Kalu Ikeagwu

04 Mar 2013 11:50 am

Born to a university lecturer and a nurse, Kalu’s foray into the literary world began when he was four years of age and has rarely strayed from the path ever since.

His tumultuous years in secondary school only served to strengthen his resolve to pursue his dream of expressing himself to society at large through art.

While studying English Literature in university, the shy and reticent Kalu unwittingly got ‘drafted’ in a departmental annual stage play, he went on to take part in many other stage plays and festivals including the prestigious Edinburgh festival in Scotland.

Kalu joined the Nigerian movie in 2005 and made a debut with Emem Isong’s For Real, Darkest Night and Fragile Pain for which he was nominated for best upcoming actor at the 2006 AMAA.

He has gone on to feature in numerous and memorable movies and television series, where he has shown his ability to play a wide range of characters.

Regina Chukwu

04 Mar 2013 11:47 am

Regina Chukwu hails from Enugu State and is a Yoruba film producer who has an OND in Business Administration from Lagos State Polytechnic.

She entered into the move industry 2003, starting off as a make-up artist.

From there her love for acting, script writing and producing saw her produce her first movie Oguso in 2008, followed by Idaro, Akun and Ebolo.

She has also featured in TV series such as Family Ties and Nowhere to Be Found.

Adekunle Salawu

04 Mar 2013 11:45 am

Adekunle Salawu is a prolific writer with an undying passion for television.

A Nigerian, from Boripe Local Government in Osun State, he was born and bred in Lagos State. An Economics graduate of The Lagos State University, he shelved his Bs.c in Social Science to pursue his real passion which is screen Writing.

He started writing professionally in the year 2006 and has created and written work such as Clinic Matters, Comfort Zone, My Mother In Law, 2Gether and Happy Family.

He was also a co-writer of the drama series Two Sides of the Coin and a host of others. Screen writing gives him great pleasure. He sees humour as a way of life and finds comedy in everything.

Adekunle Salawu has also written and produced his own sitcom titled; Friends and Doublet that will hit television screens very soon.

He sees God as his source of inspiration as everything and anything inspires him. He finds the industry (Nollywood) very exciting and glad to be part of the fascinating growth happening to Nollywood.

Oluwole Owoade Olawoyin

04 Mar 2013 11:41 am

Oluwole Owoade Olawoyin was born in Oyo State in Afijio Local Government and spent some years in his home town of Oyo before deciding to move to Lagos.

He eventually settled in the film industry with Cinecraft.

He thanks words of encouragement from industry insiders for helping to inspire him . He says he is honored to be an AMVCA nominee.

Thomas Gumede

04 Mar 2013 11:38 am

Thomas Gumede is an actor, stand-up comedian and M.C. He also holds a BA degree in Live Performance.

Thomas received the award for Best Actor in a drama at 2009’s SAFTA’s (South African Film & Television Awards) making him the youngest winner to date.

In just six years he has shared the screen and stage with some South Africa’s greatest actors, comedians and musicians.

He is a walking platform for brands that want associate themselves with a young, black successful entertainer and youth ambassador.

Eleazu Olusola Texas

01 Mar 2013 9:07 am

Eleazu Olusola Texas hails from Owerri, Imo State in Nigeria.

He has a National Diploma in Banking and Finance from Polytechnic of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. He joined the Nollywood industry in 2003 and is currently the C.E.O. of TEXFILMS Company.

Some of his notable works include: Blood in Lagoon (produced and directed by Teco Benson); Wazo which was produced by Funke Akindele and directed by Abbey Lanre.

Funke Akindele

01 Mar 2013 9:01 am

Actress, scriptwriter, producer and youth ambassador, Funke Akindele made her television debut on the UNFPA sponsored series on female reproductive health I Need to Know.

Her film debut was in Ojo Ketala (13th Day) and since then she has also been involved in Eta nu (Bitterness), Agbefo (Catch in the Air), Apaadi (Potsherd), TAIWO-TAIWO, Jenifa, Omo Ghetto and The Return of Jenifa.

She has won numerous awards including in 2012, Best Actress at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards, Best Yoruba Actress at the Yoruba Movies Awards and Best Actress at the Zuma Awards.

Previously she has won City People, Dynamix, Future, AMAA, Afro Hollywood and BON Awards.

Bovi Ugboma

01 Mar 2013 8:56 am

Bovi Ugboma is a graduate of Theatre Arts from Delta State University in Nigeria.

Upon graduation in 2002, he proceeded to chase his dreams of becoming a successful actor, comedian and writer.

In 2007 he debuted his first sitcom, Extended Family. After its successful run he proceeded to produce The Bovi Ugboma Show in 2010. He's married with a son.

Blessing Egbe

01 Mar 2013 8:54 am

Blessing Egbe is a 2001 Theater Arts graduate from The University of Calabar, Nigeria and a 2006 graduate from the City Varsity Film College in Cape Town, South Africa. She is a former international model turned actress, writer, producer and director who represented Nigeria at the 2008 Berlinale Talent Campus in Durban, South Africa.

To date, Blessing has written and produced 6 movies including African Queen, Walking the Lane, Before the Vow, After the Vow, The Rivals and Two Brides and A Baby. She also has two drama series namely Disclosure and Lekki Wives to her credit as writer, producer and director. Some of her past awards include Best International Drama for The Rivals at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2007, City People’s 2011 Scriptwriter of the Year, 2011 BON Awards for Best Screenplay, Best New Actress, Best Director, Achievement in Sound and Movie of the Year for Two Brides and A Baby.

In 2012, Blessing’s movie, Two Brides and A Baby also received two Africa Movie Academy Award nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. She is married with 2 kids to Michael Egbe.

Blessing is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Writer (Drama).

Juli Vandenberg

01 Mar 2013 8:53 am

Juli has worked in film and television sound post production for over 20 years. She's been a sound editor and sound designer of television series, international documentaries, and feature films such as Tsotsi, The Last Lions and Otelo Burning.

She is also experienced in final mix and has worked as post production supervisor and supervising sound editor on various productions.

She has lectured at Wits University in South Africa and Big Fish Film Schools, and is a full member of the South African Guild of Editors.

Edward Kagutuzi

01 Mar 2013 8:50 am

Edward Kagutuzi was born in 1990 in London. At the age of 12 he began to show a passion for street dancing, singing and acting. His passion for dance led to Edward becoming part of two local dance groups; Paddington Arts Dance Group and Ruff Diamond.

He learned stage skills and techniques at Cardinal Hinsley High School, London and refined at Richmond upon Thames College where he studied Theatre Studies.

Upon leaving college Edward was cast in a short film titled Twist, an urban adaptation of the famous Oliver Twist. He went on to star in television series such as Law and Order UK and Dubplate Drama but it was the role of Tijan Jacobs in the independent Nollywood feature film The Mirror Boy that captured the heart of the nation.

His highly acclaimed performance and the film's outstanding reviews saw Edward win Best Young Actor at the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria and him being nominated for Best Actor in the Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2011 (USA). Late in 2012, Edward appeared in House Of Correction written by "Laurence Olivier Award Winning Writer" Bola Agbaje which was performed at Riverside Studios, London.

He is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Actor in a Drama.

Sajni Srivastava

01 Mar 2013 8:49 am

Sajni Srivastava was a leading actress and model in Bollywood where she participated in films, series, ad films and ramp shows.

She is one of the directors of Pilipili Entertainment. Her first directorial venture Nani won the Best Film Award at ZIFF 2010. The film was sent to Portsdam (Berlin, Germany).

Her other film The Ray of Hope was also given the Best Film Award at ZIFF. To date, she has directed six films.

Rosie Motene

01 Mar 2013 8:46 am

Rosie Motene is an award winning actor and TV and radio presenter. She is also a TV and film producer, voice-over artist, media trainer, talent manager, global emcee and activist.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts (Honours) from The University Of the Witwatersrand. Rosie began her acting career as one of the principal actors on the hit soap opera, Generations. Her other acting credits include, Hotel Rwanda, Nothing But The Truth and The Other Woman.

Her TV producer credits include Studio 53 and Jara. Her film producing credits include Jesus and the Giant and Man on Ground, which has won 10 awards to date.

Rosie runs the first Pan-African talent agency and represents artists from East, West and Southern Africa. She also sits on the boards of The Tomorrow Trust, POWA and Infinite Family.

Sameer Srivastava

01 Mar 2013 8:42 am

Sameer Srivastava spent 15 years in Bollywood, where he worked as assistant director, directed ads, videos and telefilms.

In 2009 he launched an entertainment company in Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania called Pilipili Entertainment. He is not only the Managing Director of the company but also the director of many projects for the company.

His film Huba won the Best Film Award at MINI ZIFF 2011 while his second film Black Sunday became the first local kiSwahili film to be launched in a theatre at MILIMANI in September 2010.

The leading lady on Black Sunday also received the Best Actor Award at ZIFF 2010.

Collins Ezenwa

01 Mar 2013 8:38 am

Collins Chinedu Ezenwa is a movie producer and marketer. He is also the managing director of P. Collins Production LTD which produced the movie Wisdom of Thomas, which was set in Enugu in Nigeria. His company has produced over 70 movies including Dumebi, The Dirty Girl. He is also the managing director of P. Collins Production LTD which produced the movie Wisdom of Thomas, which was set in Enugu in Nigeria. His company has produced over 70 movies including Dumebi, The Dirty Girl.

Collins is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Movie (Comedy).

Alex Konstantaras

01 Mar 2013 8:30 am

Alex Konstantaras did a wide variety of jobs including postman, housekeeping and film critic, before graduating from the International Film School of Wales where he completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies in film directing.

He later became the co-director of Jitu Films, a film production company set in Kenya, where he helped in setting up the local film industry together with other Kenyan filmmakers. Jitu Films has been responsible for one-third of the total output of the Kenyan film industry since the early 2000s, though Jitu's work has found more favor abroad.

Alexandros’ films are quite short for feature length (he says a film should never run longer than 90 minutes, and many of his films are nearer 60-70min), eccentric parodies of various genres (road movies, film noir, dancing films), populated by lugubrious Kenyan characters and set to eclectic soundtracks.

Now he is freelancing. His latest film “The Return of Lazarus” is the first feature film he shot outside Kenya (in Greece) but still including Kenyan elements in it.

Filmography
Zeinabu Rudi Nyumbani (short)
R2 Security (feature)
Chasing Moses (short)
Me, my wife and her Guru (short)
The Return of Lazarus (feature)

Reg Chuhi

26 Feb 2013 4:14 pm

Reg Chuhi started her editing career in 2009 at Xmedia Kenya, where she produced and edited her first TV show Africa Rising which aired on AfricaMagic Plus.

She also did several documentaries and movies including the award-winning movie Witchdoctor, which won the View for Change online contest.

She was the senior editor on an AU/UNDP sponsored project about post-election violence and reconciliation in Kenya. Reg then joined Stellarscape, where she edited the television show Drama's of Life that aired on NTV Kenya.

In 2011 she joined Spielworks Media where she has done several shows including Lies That Bind and Block D currently airing on Africa Magic Swahili.

Nolwazi Shange

26 Feb 2013 4:07 pm

2010 SAFTA award winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for A Place Called Home, Nolwazi Shange hails from Durban and studied Drama at The Durban Institute of Technology.

She has appeared in well-known programs such as Mtunzini.com, as well as the portrayal of Precious in A Place Called Home on SABC 1.

She can also been seen in Heartlines, Heartlaugh’s, Soul City, InterseXions and international award winning film Otelo Burning. She was nominated for a SAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ntombi in Intersexions.

True to her diverse nature, Nolwazi’s also a professionally trained singer and dancer having performed on various occasions in The FNB Dance Umbrella and Jomba Dance Festival. Her theatre experience includes Cinderella for The National Children’s Theatre, Arepp Theatre for Life and at various festivals such as The Grahamstown Arts Festival and The Macufe Festival.

She has also been a presenter for Mindset Network as well as a director for Arepp Theatre For Life.

Kunle Bamtefa

26 Feb 2013 4:00 pm

Born in Sagamu Nigeria, Kunle attended the prestigious University of Ibadan where he took an honours degree in Theatre Arts in 1979 with emphasis on Acting, Dance, and Directing.

He joined the Nigerian Television Authority as a Producer/Director (Drama) until he decided to concentrate more on acting.

He has performed in the United States of America, Japan, Germany, The Netherlands, many African countries and of course Nigeria.

Kunle is married with two sons to an actor /choreographer wife who is currently starring in a television series Meet the Adebanjos in the United Kingdom.

Bubu Mazibuko

26 Feb 2013 3:48 pm

Bubu Mazibuko is a South African female actor, with powerful credits to her name.

Her body of work includes the Phillip Noyce directed Catch A Fire where she starred alongside Tim Robbins and Derek Luke, the South African produced Jerusalema. The soon to be internationally released Long Walk to Freedom alongside Idris Alba which is a story about South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela’s life.

She has featured in over 15 TV productions most of which have received numerous SAFTAS and international recognition.

Her devotion to the craft of acting has seen her deliver incredible performances in series’ such as the ground breaking YizoYizo, Gaz’Lam, Society, Hard Copy, Home Affairs, Zero Tolerance, Dream World, the Emmy nominated Sokhulu & Partners to name a few.

Bubu’s strengths in the craft has also earned her the prestigious seat in the judging panel in South africas’ premier awards (SAFTA) South African Film and Television Awards twice in her career, and has also been nominated for a SAFTA twice as best actress in a drama and best casting director.

When Bubu is not acting she wears the hat of a casting director.

Kayode David Afolabi

26 Feb 2013 3:44 pm

Kayode David Afolabi is an audio visual editor, with over 10 years working experience.

He studied at National Film & Television School. He has worked for creative advertising agencies and film production companies. He’s the editor of the TV Series’ called The Benjamins and Clinic Matters screening on AfricaMagic and on local stations across West Africa.

He’s also edited TV commercials, reality shows, movies, TV documentaries and music videos. He’s also part of the production crew that produced the Intern Reality TV Show 2008 & 2009, Coca-Cola Game Show 2007 and Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN 2006).

He has also won The TAVA Awards for the Best Editor TV Sitcom 2010 and Best TV Drama & Sitcom 2012. He's a member of The Nigeria Society of Editors (NSE).

Taiwo Atigogo

26 Feb 2013 3:37 pm

Taiwo Atigogo studied Dramatic Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Her experience in the theatre spans over two decades. She has worked with notable directors, both nationally and internationally.

As a dancer she was a former resident artiste of the National Troupe of Nigeria and has travelled round the globe showcasing African culture in general and Nigerian culture in particular.

Her love for children prompted her to direct the maiden edition of the National Troupe of Nigeria's Children's Theatre Creative Session Play titled Colours of the Rainbow. As an actor she has performed on stage, radio and on screen.

Her credits include Professor Wole Soyinka's The Strong Breed, Professor Ola Rotimi's The God's Are Not To Blame, BBC Radio drama television series Resque, Private Sector as well as My Mum and I.

Teru Ekuerhare

26 Feb 2013 3:33 pm

Teru Ekuerhare is a graduate from the Delta State University, Delta State Nigeria, is a British born Nigerian television producer, writer and director.

After obtaining a Master’s Degree from the London South Bank University, he returned to Nigeria to pursue a career in television. Initially involved in other productions, including Just The Two of Us, he produced the drama comedy Wanna Be. Three seasons have so far been produced with the fourth in the pipeline.

After being involved in other productions, including Centre of Attraction and My Tomorrow in different capacities – cinematographer, writer, producing and directing, Teru Ekuerhare recently shot a TV series titled The Outsiders.

Patricia Gichinga

26 Feb 2013 3:28 pm

Patricia Gichinga is a gifted, creative, energetic and enthusiastic TV Producer with the Mediae Company.

Her passion is to create high quality, entertaining mass communication channels. Currently she is the producer of Makutano Junction. She has previously worked for The Mediae Company in different capacities, starting off at the SMS interactive department and helping to build the SMS database for Mediae.

She later joined the production department, first as a Production Assistant on Makutano Junction, then as Production Manager, Assistant Producer and then Producer.

She went on to become the Producer of The Know Zone Show. In the upcoming reality TV series of Shamba Shape Up she took on the role of the production manager.

Matthew Nabwiso

26 Feb 2013 3:18 pm

On the Ugandan showbiz scene, Matthew Nabwiso wears many hats as a lead vocalist for a World Music band (Soul Beat Africa), as an auditions judge for Tusker Project Fame and as an advertising model.

However it is his bankable acting talent, most especially as Gilo in the popular Ugandan campus TV series The Hostel that he is known for. His body of acting work includes a couple of feature length films like The Battle of the Souls (2006), State Research Bureau (2010) and The Pardon (2011).

He has also as the leading man in short films like Perfect Symmetry (2010) and A Good Catholic Girl for which he has garnered an AMVCA nod.

Mathew’s self-actualization as an actor stems from the grounding he received from Namasagali College, a top performing arts Ugandan college that renowned for a quarter a century legacy of putting on theatrical productions at the National Theatre.

Bola Belo

26 Feb 2013 3:13 pm

Bola Belo is a filmmaker, an award winning Art Director and Production Designer.

He studied Film/Video at School of Visual Arts in New York City and he has worked extensively in the U.S. on movies, TV shows, commercials, documentaries and art installations.

His credits include Making the Band II, Chappelle Show, Small Boy (Movie 2009), Relentless (Movie 2010), Ma'ami (Movie 2010), My Home by Nneka (Music Video), Images of Africa (Denmark).

He runs Clam Films in Nigeria and is a producer with Jungle Film works. He is also the founder and owner of 256 Artistes and The Program (Nig) Ltd.

Lilian Esoro

26 Feb 2013 3:05 pm

Lilian Esoro from Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State studied Political Science at the University of Abuja. She started her acting career in 2005 after much persuasion from her friend Bovi Ugboma.

Her first appearance was in Extended Family.

She quickly discovered she loved acting and went on to appear in other works such as Aetu (a stage play) at the National Museum Festival, Clinic Matters (a medically themed sitcom), I Voted Now Wetin! (a USAID youth empowerment film), Yaw’s ‘N Mine, Tinsel, The Potter, Strive and Next Door Neighbor among others.

Maureen Koech

26 Feb 2013 2:59 pm

Maureen Koech has been acting since her nostalgic high school days where she joined the school drama club.

She has performed in several plays performed at the Alliance Francais. Her first TV stint was when she nabbed a supporting role in the critically acclaimed campus drama Changing Times.

A budding singer herself, she enjoys playing the guitar, and her debut single No Letting is set to hit the African airwaves pretty soon so listen out! She stars in Lies That Bind, a show that has been highly rated, also winning the 2012 Kalasha Award in the best TV drama category. She absolutely adores acting and just as the blonde moments on set, it comes out so naturally for her.

She thanks Africa and her fans for the nomination and admits that it was quite unexpected yet one of the Everest high points in her acting career. Maureen Koech has worked as a supermarket attendant at one very interesting time in her life so it is highly likely that it was her you saw on aisle five.And yes, she is in campus chasing after the good grades too!

Udoka Oyeka

26 Feb 2013 2:00 pm

Udoka Oyeka started his journey when he stumbled into a theater elective while in college.

He graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and immediately went to drama school to chase his passion for performing both on stage and in front of the camera.

While producing and performing short films for friends in Canada, writing and directing films followed naturally.

He released his first feature ZR 7 (The Red House Seven) in cinemas nationwide (Nigeria) in 2011 and has followed with this new short film entitled Down and Out.

He’s currently an executive partner at Applegazer and KarmaCause Productions and is steadily following his passion for filmmaking.

Ikhide Isaac

26 Feb 2013 1:51 pm

Ikhide Isaac has starred in Teru Ekhuerare's The Outsiders a new action drama series.

Ikhide Isaac is the last of six children from a family of eight. He has a very jovial personality. He is a graduate of Theatre Arts, Delta State University, 2010.

He has a great passion for entertainment and media arts. He started acting as a career, in 2008 while at school.

Shirley Frimpong – Manso

26 Feb 2013 10:35 am

With a background in directing, writing, presenting, producing and event organization, Shirley Nana Akua Frimpong – Manso brings to the Ghanaian entertainment industry a rich and varied experience.

Shirley’s career began when she started presenting programmes on Radio Gold, TV3, Metro TV and GTV respectively.

To date Shirley has written, produced and directed the series Different Shades of Blue and Personalities Kitchen plus several Ghanaian movies.

Adams Apples is a ten chapter movie series screened monthly at the Silverbird Cinema. The title has also been distribution in London, Canada and Nigeria and is currently selling on Amazon.com.

Elom Adablah

26 Feb 2013 8:39 am

28-year-old Elom Adablah (EL) is a multi-talented rapper and singer, a pioneering producer and a performer. His brand ‘This is Crazy ChalEE’ has become a Ghanaian household term and his music has made him a popular face in Ghana’s music industry in just a short period. He has fast gained a reputation for his crazy club bangers and spectacular sound.

He has had several international shows and club performances and is in high demand since the release of his album ‘Something Else’ in 2012. Among his notable achievements, he has won several awards (Ghana Music Awards 2011, Ghana Movie Awards 2010 and 2010 African Movie Academy Award). He also scooped a 2012 nomination as the Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Newcomer. His YouTube channel has had over 1,500,000 views.

Obi-Emelonye

26 Feb 2013 8:34 am

Obi-Emelonye has lived in the creative bubble created by her film director husband for the past 10 years. Gradually she has been sucked into the world of make believe and writing the story of The Mirror Boy was her first foray into screenwriting.

The success of that project has encouraged her to continue her writing career with Onyeozi (The Messenger), an Igbo film to be shot in London (in pre-production).

She shares her time between completing a degree in Social Work and looking after her young children. She lives with her family in Chelsea, West London.

She has been nominated in four AMVCA categories for Best Sound Editor, Best Movie Director, Best Movie (Overall)and Best Movie (Drama).

Jackie Appiah

26 Feb 2013 8:18 am

Jackie Appiah is a celebrated Ghanaian actress with years of acting experience to her credit. From her early role as the sweetheart of the TV drama series, Things We Do for Love, she has evolved into one of the most recognized faces in African cinema.

Jackie Appiah has warmed her way into the hearts of many with performances in productions from Ghana to Nollywood and Black Hollywood. She has won the prize for both best actress in a lead role and supporting role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, as well as several other awards including a National Youth Achievement Award from the President of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama.

Jackie has been nominated in the category for Best Actress in a Drama.

Preston Mwila

26 Feb 2013 8:07 am

Preston Mwila has 13 years of experience as a media consultant, and is currently the CEO of FrameWorks Media. Multi-faceted, his capabilities include acting, writing, costume design, directing and producing.

His major achievements include the Best Achievement Award at the 2011 National Media Arts Association Awards of Zambia and an Ngoma Awards Winner in 2012 for Best Feature Film (Media Category). He was also won several awards for producing advertising campaigns for the corporate world in Zambia.

Preston is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Costume Designer.

Kevin Ireri Miriti

25 Feb 2013 4:23 pm

Kevin enjoys putting together pieces to make one beautiful story that is neat, compelling and memorable.

In his time as a video editor, he’s had the pleasure of working on different productions like Demigods (Season 1) that aired on NTV and Lies that Bind (Season 1 and 2) that airs on KTN in Kenya.

He has also worked as an editor for SuperSport features. His passion is driven by a desire to assemble stories in a compelling way.

If there is a great moment that has been captured, then he says he want to be the one who brings it to life.

Christine Ngoma

25 Feb 2013 4:17 pm

Christine Ngoma is a 37-year-old Zambian mother of one who completed a course as a makeup artist in 2009.

Upon finishing the course, she began working at Frame Works and Kawanu was her very first production.

She says that she is humbled to find herself nominated for an AMVCA and feels that this happy news is a step in the right direction for her career.

Chris Ihidero

25 Feb 2013 4:14 pm

Chris Ihidero is a theatre artiste, broadcaster, newspaper columnist, magazine editor and university lecturer. He made a switch to film in 2007 when he joined Amaka Igwe Studios as a Trainee Director. In 2008, he became the director of Fuji House of Commotion, Nigeria’s longest family series.

He has also directed other television soaps and series, including Now We are Married, VIP, and Tempest. In 2011 he wrote and directed Big Daddy, a short film on the rape scourge in Nigeria.

Beyond his duties at AIS, Chris also works as Director of Studies at the Centre for Excellence in Film and Media Studies, Lagos, the research and training arm of AIS.

Sara Blecher

25 Feb 2013 4:11 pm

Sara Blecher is a co-founder of CINGA Productions, a South African based film and television production company that has made a number of award-winning drama series including Zero Tolerance which was nominated for an international Emmy Award.

She co-created, wrote, directed and produce many episodes in this series.

A graduate of NYU she also works as a drama and documentary producer/director. Sara has made some outstanding and noteworthy documentaries including Kobus And Dumile for which she won CNN’s African Journalist of the Year Award.

She is co-creator, director, and producer of the award-winning 36 part drama Bay Of Plenty, and has recently just completed directing and series producing the local version of Who Do You Think You Are? An honors graduate of NYU.

Sara lives in Johannesburg where she has just completed her debut feature film Otelo Burning.

Ariyike Oladipo

25 Feb 2013 4:06 pm

Ariyike Oladipo has worked on various projects as producer and has also created TV programmes of high quality, from sitcoms to soap operas and talk shows.

The sitcom One 2 Much, which she co-produced in 1999 ran on NTA 2, Channel 5 and other syndicated stations in Nigeria. She also produced and presented the aviation magazine program Airbourne in 2001.

Her second television sitcom Dear Mother was began in 2002 and has been screened on over 15 syndicated stations across Nigeria in the last decade.

Wanjiku Mbugua

25 Feb 2013 4:02 pm

Wanjiku Mbugua has been an Art Director and Props Master with Spielworks Media LTD since 2010.

Making spaces beautiful is something she has been constantly passionate about. So far, she has worked on several productions in the capacity of an Art Director.

These include Season Three and Four of Higher Learning (drama series, NTV Kenya), Seasons One and Two of Lies that Bind, Ya Mama Yabamba (a UNICEF documentary) and Where is my Paper, a Nation Media advert.

She loves bringing scripts to life and telling stories through art.

Frank Osodi Richard

25 Feb 2013 3:52 pm

Frank Osodi Richard is the owner and designer for the labels; House of Bunor and Frank Osodi for Bunor. Frank who is a former professional and West African top model, has won several awards as a fashion designer, most notably International Designer of the Year 1991-1992 and Fashion Person of the Year 2003.

He’s also the brain behind the highly successful annual international fashion show BLACK, BOLD AND JAZZY, and the organizer of the West African Fashion Week scheduled to debut in August 2013.

He’s currently the President of the Model Managers Association of Nigeria. A graduate of visual and general arts from the College of Textile Technology in Lagos. He also holds a diploma in make-up artistry from Phillip Cole Career College London.

Hakeem Kae-Kazim

25 Feb 2013 3:49 pm

Hakeem started his career at the Royal Shakespeare company in productions such as Anthony Shers Merchant of Venice.

He went on to share the stage with acclaimed actors Brian Cox in King Lear and Sir Ian McKellan in Richard III for the Royal National Theatre.

He has kept his link with the continent however producing and starring in films in Nigeria, including Nigeria’s first musical movie Inale and Last Flight to Abuja and Black November.

Tom Marais

25 Feb 2013 3:46 pm

Tom’s passion for photography led him to study cinematography at the School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA), where he graduated with honours.

Thirteen years later, Tom maintains his love affair with visual storytelling. His latest mistress being Musiek vir die Agtergrond (Background Music), his 10th feature film and 3rd collaboration with Bosbok Ses Films. Tom experienced a prolific 2012. His work for the year included, the filming of a drama series and two feature films.

This great year in Tom’s life was building on the momentum from the year before. The year 2010 also saw him filming his first English language feature film, Skeem, with his old colleague, writer/director Tim Greene. Skeem has won numerous awards to date and continues to do very well with foreign audiences.

Sharafa Abagun

25 Feb 2013 3:43 pm

Sarafa Abagun started his career at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) where he voluntarily retired to face other challenges in the profession. As a cameraman he covered many sports programs, news, features and documentaries both within and outside the shores of the country.

He has worked as a freelance cameraman for documentaries, feature films, commercials and promos. His work portfolio includes Reuters News Agency (Stories on Niger-Delta militancy), British Broadcasting Corporation (June 12 elections crisis, Kaduna/Kano religious crisis), Annual Lagos Carnival and Black Heritage Festival as well as the World Tourism Conference in Calabar, Cross River State.

TV Commercial credits include: Visafone Blackerry promo, Etisalat 9ja News, Haier Thermocool, Golden Penny Semovita-Share our secret, and Etisalat.

Sarafa Abagun is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Cinematographer.

Godfrey Mwampembwa

25 Feb 2013 3:41 pm

Cartoonist Godfrey Mwampembwa, a.k.a Gado, is the most Syndicated Political/Editorial cartoonist in the East and Central Africa.

His works have also been published in Le Monde (France), The Guardian of London and Japan Times among others.

An ardent lover of animation and film since childhood, Gado studied Classical animation in 2000-2001, at Vancouver Film School in Canada.

Michael Botha

25 Feb 2013 3:37 pm

Michael Botha is a dialog editor, SFX editor, ADR recordist, and most recently, final mix engineer.

He graduated from the Academy of Sound Engineering in 2007. He then began working in the dubbing bay at Video Lab before moving on to Area 5.1 where he started by recording foleys for feature films such as White Wedding and White Lion.

His next stop was ADR Recording which has given him the opportunity to work on both local and international series and features such as Strike Back, Winnie, Invictus, The Bang Bang Club, among others.

Jacqui Bannerman

25 Feb 2013 3:36 pm

Passionate about what she does, Jacqui Bannerman was the head of make-up and hair on the hit South African film Spud. In addition she has taken on the role as head of make-up and hair on numerous South African and international commercials for companies such as Vodafone, Orange and Coca-Cola.

She has also been the head of make-up and hair on various film, documentaries (for Animal Planet and Discovery) and drama series.She is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Make-Up artist.

Joel Assaizky

25 Feb 2013 3:30 pm

Some of Joel's highlights include include Man on Ground, Bunny Chow, White Wedding, The Lab, Hard Copy, Rhythm City and The Wild.

Joel's company, Scoremachine, is a music production outfit that specializes in bespoke music for film & media comprising of some of the continents top musical talent.

O.C. Ukeje

25 Feb 2013 3:30 pm

O.C. Ukeje is a Marine Science graduate of the University of Lagos, Akoka with a Diploma in Acting for Film from the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles. He was a recipient of the Africa Movie Academy Awards in the Best Upcoming Actor category for 2008 and the Best New Actor category for City People’s Awards of 2010.

He has appeared in about 13 feature films and several theater productions and has worked with celebrated actors like Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Sarah Wayne-Callies, Chinwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.

His film credits include White Waters; Jeta Amata’s Black November; Two Brides and a Baby; Confusion Na Wa; the screen adaptation of Chimamanda’s Half Of a Yellow Sun; and the recently concluded BFI-sponsored project, Gone Too Far. Stage credits include Going Back to my Roots; Ajai The Boy Slave; Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Lion and The Jewel’ and Sefi Atta’s ‘The Engagement’, two of the three plays showcased at the Cultural Olympiad in 2012, of which O.C. was a part of the repertory team.

He is nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Actor in a Drama.

Shola Ayorinde

25 Feb 2013 3:26 pm

Shola's experience spans across ad films, documentaries and feature films.

Among his credits are Married but Living Single, Two Brides and a Baby, One Thousand Miles, Aiyekooto, Mufu Oloosha Oko and Igba Nbajo among others.

Benjamin Odiwuor

25 Feb 2013 3:23 pm

Benjamin Odiwuor is a Kenyan film and television producer and director with seven years' experience in the industry.

Starting off as a writer in Makutano Junction, he later branched out on his own to found Maxpot Media, a television production company in 2008. He has produced and directed three television series, Noose of Gold, Mwangaza and Demigods.

His company is currently working on two new exciting television series. And he's nominated in the AMVCA category for Best TV series.

Tunde Kelani

25 Feb 2013 3:21 pm

Film director Tunde Kelani holds a Diploma in the Art and Technique of Film making from the London International Film School.

An advocate of ‘Alternative Technology’ in motion picture production in Africa, Tunde Kelani has successfully produced and directed two digital features Saworoide and ThunderBolt.

He has also completed work on his latest digital film Agogo-Eewo shot on widescreen digitally on DVCAM.

In addition to the M-Net short features films, Twins of the Rain Forest, A Place called Home and Barber’s Wisdom (35MM), he also photographed, produced and directed a short feature in 16mm The White Handkerchief in the same series.

Nkiruka Nwauzor

25 Feb 2013 2:59 pm

Nkiruka Nwauzor is a costume designer, a make-up and a make-over artist.

She has done costumes for both local English and Yoruba movies, as well as a lot of television soap operas and Hausa soap opera and television series.

She also works on a Yoruba magazine talk show that is viewed all over Africa.

Genevieve Nnaji

25 Feb 2013 1:45 pm

Since her first role when she was just eight-years-old Genevieve Nnaji has starred in countless movies and earned numerous awards and accolades across Africa.

In May 2011, she was awarded with the Breakthrough Performance Award at the Monaco Charity Film Festival, for her role in the movie Mirror Boy.

With a desire to continue to elevate the status of Nollywood across borders, Genevieve has consistently shown a renewed interest in top quality feature films that would help break down industry barriers.

Thishiwe Ziqubu

25 Feb 2013 1:42 pm

Thishiwe Ziqubu is an actress based in Johannesburg. She stars in Akin Omotoso's award-winning feature film, Man on Ground.

Thishiwe recently graduated from the intensive Acting for Film programme at the Los Angeles Campus of the New York Film Academy.

Also a trained scriptwriter and director, she has written and directed three independent short films, Out Of Luck, Subdued and Between the Lines, the latter of which premiered at the 2011 Durban International Film Festival.

Marie Lora-Mungai

25 Feb 2013 1:38 pm

Marie Lora-Mungai is a serial media entrepreneur, television producer, writer, and journalist. She is the co-founder and CEO of Buni Media, a multimedia company based in Nairobi, Kenya, and Los Angeles, California.

Buni Media is the producer of The XYZ Show, Kenya’s very popular political satire show, followed by more than eight million people every month.

Her work as a journalist was recognized by a UN Correspondent Golden Medal and various other award nominations. She holds a Masters in Political Sciences from Sciences Po and a Masters in Marketing from ESCP Europe Business School.

Mercy Johnson

25 Feb 2013 1:33 pm

Mercy Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1983.

The wife and mother of one began her acting career in 2004 and has to date, featured in over 50 movies.

Her major hits include Girls Cot, White Hunters, The Maid, Kill d Bride, Dumebi and Keziah among others.

Terry Emmanuel

25 Feb 2013 1:28 pm

Terry Emmanuel specializes in cinematography and lighting design.

Some of his credits include Down & Out directed by Udoka Dyeka, Chidera directed by Serah Donald, King of Shitta directed by Joe Ubaka and A Longer Night directed by Chinedu Omorie among others.

His television credits include the series Eve directed by Joe Ubaka and Going West directed by Chris Iheanacho.

Adekunle Ayodeji Afolayan

25 Feb 2013 1:23 pm

Adekunle Ayodeji Afolayan is a second generation Nigerian filmmaker and is the son of the highly respected Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade-Love).

Kunle’s work includes films such as Ololufe, and The Figurine-Araromire. His first full-length movie was Irapada which demonstrated his ability and versatility as an actor, producer and co-director.

Recently the blockbuster Phone Swap, and other productions from his stables have been featured at international film festivals.

Lance Stehr

25 Feb 2013 1:23 pm

Ghettor Ruff/ Muthaland Entertainment has become South Africa's leading cutting edge record label. Boasting the talents of artists such as; Malik, Jozi, Pitch Black Afro, Ishmael, Gumshev, Da L.E.S and UZ. Ghetto Ruff Records came to be in the late 1980s when Lance Stehr (current Managing Director of the label) formed the Cape Town based hip hop group, ‘Prophets of Da City’ (P.O.C) .

POC did extremely well in South Africa as well as internationally. In many ways POC enabled Stehr to expand and grow the label into the premiere kwaito label in South Africa today. South Africa's R&B star Ishmael was born out of POC and in 1996 he helped Ghetto Ruff Records enter the kwaito genre when the group Skeem of Waar was formed. Another product of POC was the acclaimed Afrikaans hop hop group Brasse Vannie Kapp.

With this foundation, Stehr was able to discover and nurture numerous kwaito stars resulting in hundreds of releases over the years. Many of the artists under Ghetto Ruff, have been nominated for awards, gained international exposure and have progressed in their music, business/ production careers.

In addition, Lance Stehr won the Best Music Video Director from Africa award at the Cannes Awards 1997 for Prophets of Da City for Understand Where I’m Coming From. In 1999 he worked as head of Polygram SA in their local division responsible for their full local catalogue. Further he released and nurtured Skeem, O’Dameesta, Brickz, DJ Cleo and Zola among others. He was also the music supervisor for the Oscar winning film Tsotsi.

Lance has been nominated in the AMVCA category for Best Television Series  for the hit reality show, Jozi City Lights.

Jane Awoonor-Williams

25 Feb 2013 1:15 pm

Jane Awoonor-Williams is the CEO of Spa 216 Ltd, an ultra-modern day spa in the city of Accra. She’s a make-up artist and one time Executive Director of Sparrow Productions Ltd.

Jane holds an IMA certificate in Beauty and Make Up from the London school of make-up. Her work includes Sparrow Productions movies such as The Perfect Picture, A Sting In A Tale, Checkmate and others.

Gabriel Okorie

25 Feb 2013 1:10 pm

Gabriel Okorie, a.k.a Gabazzin’s previous work experience includes time as a news editor and reporter for AM and PM News before he moved into production with Grand Touch Pictures.

Branching into the field of make-up, he established Gabazzini Koncept Ltd (Make up, Designs, Stunts & SFX) in 2000.

Since that time he was won a range of awards including a 2012 Nollywood Movie Award for Best Make-Up Artist.

Fabian Adeoye Lojede

25 Feb 2013 11:58 am

Fabian Adeoye Lojede, a graduate of Psychology from the University of Ibadan Nigeria, began his paid creative career as a copywriter and voice-over artist.

He played Bola Abayomi in Jacob’s Cross and Femi in Man On Ground the award winning feature film he co- produced with director Akin Omotoso and actor Hakeem Kae Kazim.

He is nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award. To vote for Fabian click here.

Ng’endo Mukii

04 Feb 2013 11:53 am

Ng’endo Mukii received her primary education under the instruction of Catholic nuns, before she left her home to experience the Century’s Super Power.

Today she can be found armed with a pressure sensitive stylus, and a macro lens.

She spends her time between Nairobi and Tsavo, animating little children, photographing dung beetles, and running away from scorpions.

Ng’endo is a graduate of the Royal College of Art in London and works internationally as a freelance editor and animator.

Omotola J. Ekeinde

05 Dec 2012 11:00 am

#RealOmoSexy

Award winning actress and musician Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is a household name in the TV and film industry. The wife and mother of four is known for various roles in some of the biggest movies to hit Nollywood. Recently she's starred in Last Flight to Abuja, Ties that Bind and Amina.

She was born in Lagos, Nigeria 34 years ago, but despite her international travels and fame, she's still based in her country of birth.

A style icon in her own right, Omotola says shoes and handbags are her favourite fashion accessories. Her other interest lie in directing and songwriting. Omotola listens to all sorts of music particularly rock, pop and country music.

She's a champion for the United Nations World Food Programme, Save the Children, Amnesty International as well as her own Youth Empowerment Programme, the OYEP.

AMVCAs judge: Femi Odugbemi

24 Oct 2012 12:33 am

AfricaMagic has recruited leading and respected industry veteran, renowned filmmaker and founder of iREP Femi Odugbemi, to take on the role of executive judge.

We spoke to him to find out his views about the awards and what they represent...

Since the announcement of the AMVCAs, what kind of feedback have you received from industry professionals with regards to this initiative?
There is positive energy about the news and excitement is high. Everybody recognizes that this is a huge opportunity for all professionals in front and behind the camera to celebrate our works in film and on TV. Its about recognizing the best of Africa's creative talents and giving everyone an incentive to do better work.

AMVCAs also has the unique element of giving viewers across Africa a say in who wins in several specific categories, it is also a highly-anticipated opportunity for feedback on the the popularity of our leading stars in a statistically verifiable way.

I am especially happy that in general people understand the guidelines - it is simple and clear and fair - and the volume of entries coming in daily proves clearly that AMVCAs is very popular and will be a huge success.

You are a very busy individual. What about the AMVCAs appealed to you so much that you were willing to commit time and energy to the project?
I think all of us owe it a duty to support every initiative that will raise the game creatively-speaking. There is potential for the creative industries of Africa to contribute more significantly to the economy of the continent. Its already the sector providing a lot of employment for the youth of the continent. But to achieve potential we have to raise the game.

AMVCAs provides the right kind of incentive for our creative industries to get recognition and to improve in quality. Personally I consider it a kind privilege to be able to contribute to AMVCAs success. The possibilities and opportunities this initiative brings is HUGE- it gives hope to creatives, ensuring them of a platform that cuts across Africa to show case their skills and creativity and it creates healthy competition.

I have committed my time and energy to fostering and protecting these kind of opportunities in my career and I am excited to be given the important task of guarding the integrity of the awards by making sure that all awards given out are authentic and well-deserved.

 

The deadline for entries for the AMVCAs is rapidly approaching. What would you say to film makers who have not yet submitted their entry? (The deadline has been extended to Friday 9 November).
I would say make haste! Hurry up and put in your entry. The guidelines are simple and easy to understand. This is an opportunity you would
NOT want to miss.

What kind of opportunity do you think the AMVCAs offers both new and established film and television professionals?
AMVCAs is important to all content providers because it will expand the audience for their work and bring gravity, importance and recognition to their "brand' as professionals. Multichoice and AfricaMagic have a viewer base across many countries in Africa that is unrivaled in reach. That is a major desire of all producers of content - to find a platform that connects their work to the widest possible audience!

For emerging filmmakers and professionals, recognition by AMVCAs will take your name to the top and provide you with a variety of opportunities in the future to be trusted as a quality professional. It is an important chance to interact with the best in your field.

What would you say to encourage members of the film and television community to participate in the AMVCAs?
Well there really isn't much more to say that is not already apparent. Any creative professional of worth will immediately recognize the importance of taking advantage of this initiative to showcase their creativity and skills. Its going to be a moment of great fulfillment and professional satisfaction to emerge as a winner of AMVCAs. You can be confident if you win an AMVCA you have truly deserved it because the rigorous process from which the winners will emerge will prove without a doubt that you are one of the very best that Africa has to offer in your field.

As a key judge, what will you be looking for from the entries?
First off, I would encourage all individuals to please carefully follow the submission guidelines so that their entry is not invalidated. That is a key concern for me. I would hate for us to miss a really great creative work because the entry was sloppy or not according to the guidelines. Secondly we are putting together a jury team of some very distinguished experts and their assessments will be professional and well-documented. Further to that an independent auditor is also on-board to ensure that at every level of this competition there is clarity, transparency and integrity. We truly want the best of the best to emerge and I am excited to be able to focus on these responsibilities.

Looking forward to the Gala awards event in March, what are you hoping to see on that night?
I am hoping to see magic, excitement, entertainment, tears of joy and the fulfillment it brings when dreams come true. Thank you!

Meet Ali Nuhu: Mr Kannywood

01 Oct 2012 8:15 am

By Akinyemi Solanke

Kannywood, as the Hausa movie industry is fondly called is the northern Nigerian equivalent of the Nollywood movie industry and no star comes bigger than Ali Nuhu.

The Kannywood movie model is modeled on Bollywood (the Indian movie industry) that was popular and whose movies were in heavy circulation in the late 80’s and early 90’s in Nigeria; modeled in such a way that every emotion, music interludes and colorful costumes strikes a nostalgic chord in the heart of the avid watcher back in the day.

During our chat, Ali revealed the burden of expectations on his shoulder as a leading light in the industry; a burden so big that every step he takes is intensely scrutinised. “I can’t even get annoyed or show irritation in public. I always have to smile and act like all is right,” he lamented. He is resigned to his fate though recounting that a friend once told him that it is a price to pay for fame. “How do you deal with this?” I asked him. With a wry smile, he replied, “In the North, I am very popular but in Lagos and other states, most people actually think I am a Ghanaian actor.

The Okada riders in Lagos though, fully know who I am.” He went on to describe a day when he was on set in Lagos and had to wave and sign autographs for the Okada riders numbering about fifty who waited patiently for him to finish. “I wasn’t surprised they knew me so well since most of them moved to Lagos from the North,” he said, his smile turning into a grin.

Beneath the cool exterior is a man with a tremendous work ethic and fiery ambition. Aged 38, Ali  has acted in over 100 Hausa movies and 50 English movies. He is also the only actor that has crossed over from Kannywood to Nollywood and has proved he can mix it with the crème of the crop without sticking out like a sore thumb; as evidenced in his performance in the new Nigerian movie- Last Flight to Abuja.

However, Ali  bemoans the bias of the media who give preferential treatment to movies and stars in Nollywood, snubbing Kannywood and pushing it into the shadows like the proverbial ugly stepsister. “It is only the papers and press in the North that recognise our efforts.

In Lagos and the West, we don’t usually get a lot of coverage. “To emphasise his point, burning with righteous enthusiasm, Ali  pops open his laptop to show me the trailers of old and unreleased Kannywood movies, comparing them to the contemporary Nollywood movies, remarking on the quality and concluding that there is no difference in quality.

Whilst checking out the trailers on his laptop, he shows me a young boy, his son, Ahmad Ali Nuhu, who at six years of age, is already following in his father’s footstep. Clearly proud, he revealed “I only allow him to act during school breaks and I choose the appropriate scripts for him.”

The Nigerian movie industry has recently been receiving worldwide coverage on the sheer size of movies churned out annually with and without the required quality. I asked Ali how the industry could improve. ‘Simple’, he says. “If filmmakers are given recognition and supported with required funds, the movie industry is bound to be even much better. Take for example, the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, that's a good initiative that will spur filmmakers in Nigeria to up their game, improve quality and sit-up. If the filmmakers start to make good movies in order to stand a chance to win awards and be recognised, even better actors will emerge.
“So would you like to win in a category at the #AMVCAs if nominated?” I asked. He laughed, “Why not. I’d like to".

Ali talks, acts and lives like a winner, it is only logical that winning in the #AMVCAs will be another milestone, another feather in his cap.

Lawrence Maleka

11 Jun 2012 8:27 am

Lawrence is a 22-year-old South African man who still loves his mother’s cooking. His mother once told him that his talent would pay him – prophetic words. His career started as a presenter on the Soweto TV’s highest rated youth show, ‘1^st’. He went on to do an additional three shows on the channel. He’s also been back on Soweto TV hosting ‘Sowetop10’, a music show.

Lawrence auditioned for Star Gist because he needed a new challenge. Star Gist is an amazing show that celebrates our own, showing that we are just as good if not better than our international counterparts. The crew is made up of a vibrant group of people that love their work.”

His proudest achievement? “My first television show, I had the highest ratings for the channel”, he says.

When he isn’t charming the cameras he listens to music to relax. “I listen to all kinds of music ranging from Abdulla Ibraham, Jay-Z, Florence and the Machines, Crash Car Burn, Musicians to icons such as Hugh Masekela. He cites ‘Capitalist Nigger’, ‘Arqutacts Of Poverty’, ‘The Art Of War’ and ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ as his favourite books  and enjoys watching series such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ’The Good Wife’ and ‘Private Practice’.

Vimbai Mutinhiri

11 Jun 2012 8:22 am

This tall 25-year-old model hails from Harare. Also known as ‘Miss Vee’  , she started her career as an actress in Zimbabwe at the age of 15. She went on to model in Cape Town while she was at university and soon found herself in Johannesburg and on Big Brother’s sixth season, Amplified, in 2011.

She has since hosted several events across the continent as a live MC, modelled in several Fashion Weeks and graced some of Africa's largest publications.

Vimbai auditioned for Star Gist because she felt it was time to get back on continental television and is passionate about entertainment “This was the perfect opportunity to get deeply involved in the industry.

Star Gist is a watershed for African entertainment- it’s about finally giving our artists a platform to be celebrated and appreciated! This is the first time viewers will be able to step into the lives of their favourite African celebrities daily.

If we do not celebrate our own, who will,” she says. So far she says she is loving learning more about her favourite African personalities. “We have so many more success stories than we give ourselves credit for”.

When she’s not working hard, she enjoys spending time being pampered at the spa, eating Thai food, sushi and red velvet cake. The best advice she’s ever received was from her mentor TB Joshua – ‘In order to know honour, one must know humility. In order to know wealth, one must know poverty.’ As for what drives her? “Hearing success stories and testimonies. If they can do it, why can't I?”

Uti Nwachukwu

30 Apr 2012 11:37 am

#JaraTV

Uti Nwachukwu is a Nigerian actor, TV presenter, model and MC from Lagos best known as one of the 12 housemates on the third season of the reality television competition Big Brother Africa, in 2008.

The BSc. Ed (Computer Science) graduate lists some of his good qualities as: 'understanding, down to earth, fun to be with, accommodating, genuine...' and that's possible what placed him on the winning seat of Big Brother All Stars in 2010.

Commenting on why he wanted to be on another season of Big Brother Africa, he said it was another chance to show: "who he really was and of course another shot at a bigger prize money!"

Months after being crowned the All Star housemate, Uti was approached to co-host Jara, which is now in it's second season.

Helen Paul

30 Apr 2012 11:26 am

Susan Younis hooked up with Jara's presenter Helen Paul to ask her a few question about life and things.

Nickname: Tatafo

Biggest Nollywood Crush:
I have ‘father figure crush’ for Pa Olu Jacobs and Pa Pete Edochie

If you weren't a presenter, what would you be?
A Lawyer

Biggest Fashion Disaster:
I can’t recall any as I wear whatever suits me and makes me comfortable

Tell us a secret we don't know about you:
I had to alter my report cards in primary school twice to read first position instead of 12th, to avoid being punished by my grandma.

Biggest Turn off in the opposite sex:
A lack of dress and grooming sense.

Which celebrity has made you starstruck?
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

What's your life motto?
“Make money, make more money, make the most money” (Lol, ok, seriously - “Live each day, one day at a time”)

What is the best dish you can cook?
Ogbono soup and eba

Who would be your dream Jara guest?
Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo

What's the craziest rumour you have heard about yourself?
That I’m making plenty money (abeg I still dey find “chop money” o!)

Tell us some gossip about Uti?
He’s lily-livered!

Who is your favourite person you follow on Twitter and why?
I can name two off the top of my head. Tonto Dikeh - she’s down to earth and says it as it is! Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde - she has a simple approach to issues. And here’s an opportunity for me to holler “I love you” to all my sweethearts (please pardon me for not mentioning names, you’re too numerous to mention)

What was the last lie you told?
That I’m in traffic when running late to work (don’t I always do that to you guys! Lol)

Where would you like to be in 10 years time?
On top of my game, making people laugh as usual, making money whilst doing it, making a huge landmark in both the music and movie industries. Most importantly, I’ll have an academy for training people of different ages in respect of various vocations.

Iretiola Doyle

26 Mar 2012 10:32 am

Character: Sheila Ade-Williams

An accomplished writer, actor, producer and presenter; Iretiola Doyle was born on the 3rd of May 1967, in Lagos Nigeria and in the course of her life has lived in New York, Boston, Jos and Lagos. She has a Diploma in Mass Communication and a B.A. in Theatre Arts both from the University of Jos.

In a career that has spanned sixteen years in the Nigerian entertainment industry, her credits cut across stage, television and film and print. She also produced and presented her own fashion and lifestyle how titled “Oge with Iretiola' for ten years and at different times anchored several A-list television shows, like “Morning ride” and “Today on STV”. She is also considered one of the country’s best public speakers and is often called upon to MC high profile public and private events.

She is a renowned writer and has several screen plays to her credit. She is also an avid social commentator who at different times penned the popular columns, “Shooting Breeze” in City People, and “In The Chatroom” in the Glitterati pull-out of this This Day Newspaper. She currently pens a weekly column titled Tiola’s Take every Saturday in the Vanguard.

Iretiola Doyle is married with children.

She has been nominated once in the Best Actress category at the Reel Awards in 1998 for her role in the movie “All about Ere” and twice in the Best Actress in a Supporting Role category at the AMAA Awards in 2007 and 2009 for her roles in “Sitanda” and “Across the Niger” respectively.

Iretiola enjoys reading, travelling and listening to music. Her favourite sounds include contemporary Naija music, Jazz, and R n B.  Her dream role is one that is complex, multi-dimensional, unpredictable and unforgettable.

Renowned for delivering pitch perfect performances and described as an ‘actor’s actor’ by her peers; her future aspirations include more international acting roles, an Oscar, the revival of her shoe ‘Oge’ and generally bringing a certain distinction to whatever capacity she finds herself operating in.

Funmi Holder

26 Mar 2012 10:11 am

Character: Amaka Okoh

This University of Ibadan graduate has about twenty movies to her credit. Although Funmi graduated with a BSc degree from the University of Ibadan, she says she's always known she wanted to act.

Born and bred in Lagos, Funmi likes to read, listen to music and watch TV when she's not acting.

Her biggest role model is Oprah Winfrey and she'd love to star alongside Angelina Jolie in a movie. And Funmi is so content with playing the role of Amaka on Tinsel she says she'd love to be part of the drama 'til the very last episode.

Amaka:
Amaka is Fred's god daughter, her parents passed away when she was very young. She's recently divorced and became a new mom, a life -long dream. Her joy is tainted by the fact that she knows her son's father was a murderer and a sociopath. That's why she had him killed. Will this former lawyer get away with murder?

Gideon Okeke

28 Feb 2012 11:55 am

#TinselSoap

Character: Philip Ade-Williams

Gideon is a Biochemistry graduate who loved the Arts so much that he enrolled for a  Film and Theatre course in New York. Gideon’s television work started  on Big Brother Nigeria as a contestant. He went on to host a show called The Scoop. From then on, movie offers started pouring in. He secured a lead role on Relentless and a supporting role on Ma’ George before auditioning for Tinsel.

Although his future plans include 'conquering' Hollywood and being the ‘go-to' actor in Africa , Gideon says getting a role on Tinsel is one of his career highlights.

Phillip
Philip Ade-Williams is Fred’s only son. His dream is to strengthen the family business. He desires more control of the studio's workings so he can have his way and make less conservative films. Phillip enjoys taking risks and is a ladies man.

Nic Wang’ondu

01 Feb 2012 5:19 pm

Nic Wang’ondu made a big impression as a Big Brother Africa housemate in 2011. But, he’s been involved in the media world for a lot longer. He studied Film and Screen Production at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia and returned to Kenya, to an internship at Mandala Television.

Nic cut his teeth on M-Net’s The Patricia Show but didn’t hesitate to enter Big Brother Africa when the opportunity presented itself. He says, “my passion has always been to be recognised as an entertainer across the African continent and the only way to achieve this was by getting myself on some sort of pan African platform.”

Aside from presenting the exciting new entertainment and lifestyle show, Mashariki Mix, Nic still involves himself with local productions as well as running a production company with his brother. Ultimately though, he is fulfilling his dream, connecting with the continent, as a television presenter.

Sarah Hasaan

01 Feb 2012 5:16 pm

Mashariki’s beautiful Swahili presenter, Sarah Hasaan, has been acting since she was in nursery school, and starred in her first movie, Family Betrayal, after graduating from high-school.

She followed her film success with an award-winning role in the hit series, Tahidi High. Her portrayal of a morally upright you woman garnered her two CHAT Awards. She was also recently cast as a nurse in the medical drama series, Saints and can currently be seen as Liza in M-Net’s popular weekly drama, Changes.

Sarah has emceed a number of events and will also be familiar to fans of the dance show, Sakata.

IK Osakioduwa

25 Jan 2012 5:54 pm

#BigBroAfrica

Host, Comedy Club: Live in Lagos.

Charming and sexy, IK Osakioduwa is well known across the continent as host of the reality show Big Brother Africa.

This University of Lagos economics graduate began his broadcast career as the “Wild Child” on the Nigerian radio station Rhythm 93.7 FM, but it wasn’t long before the ever dynamic IK soon branched out into television as the presenter on M-Net’s flagship Afro-Chic lifestyle programme, Studio 53.

Although IK has also presented the Nigerian game show Temptation Nigeria and is currently presenting the stand-out stand-up series Comedy Club: Live In Lagos, he credits his role on Big Brother Africa as the opportunity that’s “done marvels for my career”.

He says, “BBA was the first show I’d done of this magnitude, it was amazing to be in 40-million homes across Africa all at once. At first it’s super intimidating, but you get used to it before the end of the season,” he admits modestly, and now with three seasons under his belt, keeps coming back for more!

Dolapo Oni

07 Dec 2011 9:36 am

#53Extra

When deciding what to do with her life, gorgeous Dolapo Oni had to choose between following her head or her heart.

The 53 Extra presenter graduated from the University of Bristol, in England with a degree in Chemistry, but wasn’t satisfied, and decided to explore her real passion, acting.

She graduated with an MA in Drama from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London in 2005 and hasn’t looked back.

Dolapo loves getting paid to do her dream job! One of her most memorable acting experiences being the multiple roles she played in Iya-Ile (The First wife), written by Oladipo Agboluaje. The play was nominated for a Lawrence Olivier Award. Later, Dolapo received the prestigious Dorothy L Sayers Drama Award for her part in the play, God is a DJ.

While she rates the stage as one of her favourite places to be, Dolapo is equally enthusiastic about working in front of the camera and mentions the role of Tina in the BBC’s Vexed as one of her onscreen highlights.

Born in Lagos, Dolapo is the youngest of four siblings. She lists TY Bellow and Maya Angelou as role models, but says she is most inspired by her mother, who taught her that anything is achievable if you work hard and stay focused.

When she’s not performing, Dolapo recharges her batteries by catching up on sleep. She’s also a huge fan of the theatre, enjoys neo soul music and movies like Lost in Translation.

Ultimately Dolapo would love to play the lead role in an Oscar-nominated movie with international appeal; in the meantime though, she hopes to land her own talk show and star in more film and TV dramas.

Eku Edewor

30 Nov 2011 8:31 am

Stunning 53 Extra host, Eku Edewor, boasts an impressive resume, having successfully worked as a presenter, model, actress and producer.

Born and raised in Nigeria, the beautiful 23-year-old fashionista and New York Film Academy graduate has worked with numerous big name actors, artists, producers and writers.

Eku fans would also have seen her celebrating M-Net's 25th Birthday 'glampaign' alongside other well-loved faces and personalities.

Representing Arise Magazine, Edewor assisted at the glamorous Face of Africa gala event held in Lagos. She has also project managed various fashion exhibitions for Arise during Fashion Week in New York and Paris.

As a presenter,  the in-demand host has landed some fantastic shows for celebrated brands. Most notably, she opened and closed the Big Brother Africa All Stars season as co-presenter, lent her face and voice to the Elite Model Look Nigeria 2010 campaign, and also hosted a charity dinner, held as a tribute to formidable African women for Nigeria’s 50th Celebrations.

Landing a spot among the international star studded cast and crew of the 2009 Ian Dury biopic Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll was a highlight for Edewor, a rising star worth watching.