Entertainment

Why Most Veteran Actors Are Off The Screen Revealed

Published

4 years ago

January 21, 2022

A Nollywood Veteran and Film Director, Mr Emeka Ossai has said that most veterans in the industry were off the screen because movies produced by the so-called “New Nollywood actors” lacked originality.

Ossai said this when members of the Creative Industry Group (CIG) visited the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Lagos Office, that chunk of the movies lacked focus.

Ossai said that the Nollywood industry was pulled out of the woods by the efforts of the veterans and ensured it remained afloat.

“The veterans started the path called: Nollywood some years back and were able to colonize Africa and the diaspora to love our contents and to love Nigeria.

“To sustain Nollywood, the kind of story we tell should be original and indigenous.

“Some people have infiltrated the industry with colonial mentality of doing business; they want to adulterate our culture by bringing in some content outside our cultural identity.

“People acting and mimicking the whites when they are blacks by speaking through their nostrils and changing the trajectory from contemporary Africa stories should rethink,” he said.

Ossai argued that there had been some unwritten values in the Nollywood industry, which had helped it grown and must be protected.

Some producers of movies have created “New Nollywood” by bringing in untrained artistes. In our own time, we were trained either formally or informally.

“We were trained in the Nollywood through apprenticeship or actual practice overtime before becoming a frontrunner in the business.

“Some artists can play the role of a “Waka Pass” for 10 years before getting a lead role. A fresher cannot muscle an old hand in role within a short time,” he said.

Ossai reiterated that the Nollywood industry needed the inputs of the veterans who would provide the lead for the new entrants to flourish.

He said some of the new films produced by young artistes that go to the cinema should have the inputs of the old hands for it to be recognised.

“A film called, “Lion Heart by Genevieve Nnaji, is an essentially an old Nollywood film upgraded to the world standard and the result was great because it attracted great endorsements worth millions of dollars.

“The younger ones cannot go to the cinemas without the inputs of the older ones and think it will succeed, no, it might fail.

“The old hands will keep the torch running, while the new entrants will complement, actors that rose to the top started in a humble way.

“We have many examples of them like Omotola Jalade. She joined the industry when she was in the secondary school and got a role, probably more than a decade after, ” he said.

“So, it will be difficult for a fresher to compete or play a role with such a veteran,” Ossai said.
(NAN/NATION)

Entertainment

‘There Was No Blueprint For Me’ – Wizkid Claims

Published

9 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer Wizkid has sparked controversy after claiming that he had no blueprint while coming up as an artist, despite having emerged through ace singer Banky W’s imprint.

The Ojuelegba crooner made the statement in a snippet of his upcoming HBO documentary Long Live Lagos.

“There was no blueprint for me. I had to build a structure for myself,” he claimed.

His comment sparked debate on social media, with many insisting that it not only downplayed Banky W’s impact on his career but also disrespected the great Nigerian musicians who paved the way for the new generation of artists.

Wizkid, however, admitted elsewhere in the documentary that Fela Kuti inspired him to pursue music.

“Fela Kuti was instrumental to why I believe I could really make music,” he said.

Some of the reactions on X include:

Franko_Nero wrote: “I still vividly remember the day that Bankole [Banky W] announced on a show that he wants to introduce a boy wonder, a germ in the making. Today, this ungrateful child is claiming otherwise. If Banky knew that today would come, I am sure he would have chased him far away.”

Arhcent said: “This guy is erasing the role Banky W and EME played in his career. The person Banky picked from school into the studio is saying ‘I had to build a structure for myself.’ God sees all.”

Duke of Isoko wrote: “If he never built a structure, Banky probably wouldn’t have noticed him. This dude came out with his own style of music, dressing sense, etc., but I understand that English is a problem in this place.”

Sir Dickson opined: “People are debating this with reference to Banky’s impact in his life. There is no real context to that. I believe he was speaking about his style of music. He reinvented himself. Wiz has never denied Banky’s impact, nor can he. Let’s calm down.”

Entertainment

‘I Am Not Shy, I’m Just Laid Back’ – Olamide Addresses Misconception

Published

9 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Famous Nigerian rapper Olamide Baddo has addressed the misconception that he is shy.

Speaking in a recent interview with Ada’s Room, Baddo explained that he isn’t shy but laid back.

“One thing I wish people could understand about me is I am not shy, I am just laid back,” he said.

The host asked: “What is the difference between shy and laid back?”

Olamide responded: “Shy is when you don’t have the confidence and the charisma to stand people or look them in the eye or have conversations with them.

“But being laid back is you just don’t want to be bothered. People think I am shy but I am not.”

Entertainment

Why I Stopped Going To Church – Actress Ariyiike Dimples

Published

10 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Nigerian actress and media personality, Ariyike Owolagba, popularly known as Ariyiike Dimples, has revealed why she stopped attending church.

Featuring in a recent episode of the Open Up podcast, the movie star shared that she stopped going to church for three years after a church elder questioned her fashion sense.

She stated that the elder told her she would go to hell for wearing a pencil skirt to church, which the elder considered indecent.

The actress said she was frustrated by the experience and quit church.

“In my community church, you see only elderly people. You barely see the young ones. The young ones have gone to other churches. It was too serious. Yes, you can have your doctrines, but there is a way you can simplify it for young people and take them in without judging them.

“The reason I stopped going to church was because I wore a pencil skirt to church and an elderly woman said I will go to hell fire. I was shocked and felt wrongly judged so I stopped going to church for 3 years. And thankfully, I was already out of my parents’ house.

“The woman reported me to my dad. I had to take picture of the skirt and send to my mum to prove that I wasn’t dressing indecently. But my dad believed in the ideology of a community raising a child. So, I chose to avoid the community church so that they won’t see me,” she recalled.

Ariyiike Dimples, however, added that she is still a practicing Christian despite quitting church.