Guardian

From WAP, Superstory: Is This Love? debuts

AFTER months of collaboration with NAPTIP in creating awareness on dangers of human trafficking and child abuse through the popular Superstory: Itohan story, Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) have begun airing of the next story from the stable. Titled, Is This Love?, it tells the story of Prince Abioye and Ajoke as they struggle for survival, and have their love for each other tested. It is an epic African love story that reveals the dangerous sides of human emotions. It stars multitalented actors such as Jide Kosoko, Bukky Ajayi, Yemi Solade, Joke Muyiwa, Dele  Odule, Yemi Remi, as well as some upcoming actors from PEFTI Film Institute. It airs on NTA  and AIT Networks and several other top TV stations including wapTV on Startimes, which was recently awarded the Best TV Station of the Year by English Students Association Redeemer’s University. 

At NFVCB forum, stakeholders call  for more children movies, increased public enlightenment

Stakeholders in the Nigerian motion picture industry rose from a one day consumer forum organised by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) with a call to producers and movie stakeholders to ‘think out of the box’ and create movies that will stand the test of time. The forum also called for the production of more children movies and increased public enlightenment by NFVCB on responsibilities of the society and the filmmakers. Held at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Memorial Drive, Central Area Abuja on April 29, the forum was chaired by former Director General of National Broadcasting Commission Dr Tom Adaba. In his welcome address, Adaba reiterated the importance of culture in movies and advised producers to balance creativity with responsibility. Former Director General of the NFVCB, Mr. Emeka Mba, and speakers like Prof John Egwugwu Ellah, Tony Ojobo, Dr. Dul Johnson and foremost director, Ruth Sankey, all harped on the need for the producers to always go beyond the lure of cash and project the image of the country in good light instead of emphasising on the negatives. They advised that they should be more creative in the handling of rituals and voodism in their films.  Participants also advised the NFVCB to do more enlightenment campaigns to educate the public on their responsibilities. Prof Ellah of the University of Jos was categorical on the need for government to replace all obsolete teaching equipment and aids in Nigerian universities with modern ones to help in the teaching of film studies in schools. He maintained that if students don’t have the proper foundation, then it would be a case of ‘’garbage in, garbage out’’. There was also a consensus that the Nigerian movie industry is not ‘’child friendly’’ as no children films are produced. Similarly government was also advised and encouraged to create platforms for the filmmaker to plug into.

Future of African cinema in focus at FEPACI Congress

The ninth congress of the Federation Pan African Des Cineastes otherwise called FEPACI got underway in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday with members meeting to chart a new path into the future of the African audio visual industry. There is a good representation of Nigerian motion picture professionals at the FEPACI Congress, which ends on Monday. The out-going Regional Secretary Western Region 1 of FEPACI and former President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Madu C Chikwendu is in Johannesburg. So are the filmmaker Mahmood Ali-Balogun, former Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Afolabi Adesanya, President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, Andy Amenechi, founder of the Abuja International Film Festival, Fidelis Duker, and a delegation of the NFC led by Brian Etuk. Mr. Ali-Balogun is on the advisory board of FEPACI. The congress will consider and adopt key policies designed and developed  to strengthen FEPACI . Delegates will also adopt measures that enhance its role in providing an enabling environment for the interests of its constituency. Similarly, the congress will ratify the offer made by Kenya in 2012 for the central secretariat to be located in Nairobi for at least four years. It is an offer the federal board of FEPACI has accepted and so delegates will be expected to ratify the noble offer at the Congress. Delegates are expected to elect new officers for the body founded in 1969 by the late Senegalese filmmaker, Sembene Ousmane and other frontline African filmmakers as a “Not-For-Profit” legal entity, whose purpose is to promote the growth of the audio visual sector. With membership drawn from 54 countries and a permanent headquarters in Ouagadougou, organisation works closely with its affiliate national bodies to leverage policies, action programmes and projects for the development and enhancement of  the audio visual sector in Africa.

Top Yoruba actress, Bisi Obe, on her happiest moment

Popular Yoruba actress, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe, has said that the day her daughter, Destiny,  was born,  is the happiest of her life. She made this revelation at the Celebrity Night-Out, a programme put together by Odua TV, Channel 204 on Startimes. In spite of the controversy surrounding the birth of the child, the Omologbalogba actress said Destiny has given her joy beyond measure. Recall that the alleged father of the child, Dino Melaye, reportedly denied paternity.  Celebrity Night-Out shows on Odua TV. It is a platform for celebrities to answer questions from fans, the media and select guests. The event, which started with red carpet, attracted celebrities like Gbenga Adeyinka and Iyabo Ojo. It was a fun-filled atmosphere, as friends and fans trooped in to have a good time with the popular actress. It was indeed a night of excitement, as thrilled the excited audience with her  rhythmic dance steps, as the band of Saint Janet played on. Speaking on the happiest days of her life, Bisi said: “The day my daughter, Destiny, was born, was and is still the happiest day of my life. I experienced love, greater than anything I had ever felt before, and I don’t think it can ever be replaced.” Host of the event,  Soji Omotayo, spoke on the event. “It is our custom to host celebrities regularly because we believe they should be  appreciated for the efforts they put in entertaining us. Besides, their fans want to get to know them for who they really are, and so we try our best to make that happen”. Celebrities like Mercy Aigbe and Taiwo Hassan, otherwise known as Ogogo, have earlier been hosted on the show. Oodua TV is a platform where entertainment meets heritage, focusing on people, entertainment, culture, values, lifestyle, and more.