Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Nigerian Filmmaker Okpue Wins Best Director in U.S.
Ogo Okpue, a UK-based Nigerian filmmaker has emerged as best director in a tie with Bryan Keith Montgomery Jnr., at the 2023 American Black Film Festival Award for his film, “A Song From The Dark”.
Okpue in a statement on Thursday said the achievement was another milestone for the Nigerian entertainment industry in Miami Beach, Florida, U.
S.The American Black Film Festival, currently at its 27th annual edition, is the biggest black film festival in the world created to highlight audio-visual works of black origin.
Okpue whose short films like “Saving Cain”, “Cat Face” have been recognised and screened at major film festivals around the world, said the recent feat was humbling for him, having dedicated three years for the film.
“Winning at the largest black film festival in the world for our film is an absolute honour.
“Three years grafting in the dark, and then within a year, we ended up in Miami Beach accepting two big prestigious awards; God did it. Congrats to my lead actress for winning Best Actor as well.
“Congrats to all my fellow 2023 ABFF winners. I will say many thanks to Jeff and Nicole Friday, for birthing ABFF and giving diverse voices such an amazing platform,” he said.
Speaking on the inspiration for the film, Okpue said it dated back to his grandmother.
“The story dates back to a certain period of my childhood when my family visited my grandmother in our village.
“She happened to be a well-respected traditionalist. Tales of her intrigued us and as I grew older, I regretted not knowing her more.
“She was an enigma and I wondered what it would have been like if some of her tales were captured in books.
“The world of African mysticism has not been explored enough in world cinema and most times it is vilified.
“I think in Africa, our superheroes have slept long enough; African stories are as diverse and as entertaining as the continent itself, so I thought ‘why not add more African heroes to the fictional world of cinema’?”
A Song From the Dark which also won the Best Actor category at the festival had six nominations at the 2022 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Nigeria, while Okpue won the Best Director for First Feature film.
The film had Nollywwod stars like Nse Ikpe Etim, Wale Ojo, alongside Ghanaian born Vanessa Vanderpuye, Octavia Gilmore, and Dean Kilby amongst others.
The film is a fantasy-horror, positioned to project heroes and heroines of African traditional mysticism. (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
BBNaija Season 11: Keivo Becomes Second Housemate to be Disqualified
Keivo has become the second Big Brother Naija housemate to be disqualified from Season 11.
This follows his physical altercation with fellow housemate, Tram.
The fight broke out after Tram accused Keivo of taking one of his shirts.
Keivo did not take the allegation of theft lightly, and the situation eventually became violent.
It took the intervention of other housemates to calm both men down.
On Tuesday, Biggie sent ninjas to escort Keivo out of the house through the storeroom.
Biggie eventually gathered the remaining contestants and confirmed Keivo’s disqualification.
Nomy was the first housemate to be disqualified due to repeated defiance and refusal to wear an assigned punishment outfit.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Mofe-Damijo Envisions Bright Future for Nigeria at 66
Veteran actor and public speaker, Richard Mofe-Damijo, has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, describing the country as a work in progress, on its 66th Independence Anniversary on Oct. 1.
Mofe-Damijo said this while speaking on Nigeria’s journey at 66 at the Pivot Nigeria conference in Lagos.
He said although Nigeria had shortcomings, its relatively young age as a nation meant citizens should remain patient while continuing to contribute to its development.
“A bright one. We are a country, we’re a work in progress, and we must continue just doing the work,” he said.
According to him, building a civilisation takes time, adding that Nigeria at 66 remained young compared with many countries regarded as leading nations today.
He, however, stressed that the country’s age should not be an excuse for its shortcomings.
Mofe-Damijo urged Nigerians to remain committed to building the country and contributing positively to its growth.
He said every Nigerian was an ambassador of the country, noting that individual conduct could influence Nigeria’s reputation locally and internationally.
The actor urged citizens to demonstrate discipline, professionalism, punctuality and integrity in their daily activities.
He said Nigerians should view representing the country as a responsibility rather than a burden.
Mofe-Damijo added that Nigeria’s reputation would be strengthened when citizens consistently demonstrated excellence and maintained positive values wherever they found themselves. (NAN)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
My Wife Paid $20k for Her Surgery Herself, Peller Fires Back at Carter Efe
Nigerian content creator and streamer, Peller, has fired back at Carter Efe after the streamer compared their relationships while praising his new girlfriend, Jasmine.
Carter had described Jasmine as exceptionally beautiful and made derogatory remarks about Peller’s wife, Jarvis, while comparing their relationships in a video circulating on social media.
Reacting to the remarks, Peller defended Jarvis and said he has no problem spending money on his wife because he loves and appreciates her.
Peller said Jarvis is financially independent and does not rely on him for her personal needs, adding that she can afford major expenses herself.
“Mumu guy, if you want to let your girlfriend or your wife know how beautiful they are, you can appreciate their beauty with a house or a car,” Peller said.
He also claimed that Jarvis recently paid for her surgery herself, saying the bill was about $20,000.
“My wife have her money and she still fine join. I appreciate her with a car,” he added.
Peller further criticised Carter for allegedly discouraging his partners from working while relying on the money he makes from Twitch.
He said his decision to spend money on Jarvis was not about comparing her with anyone but about showing how much he loves his wife.
“That one na less wetin I go use appreciate her next. We don’t know, it might be a [car], I Love my woman not by comparing her with your girlfriend or ex wey no get talent to make there own big money,” Peller said.
He ended by telling Carter to respect Jarvis, whom he described as “the best”.


