Around and about Nollywood in one week

It is November of newsmakers in Moviedom. Here is a pick of players of the industry who made headlines for the right and wrong reasons…

Stop The Tale, Hanks Anuku Is Okay
NOTABLE actor Hanks Anuku made headlines for the wrong reason during the week, after a video of the actor wearing rags and looking unkempt went viral. The actor was also seen in the video talking to himself, while dressed in tattered clothes.

But shortly after the video surfaced online, fellow actress Shan George who declared that she was on set with the actor “just about three days” before the video surfaced online, debunked the claim that the actor was insane as widely feared. Shan George maintained that the viral video was a scene from a movie they were shooting in Asaba, Delta State.

Despite the clarification, fans and even colleagues continued to make disturbing comments about the actor’s mental health. But in an exclusive video that foremost journalist Moji Danisa shared on her Facebook handle yesterday, Hanks replied the tale bearers thus: “Tell all those who write crap about me to stop writing crap about me and leave me alone. If they want to act in a movie and if they need help, they can come to me. I have been on set and anyone writing and using those pictures or videos on set to try and destroy my image, may the Holy Spirit forgive you. We shall hook up pretty soon.”

A native of Ika in Delta State, the Broad Daylight, and Formidable Force star is best known for starring as a villain in most Nollywood movies.

Adesua Etomi Drops EP
ACTRESS, songwriter, and singer Adesua Etomi-Wellington has marked her music debut with the release of her Sue Me EP. An actress of vast credit and wife of the singer and later day politician Banky Wellington, Adesua’s new EP features top notch production from the likes of Timothy “TK” King and Masterkraft.

Sue Me opens with the beautiful lead single Too Much, where the artiste showcases her smooth, silky vocals layered on top of production by TK, and co-written by Adesua herself alongside Maytronomy, and Banky Wellington.

Born in Owerri, Imo State, the recipient of the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Best Actress In A Drama Award and star of The Wedding Party I & II, and Up North has continued to straddle the screen and stage worlds expertly.

Jude Idada’s Kofa Is AFRIFF’s Best Feature Film
KOFA, the movie by Nigeria Prize for Literature winner and multi-award-winning filmmaker Jude Idada has won the coveted award of Best Film at the Globe Awards of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2022. The movie also earned the Best Screenplay award for Jude Idada and Best Actor award for Daniel Etim-Effiong out of the six nominations it received.

A ThinkingMan Media production in association with Creoternity Films and C-Blunt Films, Kofa was written, directed, and produced by Jude Idada, alongside a producing team of Chibuzo Okoye and Femi Ogunsanwo.

Kofa is a psychological thriller about eight people who wake up in their underwear, to find themselves locked in a room. All they remember are their names. It features the star-studded cast of Daniel Etim Effiong, Kate Henshaw, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Beverly Naya, Zainab Balogun, Enyinna Nwigwe, Udoka Oyeka, Kiki Omelli and Wale Ojo.

Speaking about the multiple nominations and wins, Jude Idada said: “Kofa is proof that once your heart and mind is in the right place, the impossible becomes possible. It is gratifying to see not only that it has won awards but more that it has been so warmly received by viewers.”

Toyin Abraham

Toyin Abraham Can Now ‘Breathe’
STAR actress Toyin Abraham almost couldn’t breathe during the week when a lady identified as Ariyo Badest on TikTok sparked controversy on social media after she alleged that Toyin’s husband Kolawole Ajeyemi impregnated and abandoned her four years ago.

But in a twist that got everyone cupping their mouths, Ariyo shared a video on Instagram where she apologised to the actress and her husband. She declared that it was merely a prank and that the accusation was completely false.

Moviedom gathered that the actress and her husband who got married in July 2019 and have a son together have since accepted the apology. To show that the couple have moved on, Toyin posted a screenshot of her conversation with Ariyo where the Tiktoker thanked Toyin for forgiving her.

AFRIFF’s Chioma Ude Needs A Deserved ‘Leave’
YOU cannot pull off such a successful and grand 11th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and not take a break. So, ‘safe trip’ is in order from us at Moviedom to AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude whom a bird whispered should be on her way out of the country for a deserved rest.

AFRIFF opened on November 6 and festivalgoers agreed that it was an interesting and entertaining week filled with engaging and fun-filled events. This edition featured a line-up of events including screenings, panel discussions, and the hosting of Disney’s Marvel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever African premiere, in collaboration with Film One Entertainment.

Also, the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts & Sciences, organisers of the Oscars, were at AFRIFF to handle two workshops on the inner workings of the international film selection process. Similarly, Paramount Africa added to the list of groundbreaking firsts at AFRIFF by announcing a strategic partnership with AFRIFF.

So, if you don’t find the AFRIFF founder around some movie events, say we told you that she has taken a well-deserved ‘leave’.

Keppy Ekpeyong’s Commendable Weight Loss Move
WE have not seen Veteran Actor Keppy Ekpeyong lately, but a bird whispered to Moviedom that the star of 93 Days and Inale might have embarked on a weight loss programme. The bird squealed that the Keppy that showed up at the special Nollywood programme organised as part of the just held United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Global Conference held at Civic Centre Lagos look really different.

“He has shed some weight, especially in his upper region (Stomach),” the bird quipped, adding that the actor of vast credit even confirmed to the veteran actress Ngozi Nwosu at the event that the reason he won’t eat the pastries he was served was because he was watching his weight.

Moviedom will keep an eye on Keppy and when next we see him going near pastries or soda at an event, we will remind him of the UNWTO Day With Nollywood event.