Faces of leading artistes in knockOut

Moviegoers cannot wait for the cinema release of the anticipated and star-studded comedy, KnockOut.

News had filtered in after last Sunday’s premiere that the movie, with a stellar cast, including some A-list Nollywood artistes, such as Patience Ozokwo, Sola Sobowale, Chinwetalu Agu, Desmond Elliot, Segun Arinze, Afeez Oyetoro, Toyin Abraham and popular comedians, including Kenny Blaq, Woli Arole and Gbenga Adeyinka, was as entertaining as it was rib-cracking.

And so there is high expectation for the hilarious movie, which opens in cinemas across the country from this weekend.

Clearly a well made and entertaining comedy, Knockout is produced by Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP) and directed by the dependable female director, Pat Oghre.

A N3billion cash prize for a boxing competition sets the pace for several comical occurrences in this fictitious community, where everyone devises mischievous means to win the cash prize.

Now showing in major cinemas across Nigeria, the eager movie crowd would definitely meet KnockOut with favour. But it is to some of leading actors, like Sobowale, Abiodun Ayoyinka (aka Baba Ajasco), Oyetoro, Ozokwo, Elliot and Mama Ajasco that credit should go to for the excellent outcome of the movie. Their acting was roundly excellent and they all gave a commendable portrayal of the respective roles.

Celebrity salutes these amazing talents and the other members of the cast and crew for their effort in the movie.

Afeez Oyetoro
POPULAR as Saka, Afeez Oyetoro features as the character, EazyWin in Knockout. The Iseyin, Oyo State-born comic actor brings his charm and wealth of experience as a steady comic actor to bear in making the character believable.

A die-hard theatre practitioner and one of Nigeria’s celebrated comic actors, Oyetoro currently lectures in the Department of Theatre Arts, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos. He has a credit pouch filled with several stage productions, television soaps, series and movie production.

Married with children, Oyetoro’s latest movie appearances include Ojukokoro, The Wedding Party and Tatu.
Toyin Abraham 

A MULTI-award winning actress and one actress that have successfully signed two box office hits as producer, Toyin Abraham finds a spot in KnockOut.

The co-producer of the acclaimed movie, Seven And A Half Dates, lights up KnockOut and shows that she is an actress with the right stuff. Clearly one of the most-sought after actresses in the industry, movies that have benefitted from Toyin’s spontaneous and convincing acting include Alakada Reloaded, The Ghost and The Tout, Okafor’s Law, Celebrity Marriage, Seven And A Half Dates’ and now, KnockOut.

Desmond Olushola-Elliot
POPULAR actor, producer and movie director, Desmond Elliot, takes time off legislative duties to star in KnocKOut.

The actor turned lawmaker, who recently won a second term to the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Surulere State Constituency, bring his experience to bear in making the movie tick.

The Economics graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU) and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who delved into active politics in 2013 straight from Nollywood, is an actor, producer and director of vast credit. He is one of Nigeria’s most acclaimed actors of all time, who is also believed to be making his mark in the political space.

Married with children, Desmond, even though now neck deep in politics, has remained relevant in the entertainment industry, taking up movie roles as they come, either as an actor or director.

Sola Sobowale
FIERY actress, Sola Sobowale, the veteran Nollywood actress, who needs no introduction, put up a mesmerising performance in the rib-cracking movie.

An accomplished actress, Auntie Sola, as younger colleagues call her, is the queen of the screen acting skies and popular and notable on television as she is with Nollywood movies.

Loved by many, respected by all, Sola is one actress that most producers want to have in their movies, not even after stellar performance in the two-part box office hit, The Wedding Party, and she brings her acting abilities to bear in KnockOut.

Other movies that have benefitted from her expert portrayal include hit, such as Dangerous Twins and Family on Fire.

Moji Oyetayo (Mama Ajasco)
MOJI Oyetayo plays Mama Ajasco in KnockOut and like her performance in the television series, Papa Ajasco, Moji, who has earned the alias, Mama Ajasco, was believable.

A photographer, who worked behind the scene before acting beckoned, her journey as an actress started about a decade ago when she emerged one of the finalist in the 12 Ambassadors reality show programme sponsored by Unity Bank Plc and produced by Paul Obazele.

She rode on the back of her emergence as one of the 12 acting Ambassadors to pursue a career in acting. Her first break was a role in John Njama’s D8 (Dormitory 8).

She has since gone on to feature in other television and movie productions, including Papa Ajasco, the television series, Jenifa and the popular series, Daughters of Eve.

Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco)
THE original Papa Ajasco, Abiodun Ayoyinka, is in KnockOut as Papa Ajasco. And as expected, the dancer, actor, singer and drummer put up a believable and gripping performance, even more than he does on the television series, where he plays the titular character.

A product of the Dramatic Arts Department of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Papa Ajasco, as Abiodun is now simply called, is a staff of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, where he has been a part of the council’s local and international theatrical exploits.