THE IGBO

Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu has claimed that most single ladies in the industry now visit movie locations without underwear.

Maduagwu, who recently predicted the collapse of another celebrity marriage after popular actress, Tonto Dike, broke up with her husband accused said most single Nigerian actresses do not wear their panties to movie locations.

The actor made the allegation via his Instagram page, where he claimed that he has confirmed the development himself, describing the act as suspicious and disgusting.




He wrote, “Why is it that most female Nollywood Actresses who are single No longer Wear ‘PANTS’ to movie locations? This is giving me headaches.

“Is it that most female celebrities, especially Nollywood actresses who are single have developed the habit of not wearing pants to movie locations? I can tell you of 4 different star actresses I had personally confirmed, and this is really giving me headaches because, aside the very fact that it is suspicious, its also disgusting.

“That’s why most of our directors are always losing concentration when they are directing on set, the worst is that these group of actresses are fond of spreading their legs wide unnecessarily just to seduce fellow actors and directors.

“Their aim and motives are what I am yet to understand, that’s how I walked out of a shoot in Asaba when one actress was just misbehaving on set, someone said she just finished smoking marijuana, but that’s not my own business, I am an actor and not her doctor, but what I frown at is when someone is opening her legs any how and misbehaving in the middle of a shoot, distracting both the directors, actors and crews, that’s what I can’t stand, if we want to shoot a movie, let’s be professional and let’s not turn movie locations into strip clubs.

“May God deliver us in this industry, some people are just here to play around, they are the very few giving nollywood a bad name.”

Ijeoma Grace Agu is a Nollywood actress who made her first screen appearance in Eldorado TV series in 2007.  She received a best supporting actress nomination at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards. She also won most promising actress at the 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards.

In an interview with Punch, the talented actress spoke about her life, marriage and career.

See excerpts:


Background

I spent my childhood in Edo and Lagos states and it was a wonderful time for me. I am the first of five children, and I used to sing, dance and act from an early age. Back then, we didn’t have a television in our house, so my sisters and I had to entertain ourselves. My dad was also artistically inclined, so he often allowed us to express ourselves. I think that was the genesis of my career as an actor.

Education

I studied Biochemistry at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, but I had always known that I would end up in the creative industry. I also attended the Royal Arts Academy, Lagos.

First role

My first role was in a TV series produced by Fidelis Duker titled Eldorado. Over the years, I have featured in several other movies and TV productions including Hood Rush, The Choice of Aina, Finding Diamond Jo, Oko Ashewo, From Within, Misfit, David’s Fall, About to Wed and Flower Girl to name a few. Acting is a gift that is freely given by God; it is not something that you struggle for. I’m also constantly observing people, my environment and life in general as an artiste because I could be called upon at any time to replicate the behaviours or mannerisms of any of those people. I have never played any challenging role and I can work with anybody though I cannot stand people who do not have passion for the job.



Personal productions

The production outfit, House 5 Productions, which I run with my husband, Daniel Emeka Oriahi, has produced about 10 movies including Beyond Blood, Jimi Bendel, among others. To get funding to produce those movies, I wrote proposals and submitted them to clients and investors.

Challenges

One of the major challenges I face is accessing funds. Getting the proper facilities to support production could also be a Herculean task as there are no basic infrastructure like electricity, proper sets, and even crews.

Sacrifices

I have had to do a lot of things to fit better into roles but I wouldn’t consider them as sacrifices. For the movie, Taxi Driver, I had to cut my hair. I have also had to kiss people on set.

Recession

During recession, people have more need for entertainment. Funnily enough, I shot more films last year than in the time of economic boom. I don’t know the mathematics or the reason behind it, but the recession has not affected the movie industry.

Marriage

I first met my husband when I auditioned and was cast for one of his movies. He also attended a one-man stage play which I acted in and produced, after which he invited me for another movie role. We soon discovered that we are both down-to-earth people and share the same ideologies.

Motherhood

There is no way one can strike a balance between motherhood and acting. One of them would definitely suffer from time to time. However, I have been managing and I don’t think I’m doing badly. I take my daughter on set with me, and now she even understands when the director shouts ‘action’ and ‘cut.’ She has also acted in a movie with me. Considering that my husband is also in the same industry, we are able to make things work.

Scandals

There have been some scandals attached to my name over the years but I don’t care. My family members know the real me, so they are not swayed by stories concocted about my person.

Nudity

I can accept a script that has some aspects of nudity if it is tastefully done and is passing a message. Acting is make-believe and it is not a reflection of who you really are.

Fame

Fame has not robbed me of anything. I still do whatever I want to without inhibitions.

Okafor’s Law’ which was recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and Stockholm Film International Film Festival, is scheduled to be screened at the Pan African Film & Art Festival (PAFF).


The screening of the movie will hold at Cinemark Baldwin Hills Cinema 15, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Los Angeles on Tuesday February 14th (9:10pm) and Monday February 20th (7:50pm).




Nollywood actress and producer, Omoni Oboli, is euphoric about the success of her movie which is scheduled to hit the cinema screens in Nigerian on Friday, March 31st. “I can’t even begin to thank everyone who worked on the project, ‘Okafor’s Law’ and contributed one way or the other to the current success the movie is gaining. I am super excited about it all. I thank God for His unending favours in my life and career,” said Omoni.

 Set in Nigeria, the film goes against the view that straight men and women can’t just be friends. It brings this true by telling the story of Chucks (Blossom Chukwujekwu) nicknamed by his friends as the Terminator, an ardent player with ladies, whose quest to proving this law to his friends brings him three woman he must re-seduce: Ify (Ufuoma McDermott), Tomi (Toyin Abraham) and Ejiro (Omoni Oboli), whose lives have drastically changed.

       

She is one of THE IGBOS, she is vibrant and ambitious and indeed making hay while the sun shines. She is Oge Udensi, a
young movie actress that has a big dream of being a top notch in the movie industry and indeed Nigerian’s number one movie actress. She is not just stopping at dreaming; she is taking steps and putting herself out there to make sure that she breaks into the industry big time.

YOU ARE?
      I am Oge Udensi. Hail from Umuchukwu Ihiteowerri in Orlu Local Government area of Imo State. The daughter of late Mr. Udensi who died when I was still but a child leaving me and my 6 siblings to the care of my mother. My mother gave birth to seven (7) children, five (5) girls and 2 boys with me as the third child and the second

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD
       Well, I can say my growing up was cool but it was filled with a lot of ups and downs. After the death of my father in 1999, it seemed like the world had come to an end. My mother was left with seven (7) children to cater for. Finding three square meal to eat a day was a mirage that could only be imagined. I could see that it was confusing and tedious process for her. She however started hustling and doing all kinds of business like frying Akara on the road, going to the market to buy banga, make it into red oil and take it to the market to sell, doing some buying and selling just to make sure that myself and my siblings have food on the table to eat as well as go to school.

My elder sister and I used to accompany
her to the market to sell to lessen the work for her. Once I come back from school, I bath, eat, fetch water for the house and then proceed to the market to pick up the Akara that my mother would have fried down for sale. The experience was a combination of fun and stress. Sometimes, after all the stress, we still could not afford three square meal but in the end, we pulled through. Although we are not rich today, we are far better than the way we were.