptations and criticisms associated with acting ?

If you have asked me this question ten years ago, I would have answered it. But after more than 17 years in the industry, I don’t bother anymore.

They call me old layer now, since I’m not among the hottest and freshest actresses around. They have those they run after now.

I’ve been able to carry myself in the industry in such a way that God has been providing for me and my children.

So, I don’t succumb to male’s advances because of money or fame. The small fame that God has given to me, I’m contented with it.

How is your present love life?

I love Jesus. I’m in love with Jesus and He loves me so, more than anything else in this world. I’m happy.

Would you say, you have been unlucky in marriage?

I don’t know, God has an answer to the question. But I’m loving my life right now, and I love the way things have turned out for me.

Read More

Rita Dominic urged to get married by her fans!

Nollywood actress and fair complexion diva, Rita Dominic had a chat with her numerous fans, both in Nigeria and abroad recently, when she paid them a visit at the Ikoyi office of Enownow, a Lagos based Art gallery.

The actress declined ever dating Jim Iyke. She allegedly told her fans that Jim Iyke is like a brother to her in the industry and that she would be getting married in no distant time.

*Rita Dominic

On her arrival, the celeb was dressed in a smashing blue gown with overflowing beads and a glittering ring firmly tucked into one of her left fingers. She, however, declined answers to many of the questions. For example, she refused to touch the issue of lesbianism in the movie industry.

We are pleading on behalf of our favourite star, that her fans should let her be. After all, it is stated in the Bible that ‘He who finds a wife and not she who finds a husband …’ Her turn surely would come.

Read More

Jonathan Deceived Nollywood With $200m —Chukwurah

Popular Nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah, has berated President Goodluck Jonathan over his purported donation of $200 million to the entertainment industry saying it was a deceit.

The actress who joined her counterparts in the entertainment industry in support of the masses against the removal of subsidy by the President, said nobody in the industry can say he has received the money from the President.

President Jonathan had announced a donation of $200 million to the entertainment industry during a meeting with the stakeholders in the industry. He described this as a direct intervention lifeline for the exclusive purpose of supporting artist and developing the entertainment industry.

The announcement was made at the 30th anniversary of the Silverbird Group in Lagos.

He had immediately received commendations from actors, actresses and musicians most of whom released campaign songs for him and publicly endorsed him as their candidate.

Chukwurah, while reacting to the removal of fuel subsidy by the President and some of his policies since he assumed office, Nigerians should not believe in his promises adding that the President is like other politicians who promise and fail.

She said the President announced the huge sum for the entertainment industry as “a bait to get us all to endorse him for the election and sell our fans to him,” since the President believes that with such endorsement, their fans would do same.

Also, musician, Daddy Showkey, regretted endorsing him during Jonathan’s campaign, saying the President had reneged on his promise to the people of the country.

Daddy Showkey said: “though I followed him throughout the campaign period, endorsed him and campaigned for him, I don’t support this policy.”

He added in pidgin English: “Jonathan, they say I should tell you to revert to the old fuel price of N65 per litre,” he said.

Read More

I didn't undergo any plastic surgery - Rukky Sanda

When asked by an Encomium reporter if she'd had any work done, the actress replied:

As you're looking at me now, do I look like someone who has undergone plastic surgery?

All I have said about plastic surgery is that it's not a sin.

If you can afford it, go for it.

That's just my own impression about it. I thank God you knew me before now, I believe you should be able to differentiate between my face then and now.

Read More