Welcome to the world of Nigerian movies – the industry is growing in terms of fans and quantity of movies produced but many are complaining that the quality of Nollywood movies is simply deplorable.
Whatever your side of the fence, you have to admit that Nollywood’s impact is growing. It is considered the 3rd largest movie industry in the world (only eclipsed by Hollywood and Bollywood).
Almost every African knows the Nollywood major stars - Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola and RMD but do u know the new generation of stars?
While Nollywood’s major players were ‘banned’ by movie marketers for over 2 years, this was an opportunity for some new stars to emerge.
I present – Nollywood: Generation Now!
Ini Edo is known as the ‘bad girl of Nollywood’ with her skimpy style and various rumoured romances; Ini is always in the press.She is rumoured to be dating D’Banj and is one of Nollywood’s most sought after actresses. Check out her website - HERE
Fun Facts
From Akwa Ibom State
Is 24 Years old – Born 19 April 1982
Attends the University of Calabar and is studying Theatre Arts
You can see her in the new movie, ‘Girls Cot’
From Akwa Ibom State
Is 24 Years old – Born 19 April 1982
Attends the University of Calabar and is studying Theatre Arts
You can see her in the new movie, ‘Girls Cot’
Nonso Diobi’s movie career is growing from strength to strength. Ever since he moved to Lagos from Eastern Nigeria about 5 years ago, Nonso has not looked back.
He is selective about his movie roles and always brings something special to the characters he plays.
He is selective about his movie roles and always brings something special to the characters he plays.
Fun Facts
Is 26 Years Old
He’s a ladies man
Signed with a US talent agency
Watch him in ‘Black Bra’
Chioma Chukwuka is considered a ‘good girl’ in Nollywood. Ever since she started acting, Chioma has not been involved in any scandal or rumoured romance with co-stars. She got married last year and is still riding on a wave of success.Fun Facts
Studied Banking and Finance at the Lagos State University
Attends House on the Rock church
Watch ‘Growing Up’
Studied Banking and Finance at the Lagos State University
Attends House on the Rock church
Watch ‘Growing Up’
Monalisa Chinda’s profile has been rising steadily over the last couple of years. With various well-reviewed performance, Monalisa has solidified her place on Nollywood’s A-ListFun Facts
Married
Studied Theatre Arts at University of Port Harcourt
You can see her in ‘Girls in the Hood’
Married
Studied Theatre Arts at University of Port Harcourt
You can see her in ‘Girls in the Hood’
Michael (Mike) Ezuruonye is Nollywood’s #1 new heartthrob. He has so many female fans that he reportedly has to change his phone number very often.
‘Fair Mike’ as he is fondly called entered Nollywood a short time ago but has delivered in quite a number of movies.
‘Fair Mike’ as he is fondly called entered Nollywood a short time ago but has delivered in quite a number of movies.
Fun Facts
Studied Accounting at Federal Polytechnic Oko and Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Reportedly dated Ini Edo
Known as Nollywood’s golden boy
Oge Okoye has been acting for a couple of years but the last 2 years have been exceptionally recognized. She has played the lead role in several high profile movies and hads legions of fans. Oge recently gave birth to a baby girl in London.
Studied Accounting at Federal Polytechnic Oko and Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Reportedly dated Ini Edo
Known as Nollywood’s golden boy
Oge Okoye has been acting for a couple of years but the last 2 years have been exceptionally recognized. She has played the lead role in several high profile movies and hads legions of fans. Oge recently gave birth to a baby girl in London.
Fun Facts
Her husband’s name is Stanley
She is a Theatre Arts graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Check out ‘Face of Africa’
Her husband’s name is Stanley
She is a Theatre Arts graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Check out ‘Face of Africa’
Caroline Ekanem is one of the most stunning actresses in Nollywood. This Scottish/Nigerian lady is proudly from Cross River state which is one of the reasons she decided to use her mother’s maiden name rather than her father’s surname. Caroline is currently heavily pregnant.
Fun Facts
Attends the University of Calabar
Dated 2Face
Baby Daddy is reportedly Musa Danjuma, the younger brother to Rtd Gen. Theophilus Danjuma
Attends the University of Calabar
Dated 2Face
Baby Daddy is reportedly Musa Danjuma, the younger brother to Rtd Gen. Theophilus Danjuma
Uche Jumbo is not new to Nollywood but she has really made a huge impact recently. Uche delivered her best performance ever in the movie ‘Games Men Play’ where she played a wife with a trifling husband.
Fun Facts
A graduate of Mathematics/Statistics from the University of Calabar
Fun Facts
A graduate of Mathematics/Statistics from the University of Calabar
In a relationship
From Abia State
Also writes and produces movies
See her great performance in ‘Games Men Play’ which she co-wrote
From Abia State
Also writes and produces movies
See her great performance in ‘Games Men Play’ which she co-wrote
Check out Mona’s Nollywood blog – HERE
Let us know what u think.
Nollywood – Love it or hate it?
Would you encourage your younger sister/brother to pursue a career in Nollywood?
What do u think about these actors and actresses…let us know!
Have a great week!
Let us know what u think.
Nollywood – Love it or hate it?
Would you encourage your younger sister/brother to pursue a career in Nollywood?
What do u think about these actors and actresses…let us know!
Have a great week!
50 comments:
FIRST!!!!!!
I love Nollywood, although it makes me laugh even when they are being serious. All time favourite is Genevieve.
I'm LOVING this post...are the pics in feb TL?
You are SO right these are the new and IN stars and they are such good actors/actresses...as in all except one or two of the ladies....Uche Jombo is really good....Games Men Play is one to watch.
Thanks for the shout out
TaureanMInx has made me miss my first chance at being first on BellaNaija's page.. something I've always wanted to experience!!! You must pay for that girl!!!
yes ini edo is a cutie.. her booty is out of this world... but the babe sometimes looks like mammy water the way she twinkles and wrinkles her eyes...that movie girls cot rocks sha... GEnevieve killed all the girls in that movie.. her style, her swagger was just on point.. she's the j.lo of the industry!! lol.. michael is just a funny angry dude.. his temper amuses me! monalisa's nose is crazy but she's cool though... although her 'american' accent does leave a lot to be desired sometimes! Oge is just a cutie in every sense of the word. Caroline is gorgeous as is uche.. its funny cos i don't know the names of a lot of these actors/actresses but i appreciate their work.. a lot of them are fantstic.. me i sha can't wait to go back to naija and act in a movie or 2.. i'm all for nollywood.. rock on people!!!
i love nollywood..the new generation actors are making waves..but noone beats my genevieve, stella, omot RMD....ini edo is quite talented...im starting to love uche jombo...she speaks extremely well and her acting is just as good. i think shes lost some weight as well...
i cant wait for nollywood to explode even further...
their movies are watched around the globe...theyre crazy abt our movies here on my lil' island...
I love Nollywood.
Infact so much that I am thinking of going to start acting. If only they will allow my first movie to be with Desmond Elliot and errm RMD!
RMD just left my office. Truly and that man is finer than ever.
LOL. On to the post: I think its fascinating that all these new stars have university degrees. That;s very different from what happens in Hollywood.
I love Nollywood. Not because the quality is 100% right now but for what it represents. I think it has potential. I intend to contribute in some way to this industry. And with a brother that has radical ideas on what to do with stories and a camera, i am so optimistic about Nollywood.
nice but where is Kalu Ikeagwu???
I love Nollywood movies too. One more thing to be proud of for being a Nigerian, and one more thing to talk about at Naija gatherings! I think the industry has great potential, but we need to step-up the quality of production, conclusion of movies (they can be so predictable) and dialogues between actors. That said, I still enjoy the really silly ones, just for laffs!
oh I'm one of those who break out in spots when I hear nollywood or bollywood....
I've not had the nerve to sit through a lot of the movies and although some are really credible, a lot are just below par...
Ok I might get slaughtered for not supporting our actors and all that jargon- but the movies that have well thought out scripts and producers are always good....
all that being said, I do find Ini edo quite funny, the little diva....
p.s
there's a movie called Black Bra???
@ undressed polaroid, I can understand how people dislike nollywood movies but to say you break out in spots when you hear about bollywood is comical. You need to pick up a bollywood movie today!! Try veer zaara or The Guru.
Fun Fact: There are only four movie industries in the WORLD that are able to survive without government financing and they are Hollywood, Bollywood, Hong Kong and Nollywood.
Naija is too much!!
I like Nollywood movies and I believe we have a lot of potential but I think that the producers in Nigeria do not understand the impact our movies are making on a global scale. I am so shocked when I hear of other nationalities who watch our films. I had a nollywood movie night the other day which was made up of a Jamaican, a few Canadians, and a Ghanain. I tell you, Nollywood has the potential to be the next big thing
Out of that new actress/actor list the actress with the greatest potential is Ini Edo (and Rita Dominic - eventhough she is not on the list here) and the men - i really dont have a favourite - they re all pretty average to me. I dont care foine and handsome you are (mike and desmond) - screaming is not acting and acting goofy like nonso - bores me too. I dont see any great potential in the men (no one is to the RMD par) - but the ladies got a lot of potential. My gurl genny is still in a league of her own - no one can beat her - YET
ini may be cute but she's razz.i hope d'banj is not dating her.
oge okoye is good but chioma chukwuka is the best on that list
damn I did not even Uche Jombo was an Igbo chick! She acted her part very well in Game Men Play! See me praying to God to make me a virtous woman after watching her role! She really is one to watch out for. My faves on the list include:
Chioma Chukwuka and Oge Okoye.
I heard Girls Cot wasn't all that. But i'll watch it anyhow sha.
Gotta love Nollywood!
Loovee me some nolly o jare. Every chance I get I watch it and call my gurls Enid and Mayo to share the unbeleivable things I'm watching.. Ini Edo me likeyyyy her acting jare.. and Monalisa I dig minus the occasional overacting (heck they all do it) I'm all for Nollywood. But they need to step up the game. Set design, Lighting, styling and makeup, logistics and even the continuity director cuz sometimes the time lines are all outta wack.. Mehn!... in total.. They need work but it's still hella hot..
Y-
@ anonymous 2.49pm
I know bollywood is huge...what I meant was when I hear nolly"wood", or bolly"wood"...it makes me think zero marks for originality....
I cannot believe some of these ages, na wa for the "wiser looking" 24.
I like Chioma’s cheeks
There's one dark skinned Igbo bobo like this that I crush on whenever I see him on my screen though...chei why can't I remember the dude's name now. Sha I like am well well.
I like Nollywood movies as over the top as they are. They're extremely entertaining and provide 2,4 or 6 hours of escape (depending if it has part 2 and 3.
I love Nollywood jare; you can always trust them to give you comic relief anytime any day....lol! They are trying sha and it's good to know most of them are educated atleast they have a backbone if this fails....Haven't seen Games men play; heard it was nice...Seen a bit of girl's cot and was impressed to see that most of the time, all the girls were on point as per fashion and hair cos I have watched some naija movies that left me wondering if they had a stylist...lol.
All the same kudos to them all..Wish them all the best!
Bella keep it up!!!!!!!!
i love nollywood!!!!!!!.... thanks to onlinenigeria...one can watch anytime, anywhere........
i love genevieve nnaji.... like someone said..she is in a league of her own...... so happy she is back....in GIRL'S COT ... she was so fab.......
... saw RMD in lagos 03 ...he is tall[ very tall] and handsome...
nice post bella...
to the new people in nollywood..
keep up the good work......love the dance at the end of ' games men play' ....
kalu ikeagwu is cool ....
I am sooooo loving this post. My dearest Bella...you have delivered as usual. Thanx a bunch for shedding some light on Naija actors/actresses doing thier thing out there. Sometimes i think they don't get enough recognition or respect. Now i ain't trying to say they are all great (trust me i can't stand some of them) but those you have listed are some of my favorite few.
Now to the nitty-gritty....why are my girls Omo T and Bimbo Akintola not on the list. Those are the poineers in naija movie industry. Nothing like some Bimbo to spice up things in a naija flick. That chick gets my vote anyday.
As per the new faces, i love Chioma Chukwuka, Uche Jumbo....but i don't care too much for Ini Edo (she's too dramatic)...or Caroline Ekanem....i feel Caroline gets movies based off her looks and not her skills...u know the whole "light-skined woman=attractive woman",mentality naija men have about women....(not that i am saying she not attractive) but i would rather have Genevive over her.
Now to ask a rather silly question, why are they all from Calabar?????
I love Nollywood. I love the movies very much, although they are not up to the standards of American films, who cares. Genevieve is the actress who lead me to fall in love with Nigerian films.
@ tutsy- The fairskined=beautiful reasoning is more reason why we should love and celebrate Genevieve.
Bella, I also like Stephnie Oberekie(sp).
Naija movie is good; but sometimes it is outrageously terrible. But what you gonna do; it's like Nigeria...it's a love / hate relationship. Bottomline, it represents Nigeria, the good, bad and ugly. Kudos to all deem young stars, they represent in their own little way to provide us entertainment!
OMG! I looooovvvveeee Nollywood! There are people here(in Yankee) from other nationalities who have video libraries on just Naija movies.
My friend told me that on his trip to one of the Islands(can't remember which one) they mistook him for a Nollywood Movie Star, they wouldn't let him enjoy his vacation. Everywhere he went, they mobbed him to get his autograph, it was crazy!!
A lot of times I watch the movies just for comic relief, sometimes they go down one path and then suddenly, swing you down a totally different path, no not predictable, more like unexpected!
I love it!
Jokes aside, I am profoundly proud of the explosion, especially here in America because people need to see that we have beautiful homes, cars, people who speak English(Very well, I might add) etc, all those questions one gets asked the minute it is revealed that one is Nigerian!
I love Eucharia, she cracks me up! Jim Iyke is another one that slays me!
Kudos Nollywood, Kudos!
lol..thanx for the info bella...funny thing is, i watch naija movies, but sad to say, i dont know most of the actors/actresses names.
Oh! Almost forgot, I love Patience too(Mama Gee)! Hee Hee, She is Crazy!
i love nollywood. i don't like the ones that try to mimic "proper english" so my preference are the yoruba ones.
i'd advise my younger brother/sister to pursue a career in nollywood if he/she wanted to. we don't encourage arts enough in nigeria.
I'll watch Nollywood anyday, but the quality needs to improve.
Nice post! Didn't know Ini Edo had a website.
Nice post as always girl! I am not a fan of nollywood movies but I am proud of their success, maybe when the production improves or somethin, I will give it another shot!
I have to confess that I had never heard of the Nollywood phenomenon, so this was fascinating reading for me ... great stuff
hey bella check out my post on ghana's rise in the movie industry
Nollywood is trying, i give them props for that, but the storylines are wack, no originality, and they try too hard with the english, trying to sound all american and british.
luv all of dem but caroline still has a long way 2 go in terms of her actin skills. nd as 4 d movie "girls cot", nothin so big but trust me, d outfits were on FIRE!!! im glad my gurl genevieve is back.
I am a HUGE fan of the Nollywood movies. Genevieve is my favourite. I havent really seen any new ones in a while with the new girls. I have loads though but you can never really watch them more than once.
Ba dis kain thing everybody dey like, see as they rush post.Nice job Bella
Got to love naija movies. But at times i get a headache from the different levels of volume in one movie.
On another note, i am a new blogger so pls stop by my page drop me a few comments, good or bad. I have a new entry up today and i really need your input on this one. Thank you all
www.ayorocks.blogspot.com
Nollywood is huger than I previously thought, I used to think that its was the third largest industry simply because there were so many Nigerians in the world (don't ask, me sef I no know)until I was stuck in the airport during labor day weekend last year and happened to sit next to a girl who was en route back to Kingston via New York, Jamaica. She had an accent so I asked her where she was from, and then volunteered that I was Nigerian. She then peppered me with questions on where to buy Naija movies in New York because she had less than 24 hours there before she had to go back to jamaica. She started saying how much she love Geneveive of course, Ramsey, Omotola, Patience, Nkem Owoh... I mean save for some mispronounciations she was on a first name basis with most of the main actors, she even asked me if they ever made Dangerous twins part 3.
I was floored. I mean I know me and my naija friends and naija by association friends love naija movies but this was too much. I love Nollywood and their not so perfect films, they temporarily scratch my itch when I'm feeling homesick
Reading all ya post i see not too many of you are "REAL NOLLYWOOD MOVIE ADDICTS like me.
to say I am an addict is an understatement. Lets just say i watch at least 2 "PER DAY" (i ma bout to cancel my cable - its a waste of my time), and very very very up to date, fortunately with my connections in the industry, i get the movies b4 it hit stores.
I am african, but I find it amazing that some naija's citizens despise nollywood movies - the complain about the sound and picture quality, scripts and what not.
I say you give it a chance. You will be shocked of some of the excellent movies out there, and with sanga entertainment - in NYC re recording all these movies to give it a sound and good picture quality, please try it and you wont be dissapointed.
Ghanaian movies are coming up too -try "Beyonce", "Mummy's Daughter", Keeping the Promise" - all from NYC sanga entertainment so you are guaranteed a DVD formatted type movie.
There is not a Genevieve movie i dont own - all on DVD. I got even the VHS ones on DVD now, i treasure her movies that much. Her latest i have seen last week (remember if you live in USA like me, dont go looking for it cos its not going to be in the stores yet -i got ma connections)is "WARRIORS HEART".
For those of you still very new to this, if you want i will give you my top 10 list (ofcourse half of that will be Ms Nnaji's). Good Directors/Producers - look out for Emem Isong (Games Men Play, Games Women Play, Behind Closed Doors, Wrong Woman etc) and Ego Boyo (movies: Keeping Faith) you wont be dissappoint - you can even watch with ya non african friends and i promise they'll love it.
with regards
Nollywood Movie Addict
Ini edo is just too pretty, i love watchin naija movies, theyre just too classic!
Nigerians are beautiful ppl.
Annonymous Nollywood addict takes the crown for Nollywood addict of the year!!!!
Two movies per day?!! I am amazed
Impressed that they actually study Theatre Arts in Uni... Doesn't always quite translate to their movies, but they are trying sha... :)
U guyz 4m NOLLYWOOD are jus tha bom. I luv y'all
Bella Naija may i add my 2 kobo. Is Chioma Chukwuka better than Oge Okoye in terms of acting? I beg to differ, Oge Okoye is better, she is more into the acting. Chioma is just a goody goody type of actress which is not called for in most acting. Nonso Diobi needs to kinda brush up on his acting skills. Mike Ezuruonye needs to calm sort of down and he will get there. Ini Edo is getting overrated. Her photoshoots are not helping her at all; the outfits, no jealousy involved - are kinda tacky. She should get a stylist that has her best interests at heart. Caroline Ekanem is a good actress, also, has street smarts. Monalisa Chinda - don't know what to say about her. Good or bad; i am still watching her. Thanks.
Uche Jombo due to her educational background should be involved more in the scriptwriting because she tends to be overshadowed in protraying her characters by her big name colleagues, a typical example would be her role in "Girl's Cot" she did not really merge like the rest. I think it is a movie one needs to watch again to understand what i am saying in regards to Uche's movie career. What do you think Bella? Since you are the one that featured her story ... my 2 cents.
I can now comment on Monalisa Chinda. She is good.
I get quite sad when I hear nigerians say they are not impressed with their own film industry. So many Nigerians I have had the opportunity to discuss the movies with downplay them and have something negative to say. I say to those ppl ARE YOU CRAZY??? CAN'T YOU SEE THE EFFECT THESE MOVIES ARE HAVING AROUND THE WORLD? They are actully bridging the gap and erasing long-held streotypes about Africans. They are bringing Caribbeans, Africans in the diaspora and on the continent together little by little.
I am an official NAIJA MOVIE ADDICT!!! hhehehhehe!!! I am from Ghana and I cannot get enough of your movies. I have decided to take theater lessons this fall, so maybe I can act one day. It is something I have always wanted to do. I will also readily encourage in fact urge any sibling of mine to join Ghana movies or Naija movies. Any African who dosen't support them is guilty of unpatriotic behavior. Granted there is inprovements needed. From script writing to editing, lighting and costume! Especially costume. i would like to see more fashionable African prints, headgears, the big earings and some AFRICAN HAIR PLEASE? The biggest change I and a lot of my nollywood addicts wait for is for the characters to have Nigerian names. I love y'alls names...like kemi, Ijeoma, Uchenna, Ifeoma, Abimbola,Tola and my favourite of all.... Amarachi! Yes i am from GH but I love Nigerians and everything Naija. I support you guys, so keep it coming. We need some originality.
@ anonymous "oge is a better actress than chioma who is jsut a goody-goody". I beg to differ. I think Chioma is a fantastic actress for the same reason genevie, omotola, stella and co are - she is natural. i thought that when i saw one of her esrliest movies - white handkerchief which was quite a rubbish film but i was impressed back then by her skill and looking at recent work, i continue to be impressed - i'm only surprised she hasn't got more recgniton for her acting prowess. oge is a good actress but sometimes she lapses into the whole phonetics (brit/american) accent. that's another thing - why do naija actors/actresses do that esp when the part isn't that of someone returning from abroad. even in the case of such a character returning from abroad, i think jim iyke is about the only person that pulls it off properly. ini edo just annoys me and has from day one - i can't place the exact reason, but i've never warmed to her. desmond and mike thankfully have grown from their souting and screaming days into real acting - check out mike in 'act of faith', you'll be blown away and the girl that plays his wife is a mega actress - new face so don't know hwer name, patience ozokwor was in great form as usual. altho, there's much to bee improved but nollywood deserves cred - not only ghanaians an jamaicans are ga-ga over it but also other african countries and now, asian too. finally, loving the movies of mainframe and new kid- muyiwa ademola - meaningful, good lines, original and well-made. why has sola sobowale been overlooked - this lady is a nollywood heroine acting both in english and yoruba movies and tv series as well - she is unbelievable, one almost forgets she is acting. the same can be said for bimbo akintola who has also been overlooked. oh, someone please tell rita dominic to lose the foreign accent, i fell in love with her because she was so natural now she is ruining it with the fake phonetics. saw ucje jumbo in 'caght in the middle' recently and instantly fell in love. good work y'all.
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