Big career leap as Lala Akindoju joins Amazon’s local original team

Notable Nollywood actress, producer, production consultant and theatre director Lala Akindoju will have to turn down acting jobs going forward. Her new role as Senior Movies Creative Executive for Amazon Studios in Nigeria will leave her with little or no time to star in any production.

Amazon Studios, an American television and film producer and distributor, had during the week announced that it has added the star of Dazzling Mirage and CEO to its team.

Ned Mitchell, the Head of Originals, Africa & Middle East, Amazon Studios who made the announcement disclosed that Akindoju, who is a recipient of the Africa Magic Trailblazer award, would join the Local Original team as the Senior Movies Creative Executive in Nigeria.

In her new role, Lala will be the point executive on several original movie projects, helping from pitch to production. Mitchell also announced three other new executives that will drive the expansion of the streaming service across the continent. They are Kaye Ann Williams (Head of scripted and movies for South Africa), Brendan Gabriel (Senior Unscripted Creative Executive for South Africa), and Mike-Steve Adeleye (Senior Scripted Creative Executive for Nigeria). They are all expected to join Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu on the Amazon Studios Originals development team.

An elated Lala took to her Instragram to announce her incredibly excited she is to be joining the local original team. She wrote: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the Amazon Studios Local Originals team as the Senior Movies Creative Executive, Nigeria. Amazon Studios has shown its commitment to creating opportunities that are laser focused on creative and content. It is such an honour to be part of the team committed to making that happen in Nigeria. Not only does it align with my personal passion – growing Nollywood as a whole, as well as growing and honing talent in Nigeria, I get to work with the most amazing and talented team! Many thanks to Ned Mitchell & Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu for the warm welcome.’’

An actor and producer in the professional class, the star of the romantic comedy The Royal Hibiscus started acting professionally in 2005. She has since then featured in over 80 stage and film productions around the world.

A recipient of the Actor of the Year at The Future Awards 2010, Lala is the convener of Open Mic Theatre, a hub for actors to bond and network and a one-stop shop for fresh talent.