how nollywood is killing nigerian television
Post on 07-Apr-2018
212 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/6/2019 How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television
1/3
1
How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television
By Uche Nworah (uchenworah@yahoo.com)
The eighties and nineties Nigeria belonged to actors and actresses who lighted up
our TV screens with superb performances in soaps, TV dramas and shows such asInside Out, Mirror in the Sun, Supple Blues, Behind the Clouds, Checkmate,
Fortunes, Basi & Company, Ripples, New Masquerade, Fuji House of Commotion,
The Village Headmaster, Cockcrow at Dawn, Second Chance, Tales By Moonlight (a
children oriented show presented by Nkem Oseloka Orakwue) etc. These men and
women became small screen gods and goddesses. I remember watching the likes of
Barbara Soky deliver breathtaking performances first as Rosemary in the Rivers
State Television (RSTV) produced soap Inside Out, and later as Yinka Fawole in
Lola Fani-Kayodes Mirror in the Sun, the soap opera that still ranks as one of the
best to come out of Nigeria. Who didnt follow on screen and on the pages of soft-sell
magazines at the time such as Prime People, Vintage People, Lawrence Akapas
infamous Top News magazine, May Ellen-Ezekiels Classique Magazine, Lagos Life
newspaper from the stable of Guardian newspapers etc (all defunt now) the lives of
the cast including Clarion Chukwura who played the character Tinu, Uduak
Umondak, Pastor Omawumi Michael Efueye (now the Pastor of the London Light
House Parish of House on the Rock, HOTR Church in the UK) who played the
character Tosan, Yinka Fawoles love interest in the soap.
Recall the longevity of shows such as Cock Crow at Dawn especially the acting skills
of Bitrus (Sadiq Daba) and the laughter medicine served up weekly by the wholecast of New Masquerade including Chief (Dr.) Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias
4.30 (Chika Okpala), his screen wife Ovularia, Prince Jegede Sokoya (Claude Ake),
Gringory (James Iroha), Clarus (Davis Ofor) and Akpeno (Christy Essien-Igbokwe).
Who will forget the forever raging battle of wits between Ann Haastrup (Ego Boyo)
and Segun Kadiri (Richard Mofe-Damijo) in the Amaka Igwe directed soap
Checkmate, or the hilarious crew of the Ken Saro-Wiwa produced TV sitcom - Basi &
Company including Basi (Albert Egbe), Alali, Josco, Dandy, Segi and Madam the
Madam all of Adetola Street who popularised phrases such as "If you want to be a
millionaire, think like a millionaire!" "It's just a matter of CASH!" "I'm hungry, Mr. B!"and "Come in if you're handsome and rich!? Basi was already advising us to think
like millionaires if we wanted to be millionaires in the sitcom before Frank Edoho
started searching for who wants to be a millionaire on TV. Good well scripted shows
these were.
Long before Ramsey Noah, there was already another heartthrob in the person of
late MacArthur Fommaking many female hearts to fluster as Nosa, Efes brother in
the soap Behind the Clouds. Ene Oloja played the character of Nosas no-nonsense
stern looking elder sister while Zack Amata played the role of Mr Okonzua, Nosas
mailto:uchenworah@yahoo.commailto:uchenworah@yahoo.commailto:uchenworah@yahoo.commailto:uchenworah@yahoo.com -
8/6/2019 How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television
2/3
2
father. Nosas career was unfortunately cut short by an illness (CSM cerebral
spinal meningitis) which killed him.
This period could probably be described as the golden age of Nigerian television, a
period when actors and actresses made waves for the right reasons not just because
of who they were sleeping with or what car they drove. They worked hard atimproving their game performance after another. The Nigerian Television Authority
(NTA) broadcasting through a network of sister stations in almost all the states of
Nigeria helped to bring these shows to peoples homes supported by corporate
sponsors. NTA also gave opportunities to many of its staff including Pete Edochie
and Obi Okoli to showcase their talents. This is also how the names Peter Igho and
late Matt Dadzie came to be associated with every good show showing on TV at the
time. This period also saw the rise of independent producers such as Amaka Igwe
and the likes of Paul Emema, my classmate at the Communications Arts department
of University of Uyo who created Supple Blues.
And then came Living Bondage and everything changed. Widely acclaimed as the
pioneer of what has since become a multi-million dollar film industry in Nigeria known
as Nollywood. This straight-to-video movie was released sometime around 1992. It
was directed by Chris Obi Rapu, written by Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu
Ogunjiofor and produced by Kenneth Nnebue. The cast in the movie included
Kenneth Okonwo, Kanayo.O. Kanayo, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Francis Agu, Ngozi
Nwosu, Nnena Nwabueze and Sydney Diala. The success of Living in Bondage
gave rise immediately to the production of other straight- to- video independent films
notably Circle of Doom, Rattle Snake, Nneka the Pretty Serpent and many otherswhose release followed in rapid succession. Our Nollywood stars literally were then
born. Enter Eucharia Anunobi, Saint Obi, Liz Benson, Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji,
Mona Lisa Chinda, Funke Akindele and the rest of them. They were celebrated and
smiled home to the banks as well. And the pioneers, those who first gave Nigerians
joy on the small screens, it seemed their stars waned, sponsorship money on TV
dried up except for corporately owned and sponsored shows. NTA also appeared to
have lost its way preferring to air Mexican and other Latin American soap imports
moving away from its time tested and successful model of supporting indigenous
soaps and productions. There was no longer interest (it seemed) in continuing tosustain soaps and other related shows on TV when Nollywoods fame and fortune
beckoned. And then the cross overs began, even former queen of soaps Regina
Askia couldnt resist the pull ofNollywood. Richard Mofe-Damijo, Joke Silva, Nkem
Owoh, Olu Jacobs, Pete Edochie, Clarion Chukwura, Sam Loco Efe and many more
who dominated soaps and shows on the small screen all made the switch.
It is the Nigerian TV viewing audience that have become the biggest losers in the
Nollywood madness, that is for those who still bother to watch. Lovers of good old-
fashioned family sitcoms, soaps and shows have now been condemned to watching
third rate performances by some unemployed actors, actresses and wannabe stars
-
8/6/2019 How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television
3/3
3
as they dish up rubbish by way of some of the half-measure Nollywood films being
rushed and produced overnight. Some end up being aired as fillers on the DSTV
operated Africa Magic movie channels. These guys are forgetting that hard work and
professionalism should come before the thoughts of fame and fortune.
Maybe some blame should go to some of the professional actors Guild, who ratherthan focussing on improving the arts and demanding for minimum standards of
performance are more interested in fighting for leadership of the Guilds so as to
control the perks of office and perhaps have access to President Goodluck
Jonathans promised $200 million dollar Nollywood life line. It is the award season
once again in the United States of America, those who care should watch out for
winners of the Emmy Awards, this goes to show that the Oscars and Hollywood have
not killed television in America, so why should Nollywood kill television in Nigeria?
Maybe I should join Clarion Chukwura in dreaming of a re-union on the set of a one
hour special edition of Mirror in the Sun. That would be something worth watching.
Written January 2011.
top related