Connect with us


Entertainment

Top Notable Women Leading the Nollywood Industry

Published

Top Notable Women Leading the Nollywood Industry, As one of the largest film industries in the world, Nollywood has evolved significantly since its inception. Central to this evolution are the remarkable contributions of female filmmakers, who have redefined storytelling and the representation of women in African cinema.

The impact of these filmmakers extends beyond their individual works. They have paved the way for future generations of women in Nollywood, demonstrating that creative, administrative, and managerial roles are not bound by gender.

Advertisement

So, if you’re interested in exploring Nollywood, watching films by some of these notable female filmmakers will be an exciting ride.

1. Funke Akindele

Fondly called Jenifa, Funke Akindele is the queen of blockbusters, an actress, producer, and director. With numerous films exceeding box office expectations, she has honed her filmmaking skills, whether it’s acting on screen, producing, directing, she is a force. Her unique marketing style, often featuring effective social media and influencer marketing strategies, keep her audience eagerly anticipating her next release.


Join Our WhatsApp Group

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN


Advertisement

Although her introduction to the film industry was through her role as Bisi in the popular sitcom, I Need to Know, she returned years later with her own sitcom Jenifa, which earned her the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2009. Some of her notable works include Tribe Called Judah, highest-grossing movie of the year; 2023, Omo Ghetto the Saga, She Must Obey, Jenifa’s Diary.

  ” alt=”Funke Akindele is the queen of blockbusters, an actress, producer, and director. [Instagram/@funkeakindele]” width=”790″ height=”987″ data-original=”https://ocdn.eu/pulscms-transforms/1/5kTktkpTURBXy9hOGNhMTRlZjllMjhjZTM0ZTI3NDhkYzU0OTRhNmE2Yy5qcGeRlQLNAxbNA9vCww” />

2. Bolanle Austen Peters

Advertisement

A pioneering figure in Nigerian theatre, Bolanle Austen-Peters is a multi-award-winning movie director, producer, theatre director, and cultural entrepreneur. She is the founder and artistic director of BAP Productions and the arts and culture center, Terra Kulture in Lagos. Her contribution to the arts and the Nollywood space are immeasurable. Her biopic on Funmilayo Ransome Kuti became the highest grossing biopic in West Africa.

Her recent movie, House of Ga’a, made it to the top 10 Netflix Global Chart for Non-English Films in the first week of its release. Austen-Peters is also the founder of Terra Academy for the Arts, an initiative in partnership with Mastercard Foundation aimed at empowering young people with skills to kickstart their careers in filmmaking. Some of her notable works include, Bling Lagosians, Man Of God, and Collision Course.

 

Advertisement
3. Biodun Stephen

Biodun Stephen is a screenwriter, producer, and director widely recognized for incorporating family-oriented elements in her storytelling. Using natural settings and relatable middle-class characters, she has mastered the art of telling powerful stories that resonate with audiences. Her films often bear unique titles reflective of the protagonist, such as Tiwa’s Baggage, Ovy’s Voice, Ehi’s Bitters and Sobi’s Mystic, Sista are notable examples. She runs her production company, Shutterspeed Projects. In 2022, she won the AMVCA Award for Best Writer for her sitcom Introducing the Kujus. That same year, her film Breaded Life was nominated for Best Movie, West Africa, at the AMVCA. West Africa. Some of her other works include, Looking for Baami, All Shades of Wrong, Seven and a Half Dates.

  4. Mo Abudu

Advertisement

A media entrepreneur, producer, and CEO of Ebonylife Group, Mo Abudu has made a significant impact on Nollywood since founding her company in 2014. Ebonylife Group includes EbonyLife Films, EbonyLife Studios, and EbonyLife Creative Academy, a film school dedicated to teaching filmmaking skills. She also manages Ebonylife Place, a luxury entertainment resort in Lagos. Her first film as an executive producer was Fifty, and she later co-produced The Wedding Party (2016), which became a commercial success. Other films she has also executive-produced or co-produced include The Wedding Party 2, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency and Òlòtūré. Her series, Blood Sisters made Netflix’s global Top 10 within days of its release, while Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. In March 2018, EbonyLife Media and Sony Pictures Television co-produced The Dahomey Warriors. In January 2020, AMC Networks announced its partnership with EbonyLife to produce Nigeria 2099, an afrofuturistic crime-drama created by EbonyLife. Mo Abudu’s partnerships with international studios such as Netflix, Starz and Lionsgate, BBC, Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Will Packer Productions have further solidified her influence in the global film industry.

  5. Kemi Adetiba

Kemi Adetiba is widely recognized for her acclaimed political thriller, King of Boys, and its sequel, King of Boys: The Return of the King. Before her success in filmmaking, Kemi Adetiba had a prolific career in Music video directing. Some of her notable works in the music industry include Olamide’s Anifowose, Last Bus-Stop by Niyola, My Darlin by Tiwa Savage, My Place by Lynxx, Love to Love You by Niyola ft Banky W. Her short film Across a Bloodied Ocean was screened at the 2009 Pan Afric

Advertisement

 

an Film Festival and National Black Arts Festival. On September 8, 2016, her first feature film The Wedding Party (a Nigerian Rom-com film) premiered opening night at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), as the opening film of the City-to-City Spotlight. Earlier in 2024, she announced that her new feature, To Kill A Monkey had completed principal photography and would be premiering soon. She has solidified her place as one of Africa’s most successful directors, having worked not only with some of the continent’s biggest stars but also directing commercials for several international brands. Adetiba owns her production company Kemi Adetiba Visuals. (KAV)

4. Jade Osiberu

Advertisement

Jadesola Osiberu is a screenwriter, director, producer and the founder of Greoh Studios.

Although Jade is known for her knack for crime thrillers, as demonstrated in Brotherhood and Gangs of Lagos, she has also produced romantic comedies like Isoken, and Sugar Rush. Her film, Gangs of Lagos, became the first Nigerian original film to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. In September 2022, Osiberu’s Greoh Studios signed a three-year deal with Amazon to develop and produce original scripted TV series and feature films. This partnership led to Gangs of Lagos winning Best Movie West Africa at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. In August 2024, Osebiru announced the release of her upcoming movie, Christmas in Lagos, which is set to debut on Prime Video this December. Other films to her credit include Ayinla, Rumour Has it, Gidi Up.

 

Advertisement
Related


Turo247News is on WhatsApp!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Share News with us via Email: turo247newz.com@gmail.com

Join Our Social Media Channels
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Entertainment

Nigerians react as Eniola Badmus and Laide Bakare clash at movie premiere

Published

on

a558953f 553b 4384 b56c 21887e588180

The premiere of Owambe Thieves has come and gone but not without a major face-off between two popular actresses in Nollywood: Eniola Badmus and Laide Bakare.

In a now-circulating video clip, Laide Bakare is seen physically confronting Eniola Badmus for her statement ‘we are not friends’ as the latter walks away from the scene.

What really happened?

At first, all seems normal. Eniola Badmus is seen dancing in front of multiple cameras as her male bodyguard stands within close range.

Laide Bakare then appears dancing into one of the frames captured by the vidographers/photographers.

Badmus is displeased and immediately says something along the lines of “Don’t capture. Stop.” And then adds in Yoruba, “We are not friends“.

Advertisement



Right after, Bakare stops dancing and faces Badmus visibly upset.

Are you insane?” she says to her in Yoruba.

ALSO READ: Sometimes I miss my old body – Eniola Badmus opens up

Things become heated as Bakare continues to accost Badmus who proceeds to leave the scene. But before she is able to successfully exit, Bakare hits her arm a couple of times in confrontation.


Join Our WhatsApp Group

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN


As the bodyguard moves to ward off Bakare’s physical attacks, she aggressively refuses him.

Advertisement



Nigerians react

An Instagram user wrote in the comments section:

Laide did too much..someone said u guys ain’t friends…u lock up and look away..why acting like a tout..I Love Eniola composure.

Another queried:

Did she just almost slap Eniola’s security detail?

Berating Laide Bakare’s behaviour, a netizen commented:

You don’t put your hands on another person, that’s wrong.

Commending Eniola Badmus for her composure, a user wrote:

I love how @eniola_badmus handled the situation, very demure, very mindful! All she said was that “we are not friends” and you nearly tear her cloth, you even slapped her bouncer. Ni to ri knni, the celebrities sef.

ALSO READ: ‘Eniola, you’re ignorant’ – Yoruba actresses clash online over controversial comment

Advertisement



As of the time of this report, Laide Bakare has hosted a Live session on her Instagram page, detailing her account of how their relationship has gone sour over the years despite her giving Eniola Badmus her first major role in a film.

ALSO READ: Adeleke appoints Nollywood actress Laide Bakare as SSA on Entertainment


Turo247News is on WhatsApp!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Share News with us via Email: turo247newz.com@gmail.com

Join Our Social Media Channels
Continue Reading

Entertainment

Skales hit career milestone after Barcelona star helped blow up his hit single

Published

on

db13b581 0023 47bc 8600 76d67b8ea6d0

Nigerian music star Skales has reached 1 million Spotify listeners for the first time.

This feat is due to the commercial resurgence of his hit single ‘Shake Body’ released 10 years ago.

The song is enjoying a viral moment on TikTok, where users are dancing to it and creating videos using the music.

Among the notable influencers leading the current resurgence is FC Barcelona’s football star Lamine Yamal, whose videos showing off his curated dance moves to the song have gone viral on TikTok.

The 16-year-old boasts 26 million followers on the platform, and one of his videos dancing to Skale’s hit single has garnered 126 million views.

Advertisement



@lamine.yamal

Shake body🕺🏾😭😂 ♬ Shake Body – Skales

In the past few weeks, the song released in May 2014, which packs an upbeat Afrobeats production with catchy pidgin English lyrics that call on listeners to shake their bodies to the rhythm, has become the latest Nigerian song to go viral on TikTok.

The recent resurgence is thanks to new DJ remixes notably among which is Dutch DJ Onderkoffer remix which Skales recently officially ouoloaded on streaming platforms.

This commercial resurgence is the latest in the history of old songs that have enjoyed TikTok’s attention.

In 2024, Nigerian highlife and folk musician Mike Ejeagha‘s catalogue so a massive surge run after skitmaker Brain Jotter’s dance moves blew up his 41 year old song ‘Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’.


Join Our WhatsApp Group

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN


READ ALSO: 10 Afrobeats Hit Songs That Went Viral on TikTok.

Advertisement



Among the Nigerian songs that blew up massively on TikTok years after its release is CKay‘s ‘Love Nwantiti’ which soared to global fame.


Turo247News is on WhatsApp!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Share News with us via Email: turo247newz.com@gmail.com

Join Our Social Media Channels
Continue Reading

Entertainment

‘Okrika No Be Gutter’: Sylvester Madu fires back at critics over viral street-selling video

Published

on

222f5277 f8e8 4d27 8186 649897531d9c

Veteran Nollywood actor Sylvester Madu has once again addressed the lingering controversy surrounding a viral video that showed him selling clothes on a busy street in Enugu. 

The video, which first made the rounds in 2023, led many to believe the actor had fallen on hard times and was now dealing in second-hand clothes, locally referred to as okrika.

But Madu, who had previously explained that he was selling brand new clothes imported from the U.S., is now setting the record even straighter and with more fire in his voice.

“They keep talking about okrika like say na one thing for gutter. 80% of Nigerians, they use okrika,” Madu said in a new video, responding to the persistent online chatter and even some media coverage of the incident.

Clearly frustrated, the actor didn’t mince words as he called out what he sees as misplaced shame and judgment around second-hand items.

“The cars that we drive now, okrika. Some of you people, your TVs in your house is okrika. Or you think it’s only clothes that is okrika?”

In his latest remarks, Madu pointedly criticised platforms like TVC for discussing the incident in what he felt was a condescending tone.

“This matter of okrika, mek una leave am alone. You guys should leave it alone because you don’t know who’s hurting,” he said, implying that such conversations could be more harmful than humorous.

Advertisement



Madu admitted he initially wanted to ignore the speculation but felt compelled to speak out when silence began to look like acceptance.

“I honestly don’t know why people will not just let the sleeping dog lie. They just like to touch the tiger’s tail. They always want to make you talk even when you don’t want to talk.”


Join Our WhatsApp Group

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN


While reiterating that he does not sell second-hand clothes, Madu also defended those who do, making it clear he wasn’t looking down on the business.

“Okrika no be bad business so don’t get me wrong like I’m condemning it,” he clarified.

This isn’t the first time Madu has spoken about his entrepreneurial side. In an earlier interview, he revealed that he’s been in the clothing business for over 30 years, operating multiple outlets and managing a network of employees across Nigeria. 

Despite his fame, Madu says he’s always been hands-on, often going to the market himself to supervise and engage directly with customers.

“I don’t do big man,” he said proudly. I go to the field to sell by myself. I have a lot of people selling for me. I have different shops. I monitor my business.”

Advertisement



For Madu, the controversy may have sparked unnecessary noise, but it has also offered a powerful reminder about humility, hard work, and the dangers of shallow assumptions. He’s owning his narrative on his terms.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: ‘My Father’s Shadow’ becomes first Nigerian fiction film in Cannes official lineup


Turo247News is on WhatsApp!

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Share News with us via Email: turo247newz.com@gmail.com

Join Our Social Media Channels
Continue Reading