With Majid, Adesua and Wale, Ayamma Sizzles

Dateline: December 13. Intercontinental Hotel Lagos. The sun had just gone down and the evening was giving way to the night that could best be described as a night of deep-rooted culture, grassroots appreciation and an atmosphere filled with laughter.

It was the premiere of Emem Isong’s latest film, Ayamma, and celebrities, including Rita Dominic, Stephanie Linus, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Blessing Egbe, Denrele Edun, Alex Ekubo, Mary Remmy Njoku, Funny Bone, Judith Audu and Tana Adelana had stormed the venue as early as 6pm, looking all glamorous and stunning in their different traditional attires.

They had come to see Ayamma, a beautiful love story filled with music, dance, drama and comedy, and also to have a first-hand feel of how the leading actors in the movie- Adesua Etomi, Wale Ojo and Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel- faired in the very informative and entertaining story that was told with so much depth.

By the time curtain was drawn on the premiere, moviegoers were in unison that the lead actors interpreted their roles to the hilt.

Indeed, when Ayamma, produced with support from the Bank of Industry (BoI) Nolly Fund opens in cinemas across the country from December 23, the trio of Adesua, Wale and Majid would be the reason the movie would be hailed in the acting department.

Celebrity salutes these thespians and the other substantial actors, including Ime Bishop Umoh, Theresa Edem and Moses Armstrong, who contributed in making the movie tick.

Adesua Etomi (Ihouma)
DELECTABLE Adesua Etomi is Ihouma in Ayamma.
An actress with an amazing talent, Adesua has from an appearance in her short film, Brave, to a leading performance in that engaging telling by Royal Pictures Academy, Knocking on Heavens Door and the groundbreaking television series, Gidi Up, shown stuff and has proven that she is that actress any good producer should engage if he or she wants an actress that can live a role believably.

Adesua sizzled as Ihuoma. She played the role believably and left no one in doubt about her ability to provide the needed centre for the Royal Arts Academy movie, which is set in Akwa Ibom State.

Born in Owerri, Imo State to a father from Edo State and a Yoruba mother, Adesua acts with a lot of depth. She throws herself into a role and makes every role she has played seem as though it was written with her in mind.

Indeed, most directors who have worked closely with her since she returned from abroad to join the industry after her university education affirm that she is good, and that the humble, friendly and amiable actress, who also sings, has brought some spark to the Nigerian stage and screen acting firmament.

Majid Michel
NOTABLE actor, Majid Michel Erawoc, lights up Ayamma.
Majid is gradually becoming Royal Arts Academy’s first choice for an actor who can live a role believably and with a lot of spark.Reputed to be one of Ghana’s acting gifts to the continent, Majid, who is born to a Lebanese businessman father by a Ghanaian mother, was simply amazing as one of the lead actors in Ayamma.

Called Shaker by his numerous fans, the fair-complexioned actor and AMAA Best Actor for 2013, showed class and stuff and proved that he could fit snugly into any role.

Born and raised in Ghana, Majid got into acting by chance. A neighbour had referred him to a modelling outfit- Super Model Agency- to be recruited as a model.A meeting with the director of the agency and the dice turned full circle in favour of the old boy of the elite Mfantsipim School, the same school fellow actor, Van Vicker, and the former United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Kofi Annan, attended.

The agency boss offered Majid a role instead, in a television series, Things We Do for Love, which ran for several quarters on Ghana Television (GTV).

It was on that set that the sun set for him. It was also on that set that the humble actor earned the nickname, Shaker.Majid then rode on the back of the success of the television series to grab lead roles in movies, the first being in the movie, Divine Love, starring Jackie Aygemang and Vicker.

It was his effort in that movie that turned Majid into something of a household name in Ghana. Even he agreed that he found mainstream success following his performance in the movie.

Today, Majid whose most recent movie credit is as lead actor in Vivian Ejike’s newest effort, Silent Scandal, starring Genevieve Nnaji and Uche Jombo, is as a popular in Ghana and even in Nigeria.

Wale Ojo (Prince Daraima)
POPULAR actor, writer, singer and culture producer, Wale Ojo, is in Ayamma as Prince Daraima, the fascinating heir to Obong Ikpaisong, who repeatedly dreams of Ihuoma (Adesua Etomi).

And from the way the self-confessed lover of Shakespeare interpreted the role, it was obvious that only Wale could fit the role. Indeed, the trained thespian showed stuff in the movie and proved that he is a good centre to hang a story on.

A stage and screen actor of vast credit, and founder of the New Nigeria Cinema, whose aim is to improve the quality of Nigerian films, Wale, who started out as a child actor on stage and television in Nigeria.

He turned professional in the United Kingdom (UK) at the age of 21, and since then, the dashing actor has not looked back, as he has been grabbing all the lead roles there on stage and screen.

The last time he spoke to The Guardian, Wale revealed that his training as an actor began with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

He said: “It began with the NTA Ibadan at the age of 8. Then, I went abroad and now, I am home. I just had to come back home; it was almost like a divine calling for me to come back home.

“I started with television as a child. I worked with people such as Akin Lewis. Did a series, titled, Why worry the Barber on NTA Ibadan for a few years. I used to enjoy the fact that whenever I go out, people recognised me.

“Then, I moved to England at the age of 12 to university there and became professional in England at the age of 21.” Wale continued: “My first play was Shakespeare’s Othello. I am a huge fan of Shakespeare and have also become seasoned in Shakespeare plays.

“I took part in so many stage plays in London and have performed in some of the big professional theatres in England, such as the National Theatre, Royal Exchange and so on.“So, I was, if you like, very seasoned in theatre before I moved to cinema.”