Movie Run by Shaibu Husseini

Hauwa and her prize

Kenyan filmmaker Hawa Essuman wins fund for film development 

The lettera27 foundation in collaboration with the African Film Festival of Cordoba-FCAT, has granted a 25,000 euro fund under the Director’s Eye initiative, to a project titled Djin (The wind of destiny) from filmmaker Hawa Essuman. The Kenyan director, originally from Ghana, has already received an award this year in the International Film Festival of Durban (DIFF) for her script Logs of War. This same work has also been selected to screen in the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam (IDFA).  The winning project has been agreed upon as the best of the seven feature length narrative scripts regarding Africa participating in the 4th Forum for African Coproduction, Africa Produces. The Fund, known as The Director's Eye, is confirmed as being allocated to the realization of Djin, a film narrating the history of a Kenyan coastal village reigned over by mythology and tradition as it experiences the arrival of modernity.  The jury, which has commissioned this selection is formed by the Nigerian filmmaker Newton I. Aduaka and South African producer Steven Markowitz, who have noted "the high quality of the participating projects, with which we corroborate a bright future for African cinema". Furthermore, the members of the jury have also given special mention, one without economic endowment, to the third feature length script from Kenyan filmmaker Mira Tanna-Händel, titled Salme's Freedom. The director of the festival, Mane Cisneros, has highlighted that the Directors Eye fund "is not only an economic endowment, but also a means by which the director will have access to support and advice at all times from both the lettera27 foundation as well as the festival. Together, these organizations will accompany Hawa Essuman from start to finish. In addition to the economic endowment of 25,000 euros, the project will have support through the duration of the production process by means of advice, search and dissemination of sponsors, the initiation of crowd funding campaigns and social networking. Following its production; the film Djin, a result of this international coproduction, will be projected at the African Film Festival of Cordoba-FCAT as an international launch platform.  In this way, the FCAT Cordoba which is celebrated from the 13th -20th of October is configured not only as a space for the presentation and projection of films, but also as a point of interaction and dialogue between filmmakers, Spanish audiences, international producers, distributors, and fund managers with the objective or promoting coproduction. 

Kanayo O. Kanayo, MFR

Nollywood’s  KOK launches humanitarian initiative for flood victims

Against the background of the devastating floods that sacked a huge swathe of Nigerian territory raging from North West (Taraba, Adamawa), North Central (Kogi, Benue), South East (Anambra, Imo), South South (Delta, Edo)  geo-political zones, Nollywood superstar, Kanayo O. Kanayo, MFR, has launched a major new humanitarian initiative to bring back smiles to victims of the flood. The actor and recent recepient of the national honours of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) described the recent flooding in some parts of the country as the biggest humanitarian disaster in recent Nigerian history. He said : ‘the raging floods have rendered thousands homeless, destroyed farmlands, buildings and other valuables worth trillions of naira. Whilst the Nigerian Government has responded decisively and swiftly to the natural disaster, the Corporate Nigeria has also responded positively mobilizing men and resources to help fellow Nigerians that find themselves in this condition through no fault of theirs”. It is against this background that the actor said he intends to reach out to well – meaning Nigerians and Non – Nigerians, and Corporate bodies to support the initiative of providing succor to the affected persons through the donation of relief materials such as basic drugs, blankets, mattresses, toiletries, mosquito nets, sanitary wares, and food items. The actor also plans to visit the affected areas to distribute the materials. He said:  “ plan to physically distribute these items myself as an Ambassador of the donor bodies in the affected states. This is no doubt an enormous task and responsibility but I am determined to put smiles once again on the faces of these helpless Victims”.

Clem Ohameze

Nollywood’s good man Ohameze, returns to battle for The Kingdom

After a very long break from mainstream acting, famous thespian, Clem Ohameze is back at the front rows of Nollywood with a scintillating performance in The Kingdom- a soon-to-debut movie. Other talented entertainers that dazzled and wowed moviebuffs in the big budget movie alongside Ohameze include:Eucharia Anunobi, Van Vicker, Jibola Daboh, Annie Macauley-Idibia, Tade Adelana, Chelsea Eze and several others. The Kingdom, from the stable of De Kross Movies Production, was directed by Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi and shot in Abuja, for several weeks with high end equipment and tested crew members. Speaking on the project, youthful Christopher Ozoemena, the executive producer of The Kingdom, disclosed that the flick was shot for the international market in line with global best practices. “The Kingdom, was painstakingly shot on High Definition, thus making it an international movie project. Also, being a big budget movie, we decided to do something different from the usual Nollywood style. Our costumes, locations and even cast and crew were different from the usual stuffs you have around. Our choice of locations made the movie a classic and it also portrayed Nigeria in a good light,” Ozoemena maintained. The Kingdom, which was written by Michael Jaja, tells the heart rending story of an evil king who was hell bent on wiping out the entire family of his friend and business partner, over a failed deal. The plot of the suspense filled flick took a new dimension when one of the sons of the late man returned to avenge the extermination of his family inside the king’s palace. The Kingdom will be screened at some selected international film festivals, before coming home for the commercial release.

Operation Libertad is opening Film of the 3rd Eko International Filmfest

Festival Director Ekoiff Hope Opara and Filmmaker Joe Ubaka at last years festival

The organizers of the annual Eko International Film Festival which is in its third edition have announced that the Swiss film Operation Libertad will open the third Eko International Film Festival scheduled from November 5-10, 2012, at the Silverbird Cinemas on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Directed by the Genevan filmmaker Nicolas Wadimoff, the film was premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival with good reviews and Operation Libertad is Wadimoff first fiction film. Also the organizers have released a long list of films that will be screened at the 5 day long festival. The films include Transthreeded (Spain), Haiti-Land of Hope (Spain), True Gods Have Bones (Spain), My Name is Haiti (Haiti), Free Hugs (Spain), and Heroes to Zeroes, which is the only feature from Nigeria. Further information on the festival and festival list can be sourced at - www.ekoiff.org

Wale Adenuga jnr, Tunde Kelani and others at a recent WAP event

WAP introduces talent show

Nigeria’s foremost entertainment company, Wale Adenuga Productions Ltd., has cooked up another delight, WAP Talent Hunt 2012, set to be of benefit to all Nigerians and the Entertainment Industry as a whole. Rather than being a money-making scheme, the WAP Talent Hunt is mainly targeted at discovering and projecting new talents into the Entertainment Industry, thus the organizers have made Entry into the Talent Hunt free of charge to ensure that everyone will be able to participate and stand a chance to be among the winners. Further buttressing WAP’s aim of using this Talent Hunt as a means to give back to society, the company has also announced that apart from being free to enter, the top 6 contestants will win fabulous cash prizes while 20 StarTimes Decoders are also up for grabs for all contestants as well as instant fame from the Nationwide Exposure on several platforms. The WAP Talent Hunt would accept entries from all age groups and takes place at De Next Centre, Ajao Estate, Lagos on two days- Saturday, 3^rd November for Ages 4 -17 and Saturday, 10^th November for Ages 18 - 60. Wale Adenuga Productions is widely renowned and esteemed for the top-rated TV programmes Superstory, This Life, Papa Ajasco & Co., Nnena and Friends and its recently launched TV station, wapTV, which is quickly becoming a household name.

Michelle Bello ready with Flower Girl

By Hassan Momoh

Michelle Bello

From the mind of Producer/Director Michelle Bello whose last film Small Boy won two African Movie Academy Awards, comes a tale of love lost and won in the city of Lagos. Flower Girl is a romantic comedy that involves the life of Kemi, a shy florist, who is desperate to tie the knot with her long-time boyfriend Umar. Contrary to her expectations, Umar suddenly breaks up with her, leaving her devastated.  In a desperate bid to get him back, Kemi teams up with a most unlikely ally, Tunde Kulani, a famous playboy Nollywood star. The movie addresses the issue of young women who are in a hurry to get married thinking only about their prefect wedding day and not the long-term commitment required by both individuals to make it last. The next generation of amazing Nigerian stars meticulously assembled by Michelle includes Damilola Adegbite, (formerly in Tinsel), Chris Attoh (Tinsel), Eku Edewor (Studio 53), Bikiya Graham Douglas and Chuks Chukwujekwu, starring for the first time as a male lead.  Also starring in the film are famous actors Patrick Doyle, Teni Aofiyebi and Tosan Edremoda-Ugbeye. This dynamic ensemble brings a whole new take on love in Nigeria and audiences are sure to have a highly entertaining experience watching Flower Girl when it is released in 2013.

With an all-star crew including Co-Producer Michelle Dede (Big Brother Nigeria), Art Director Bola Bello (AMAA award winner for Art Direction: Small Boy), award-winning Screenwriter Jigi Bello (Shooter, The Waiting Room) and Director of Photography James Costello (Inale, Last Flight to Abuja and Black November), this production is highly anticipated by filmmakers all across Africa.

Shot entirely on location, Flower Girl is Michelle’s love letter to Lagos and will feature locations familiar to many as well as some exciting parts of the city never seen before in a film.  From churches to business hubs and from electrifying night-life to beautiful lagoon views, Flower Girl captures modern-day Lagos in stunning high resolution that will be enjoyed by audiences everywhere. Information on the movie can be sourced at www.flowergirlthemovie.com and at @flowergirlmovie.

Boorman

 John Boorman is Jury President for Marrakech film festival

Succeeding 2011 Jury President Emir KUSTURICA, and following in the footsteps of the talented filmmakers who came before him, the Feature Film Jury President of the 12th Marrakech International Film Festival will be British director, screenwriter and producer. Boorman, Commander of the Order of the British Empire said he is excited at his nomination as jury president and looks forward to a great festival in Morocco, which begins on November 30 and closes on December 8.  He said: “The most important thing in a Festival is not the jury, but the selection. I look forward to the films that have been gathered particularly the African ones. As a filmmaker I know how difficult it is make a film at all let alone a good one and I salute all the ones that have found their way to Marrakech.” A veteran director, screenwriter and producer, Boorman directed his first feature film, Catch Us if you Can, in 1965 after several documentaries for the BBC. Many brilliant films followed afterwards including Point Blank  (1967), Hell In the Pacific (1968) and The General (1997). John Boorman has received many awards, including two Best Director Awards at the Cannes Film Festival for Leo The Last in 1970 and The General in 1998, and five Oscar nominations (two as a director, two as a producer, and one as a screenwriter). He was a Governor of the British Film Institute for seven years, and Chairman of the National Film Studios of Ireland. Meanwhile the organizers have announced that a special tribute will be paid to Indian cinema on the occasion of the festival. A delegation of celebrities including the biggest stars of Bombay among them Amitabh Bachchan will represent Hindi Cinema, which is very popular in Morocco. Every evening from December 1, the festival will welcome large audiences to outdoor screening of film premieres from Bombay in the presence of Indian film artistes.  Information on the festival can be sourced at www.festivalmarrakech.info.

karen

Karen, Big Brother girl takes a shot at acting

Big Brother Africa winner, Karen Igho is set for a sustained romance on screen as an actress. The entertainment personality who first hit the limelight after she participated in Sola Fajobi produced reality show, Next Movie Star and who had featured in some video works is set to take her acting career to the next level as she plans to take the movie industry by storm. Already she has featured in two movies – Blackberry Babes 2 and Heavy Beauty, which she has used to prove that she can live an acting role. Karen Igho is presently working on a movie that will further help to register her entry into mainstream moviedom. The movie featuring some notable actors is expected to hit the stands in the first quarter of next year. While at this Karen hope to continue her work as a caregiver. The vivacious entertainer has been a supporter of charity works. Her range of charity works involve her helping children living with Cancer, Breast Cancer prevention initiatives, HIV intervention projects and Children Orphanages. Karen is also an ambassador for Peace as she was involved in the We JOS want Peace campaign. Presently working on her clothing line, Karen is a busy well sought after compere who shuttles her time between Lagos, Ghana, South Africa and the United Kingdom. In recent times, Karen has hosted A-list events like Delta@20, Dynamix Awards, and Safari awards, Calabar. Karen is currently co-host of a popular programme on Naija Fm--Wetin Dey.

O.C Ukeje, fast rising Chelsea Eze speak on Hoodrush

For the dynamic trio of O.C Ukeje, Chelsea Eze and Gabriel Afolayan, perhaps, it is time to count and share their blessings as they all open up on how life has been for them after starring in one of the most talked about movies this year, Hoodrush. Even though the movie, Hoodrush won’t be hitting the cinemas till Friday, October 12, 2012, the movie has been generating loads of positive reviews and ratings, features that have made the movie a talking point for many.

                                                                    

 The movie which features other acts like the talented Bimbo Akintola, Bolanle Ninolowo of Diesel Music, Ijeoma Agu, Lee Lee Byoma and others was shot in the city of Lagos and was written, produced and directed by Dimeji Ajibola of Flipsyde Studios. Hoodrush tells a story of two brothers Shez Jabari (O.C Ukeje) and Tavier Jabari (Gabriel Afolayan) closely bonded by their love for music but deeply separated by their means for success. Chelsea Eze played the role of Shakirat in the movie, Hoodrush who later fell in love with Shev Jabari (O.C Ukeje). Speaking on his experience on the set of the movie O.C Ukeje said ‘’for me it was a great experience starring in the movie and even a greater experience thereafter because of the projects I have been called upon to feature in. Hoodrush further put me on the map and I am sure it did that and more for other cast members’’. ‘Shakirat’ a role played by fast rising act, Chelsea Eze said ‘’the movie has indeed opened doors in many ways. I thank the director and I also thank other cast members for the roles they played’’. An exclusive premiere with celebrities in attendance will hold at the upscale Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Winners announced for Abuja International Film Festival

Fidelis and Temitope Duker and Ebiere

It was Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap that received the grand jury prize at the 9^th edition of the Abuja International film festival (AIFF), which closed on September 28 in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.  The film walked over ten other films to emerge the best film of the 4 day long festival held annually every September in Abuja since 2003. Afolayan also received the directing crest as the best director at the award ceremony that was chaired by the Kano state Commissioner for information Dr Umar Farouk who represented Governor Rabiu Isa Kwankwaso at the occasion. Dr. Farouk also received the distinguished merit award on behalf of the governor who was hailed for his support for the motion picture industry in Kano. ‘Not only did Governor Kwankwaso appoint a filmmaker and scholar as Commissioner for Information, the governor approved the setting up of a film academy for Kannywood and a film village for the industry up north’ Fidelis Duker, festival director explained. The other awardees at the ceremony included the actress Kate Henshaw, Okey Ogunjiofor and Chief Adebayo Salami who were recognized for their contribution to the growth of Nollywood. Also Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul’s Married But Living Single was named best Nigerian feature film while Tope Oshin Ogun engaging short film Till Death Do Us Part was named best short film from Nigeria.  New Nollywood girl but Tinsel actress Amaka Anioji was named most outstanding female act for her effort in Till Death Do Us Part while the actor and show host Joseph Benjamin got the outstanding male act crest for his role in Married But Living Single.

Movie Run By Shaibu Husseini

Big sister Palesa was in Naija for Tales of Two cities

Palesa at the Freedom Park in Lagos

Palesa Letlaka was in Lagos for the Tales of Two African Cities project organised by the South African High commission and powered by Ayoola Sadare’s led Inspiro Limited. Letlaka who has directed various multi-media installations in addition to directing and producing various documentaries, youth magazine shows, drama series facilitated the documentary filmmaking workshop organized as part of the film screening segment of the show that seized Lagos for four days from October 3. ‘I am happy to be here and I am glad to be exchanging ideas with young people who are willing to learn’ Letlaka who studied African Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and who recently completed an MA in History said shortly after she wrapped up the 2 hour long workshop. An award winning filmmaker, Letlaka’s career has spanned over twenty one years. She trained in New York in the late 1980’s, while her career as an independent filmmaker began in South Africa in 1991 as a director and producer of social issue documentaries and television inserts for an independent production house. She later went on to direct fiction films and commercials, where she was commissioned by the United Nations for their 50th Anniversary to direct their only commercial from Africa, which premiered at the Beijing International Women’s Conference in 1995. In 1996 Letlaka directed her second short fiction film the award winning Mamlambo, which has been invited to over thirty festivals and has the distinction of also having been used as part of the course curriculum for the three different academic departments - Architecture, Drama and Urban Geography at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Letlaka is the first black woman to direct commercials and fiction films in South Africa. The former commissioning editor at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), spoke to moviedom.

My first time in Naija

This is my first time in Lagos and in Nigeria and so far it has been great. I am happy that I came. I actually postponed a trip to America to be able to be here.  I wanted to come and experience Lagos and it seems like a very vibrant place. People here are very polite and are ready to chat you up about Nigeria. It is nice to be here. Lagos is different from some of the stuff you read about the city on the Internet and that is because the things that we tend to read about one another through the media are mediated. They are usually not written by us for us. But I am glad I am here. This is the real experience for me. A lot of the other people who travel to the rest of Africa for the first time normally experience shock but whenever I travel, things appear familiar and I feel that I am at home.

First black South African woman to direct a fiction film

 Yes I am the first black South African woman to direct a fiction film and I think that at the time I was doing that it was a lot of self-push because I did that before 1993 and so it wasn’t as a result of freedom. It was as a result of just understanding that I could do it. My father was part of the ANC and so we grew up believing that there is nothing we cannot do. So I took up the challenge and just put my mind to it. I think the situation with having a lot of women behind the camera is improving now because even in South Africa there is more access to film schools and there are more access to broadcast platforms and so this will mean more access to women making stuff because the money will be there. Meanwhile there are universities, there are private film schools and there are also bursaries that come from government so in general we will see more young women coming in to make films. But don’t forget that filmmaking is a hard industry. We are fighting other issues back there in South Africa and not bordered about how many women or men are making films. But there are more women coming up in directing and producing but again opportunities are some what limited and then again you have the situation with broadcast stations who commission most of the works and they don’t want to commission first time directors who have just come out of film school. Which is a problem. They want to engage people who are experienced. But things are looking good and in no time we will have more women behind the camera.

You can’t compare Nollywood with our own industry

You can’t compare what is happening here in Nollywood to the situation in South Africa. Nigeria is even bigger in terms of population so we have to acknowledge and remember that. Nollywood and its revenues are much bigger and its output is big too except that I don’t know what the output is for theatrical releases here. Nollywood is huge. We probably make about 10 maximum including African feature per year but I hear Nollywood churns out more than we do and that the industry is the third largest in the world. So Nollywood is huge.

Taking so much away from here

I am taking away the fact that there is always work to be done. I am always concerned about how I inspire younger people to try and be heard and try to be seen. We have to keep on working with this medium so that the majority of the images that we see of ourselves should be made by us because we are still fighting big imperial forces. We have to be heard. We have to make ourselves seen. I am much more interested in legacy projects now.

I enjoyed Nigerian pepper soup

I have tried the pepper soup catfish and I enjoyed it. But it is very hot. It is really fiery. But I enjoyed it. Then I tried the Egusi soup and pounded yam. Oh that was lovely. I also enjoy the goat pepper soup I ate on arrival.

AROUND AND ABOUT NOLLYWOOD

Airtel Tours Nigeria with AMAA 2012 winning Films

In a bid to make Nigerians outside Lagos experience the glamour and splendor of Africa Movie Academy Awards, Airtel Nigeria in collaboration with the awards organizers will commence a 6-city tour of the top films that were in competition at the last award ceremony. It would be re-called that the 8th edition of the widely popular continental reward scheme for motion picture practitioners in Africa took place on 22^nd April, 2012 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos with top celebrities, captains of industries, business moguls and filmmakers across the world in attendance. The second phase of the 2012 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) project is taking on a new platform called the AMAA Film Screening & Party and it’s the first time to be held since its inception and this is supported by Airtel Nigeria the major sponsor of the 2012 awards. 

‘’The AMAA Film Screening & Party is a platform set up to show and screen the winning films of the immediate past edition of the AMAA's across six selected Nigerian Cities. We want Nigerians to see for themselves some of the top films in AMAA and we hope this will laid to rest some of the assumptions by certain people who feels they must win even when there are better or stronger films in competition as far as the eminent jurors are concerned. This is the first time we are taking this initiative and it will become part of AMAA going forward,’’ said Tony Anih, Director of Administration of the award body. The AMAA screening party will berth at Benin this weekend Saturday October 13^th as curtain raiser before moving to Ibadan, Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and finally Abuja with a Gala Night on 6^th December 2012. The Lagos leg of the screening will take place twice according to Tony Anih. ‘We will have media screening mainly for journalists October 30^th and another one for the general public in Lagos again on December 1^st, 2012. 


PEFTI holds premiere for final year students

Adenuga jnr, Kelani, a guest, and akande 

The annual PEFTI Film Institute National Innovation Diploma (NID) Programme, approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), recently held a premiere for its final year students’ projects. The event took place at the PEFTI Film Institute campus situated at Ajao Estate, Lagos, and recognized the presence of prominent practitioners in the media industry, including Mr. Tunde Kelani (TK) of Mainframe Productions, Lanre Olupuna; Director I-REP International and Victor Akande of The Nation Newspaper. The Managing Director of Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP); Mr. Wale Adenuga Jnr, was also present. They graced the venue of the event and also served as the panel that previewed the works done by the final year students, to ensure that the skills acquired during the course of their study, are well utilized and will also play a major role in the growing media industry. Some of the students’ projects were screened and the invited guests were very impressed with the outstanding performances cum ideas of the students. They were praised for their unique performances and also encouraged to work harder. Mr. Tunde Kelani was specifically overwhelmed with the piece presented by the young film makers that he told them how fortunate it was for them to have acquired such a formal education in film-making and so, a lot is being expected from them. The Managing Director of WAP, Mr. Wale Adenuga Jnr, encouraged the graduating students and advised them to package their work for local and international film festivals and get ready, for the industry awaits them.

Mr. Olaitan Faranpojo, the students’ project co-coordinator for PEFTI concluded the programme with a vote of thanks to all and sundry that graced the day with their presence. PEFTI Film Institute offers Professional Training in the diverse disciplines of Film, Television and Music Production. The Annual two (2) year National Innovation Diploma (NID) Programme is open to all who score 160 and above in the 2012 JAMB Exam, irrespective of the chosen institution. 

Why we brought comedians from across Africa to Lagos, Opa Williams

AUDIENCE members at the recently held Opa Williams’ Nite of a Thousand Laughs Xtra got more than what they bargained for when comedians from across the African continent joined forces with their Nigerian counterparts to hold them hostage for over eight hours with rib cracking jokes.

 Leading the African onslaught was Patrick Salvador, a renowned figure in the stand up comic industry in Uganda. He came with the Cotilda, Ugandan version of Nigeria’s female comic Princess and Lepacious Bose all rolled into one. Eric Omondi, the vibrant comedian and Kenya’s biggest export to the world in the laughter trade graced Lagos stage for the first time. Although, Omondi had in May this year tore Abuja crowd apart at the Workers’ Day edition of Opa Williams’ Nite of A Thousand Laughs Xtra. The show was sponsored by mobile telecommunications giant, MTN, Loya Milk and Bacchus Lite among others.    Salvador in a statement signed by Opa Williams’s media Company, Media Image Managers, MIM, described Lagos crowd as one of the best he had performed before in his career so far. “The crowd was receptive, very warm and welcoming…it got to a point I thought I was performing before my people in Kampala. I love Lagos,” he said. Salvador’s joker that sent the packed Shell Hall of the MUSON Centre into a state of frenzy was his joke about his native Mgbokolo village. The laughter was so long and sustained, the comedian had to break it up. “I am grateful to Opa Williams for giving me the opportunity to come to Lagos, Nigeria for the first time in my life. It was a major break for me as a comedian. I believe I had Lagos that night because any comedian that wants to make it must have the ability to make Nigerians laugh, I did it and I thank Opa Williams for that.”  Eric Omondi said he was no stranger to the Nigerian crowd. “I did it in Abuja and I have done it again in Lagos. Lagos show was it for me and thank God we made the Nite of A Thousand Laughs to have the ‘xtra’ package that makes it stand out from any other comedy shows in Africa.”  Tall, Elegant Cotilda could not hide her excitement. “I did a little research about Lagos before I flew in and I discovered there a top female comedians like Princess, Lepa Bose and Mandy, who I have met in Uganda…now, Lagos would add Cotilda to their list of good female comedians they know and have seen deliver. I love Lagos.” Comedy merchant Opa Williams on his part revealed why he made the revolutionary move of bringing comedians from across Africa to rock Lagos at the October 1 edition of his premier comedy show, Nite Of A Thousand Laughs Xtra. “Its fresh comedy, its revolutionary and it can only happen on Opa Williams' Nite of a Thousand Laughs Xtra show,” Williams said.

The show also featured wave making comic acts from Nigeria such as Bovi, Funnybone, Pencil, Ajebutter, Akpororo and veteran Okey Bakassi. “We were on a mission on October 1, and that was to ensure Lagos residents laughed away their stress and thank God it was a public holiday.”  Williams said he decided to experiment with top comedians from African countries “because we have always been known for blazing the trail in the comedy industry and since comedy shows have turned to a ‘see one, see all’ affair, we decided to rewrite the book of comedy according to Opa Williams.” Consequently, what Lagos people saw on that day “was better seen than imagined because as I speak to you, Nairobi, Kenya, Abuja and Kampala, Uganda have not recovered from what they saw when we took the new face of comedy to these places.” When late last year Williams announced he was resting his premier show, Nite of A Thousand Laughs, the whole country was thrown into a shock. Fans nationwide, across Africa and even Europe where the show was popular prevailed on Williams to rescind his decision. The main reason given by the film producer was the bastardization of comedy shows in Nigeria after he began the revolution in 1995. Everybody consequently joined the fray and in no time, it became a ‘see one, see all’ affair as all the shows featured the same set of comedians and musicians. Williams through his media Company, Media Image Managers, MIM, said he was pulling out, as all comedy show organizers were short changing the paying crowd “and I don’t want to be part of the audience short changing scheme.” But after much persuasion, he gave in but had to come up with something different from what others are doing at the moment-Nite of A Thousand Laughs Xtra