Entertainment

Oscars: Tunde Kelani, two other Nigerians make Academy’s members list

Published

5 years ago

July 8, 2019

Eric

Three Nigerians have made The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences newly released a diverse list of 842 members.

The Academy, popularly known as the Oscars, made visibly improved racial and gender considerations in the 2019 list that tops the 2018 list. 50 per cent of the new members are women and 29 per cent are people of colour.

This raises the percentage of women in the Academy from 31 per cent to 32 per cent while the percentage of people of colour remains at 16 per cent, the same as in 2018.

The three Nigerians include the iconic Tunde Kelani for directing, the talented Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje for acting and the fast-rising Chinonye Chukwu for writing.

Kelani is one of Nigeria’s most acclaimed directors, known for classics like ‘Thunderbolt: Magun’, ‘Saworoide’, ‘Agogo Eewo’, and ‘Dazzling Mirage’.

He is currently working on the film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s award-winning novel, ‘The Lion and the Jewel’.

Akinnuoye-Agbaje has been on a steady rise, standing out in films and TV shows like ‘The Bourne Identity’, ‘Thor: The Dark World’, ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Game of Thrones”.

In 2018, he made his directorial debut at TIFF with the auto-biographical ‘Farming’.

Chukwu is the first black woman to win the Sundance Film Festival’s biggest prize for her movie, ‘Clemency’.

She is also set to direct the film adaptation of former Black Panther Party chairwoman, Elaine Brown’s memoir, ‘A Taste of Power’.

All three join actresses Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wunmi Mosaku; film producer and directors Femi Odugbemi and Ngozi Onwurah who made the 2018 list.

Entertainment

‘We Finally Lost Him’, AGN Confirms Junior Pope’s Death

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has confirmed the death of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.

The actor and three of his colleagues were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into Anam River in Anambra on Wednesday.

Rollas took to his instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived.

“My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.

“God knows the best. We finally lost him,” he said.

Junior Pope joined the Nollywood industry in 2006, and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.

He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.

In 2007, he rose to fame after acting in the Nollywood blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures”, a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere.

He acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies which include: “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.

DailyPost

Entertainment

I’m No Longer Cut Out for Marriage, Having Kids – Iyabo Ojo

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has said that she is no longer cut out for marriage or having kids, stressing that her now is only for enjoyment.

Iyabo Ojo, a divorcee, expressed her intention not to seek marriage with her current partner, music executive Paul Okoye, also known as Paulo, saying their realtionship is for companionship.

Taking to her Instagram page, the actress shared, “Marriage – done and dusted. Had kids – done and dusted. Raised my kids – done and dusted. Next stage: Enjoyment! Enjoyment! Enjoyment!”

She added that people should, however, do what makes them happy and works for them.

“This is me. Do you ….. do what makes you happy and what works for you,” she wrote.

Iyabo Ojo is a prominent Nigerian actress, filmmaker, and entrepreneur.

She has been active in the Nigerian film industry, often referred to as Nollywood, for many years.

Ojo has appeared in numerous movies and has gained recognition for her talent and versatility as an actress. Apart from her acting career, she has also ventured into film production.