how nollywood is killing nigerian television

8/6/2019 How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television

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How Nollywood is Killing Nigerian Television

By Uche Nworah ([email protected])

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:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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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


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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.

how nollywood is killing nigerian television

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