Around and about Nollywood in one week

It’s the last week of December and indeed the last week of year 2023 and some moviedom personalities are in the news for some reasons….
Doyin Hassan’s Bundle of Joy And A Clarification
Congratulatory messages rained on Christmas eve seconds after notable actor and academic, Adedoyin Hassan aka Doyin Hassan, shared the cheery news that he has welcomed a baby girl with his new wife, Oladunni, after “24 years of toils and struggles.” The stage and screen actor, who is based in Canada, and noted for being a regular figure in Mount Zion Production films, shared photos of himself, his new wife and their baby at the child’s dedication ceremony on his verified social media handles.

An obviously elated Doyin wrote: “God is faithful. After 24 years of toils and struggles. He came forth at last. Our beautiful baby girl is a great testimony of God’s faithfulness.” Colleagues, fans, friends of the actor who lost his wife in December 2020, but remarried in 2022, took to the comment section to congratulate Doyin, who is currently a Professor of International Business Management at Conestoga College. But just as the congratulatory messages rained, tongues wagged about Doyin’s comment that the baby with the new wife came after ’24 years of toils and struggles’.

A fan wondered how it was possible for Doyin to welcome a child after ’24 years’ when he only remarried in 2022. To clarify, Doyin, star of acclaimed stage and screen productions including, Trials of Oba Ovanranwen, Sango, Saworoide, and Divided Kingdom, among many others, returned to his handles to clarify that he was the one that waited 24 years for a child and not the new wife. The actor wrote: “My testimony about 24 years of waiting has been misunderstood in certain quarters. The testimony was about me and not the woman I married. I first got married on June 5, 1999 and lost two precious women to the cold hands of death over time. I married Adeola in June 1999 and lost her eight years and five months later. I waited for two years before I remarried. I married Bolanle in April 2010. Bolanle passed in December 2020 and I waited one year and seven months before I remarried in October 2022. My new wife was not barren for 24 years. I was the one who shared a testimony of my tears and toils for 24 years. I hope this is clear enough.”

Yes, It’s very clear, Professor! It is clear.
‘Oba’ Sola Sobowale Birthday Shindig
VETERAN actress, Sola Sobowale, had a memorable birthday celebration to mark her attaining 60 on December 26. The Wedding Party and King of Boys star got a breakfast treat and a lavish late evening party from award winning filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, at Afolayan’s KAP Film Village and Resort. An elated Sobowale was full of gratitude to Afolayan and all those who showed up for the special birthday treat. “Thanks for coming. Thank you so very much. Next, I will celebrate with everybody By God’s grace,” the actress said in one of the videos shared on Instagram.

Pa Dejumo Lewis Bows Out
LIGHT has dimmed on notable actor and television producer, Dejumo Lewis. The actor who became a household name playing the Oloja of Oja in the defunct Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) drama series, Village Headmaster, breathed his last on December 23. He was aged 80. Clearly star of the drama programme that started as a Radio programme in Ibadan in 1958, with the late Chief Segun Olusola as creator and producer, like the creator and now Pa Lewis, the bulk of the prominent members of the cast and crew of the Village Headmaster have passed on. Chief Elsie Olusola (Sisi Clara) passed on over three and half decades ago. Others who have transited include Oba Wole Amele (Councilor Balogun), Sam Agbebi (Lawyer Iyanda), Oba Funso Adeolu (Chief Eleyemi), Joe Layode (Teacher Garuba), Jab Adu (Bassey Okon), Chief Femi Robbinson, Ted Mukoro, Chief Justus Esiri, Jimmy Johnson and Yinka Ogundaisi. Only a few members of cast including Dele Osawe, Lara Akinsola, and Kate Adepegba are still around and in active practice.

Chioma Akpotha Spends Christmas In USA
GANG of Lagos star, Chioma Akpotha, didn’t spend Christmas in Nigeria. The award-winning actress is currently holidaying in the United States and she is likely to usher in the new year in God’s own country. Chioma has been sharing pictures of her stay in America on her social media handles since she arrived on Monday. It is, however, not clear if she took her children with her as they have not featured in all the pictures and videos she has shared so far. On Tuesday, Chioma shared pictures and videos of the surprise visit that she paid fellow actress, producer and director, Uche Jombo, who is also on vacation in America. Chioma arrived on the eve of Uche Jombo’s birthday and on the D-day both of them were ‘leg to leg’, and head-to-head. We at moviedom say congratulations to Uche Jombo and wish Chioma happy holidays.

No Boxing Day For Bidemi Kosoko
IT was a ‘dark’ Boxing Day for the actress, Bidemi Kosoko, daughter of veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, as fire broke out in her residence while she and her family were out on Christmas homage to her father. The incidence reportedly happened on Boxing Day, but the news broke on social media platforms on Wednesday after Bidemi’s sister and fellow actress, Sola Kosoko, shared images of the damaged apartment and property on Instagram. Although no life was lost, Sola disclosed that it took the effort of the men of the fire service and ‘some friends around’ for the fire to be eventually put off. A bird squealed that the couple has started working on the affected part of the apartment.

Sam Dede Wins UNIMA Best Actor Award
AWARD winning actor and academic, Achibi Sam Dede, who is simply called Sam Dede has won the Universal Movie Academy Award (UNIMA) for best actor. Dede’s effort in the thriller by Uzodinma Okpechi, Kamsi, earned him the crest at the award ceremony, which held at Silverbird Galleria on December 22. The Camerounian actress, Zita Minaj, won the best actress award for her effort in Behind Gates, while Nancy Isime got the best supporting actress award for her role in Unforgiveable. Kenny Basil’s Echezona won the indigenous film category crest while The Divorcees of Casablanca, a movie by Moroccan director, Bensouda Mohammed, took home the awards of best director, best original score, best original song and best screenplay. Winners in other categories can be sourced at www.unimaawards.org