The entertainment scene witnessed an immense growth and international recognition of Nigerian talents as Nollywood and music artistes made the country proud in 2018. Here are six major events that shaped the sector in the outgoing year:
- International recognitions and more awards pour in for Nigerian music acts…
Nigerian music stars such as Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Falz and Mr Eazi, took the gospel of Nigerian music beyond the shores of Africa.
Daily Trust recalls that Wizkid did some collabo with America’s biggest stars including Drake and also held a sold-out concert at the prestigious 02 Arena in London, United Kingdom as well as Eko Hotels in Lagos this December to wrap up the year 2018.
Tiwa Savage clinched several international awards including the 2018 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)’s West Africa’s best female artiste award, and the first solo female winner for the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards (MTV EMAs) in the Best African Act category.
Similarly, Davido won Africa’s artiste of the year and the best male artiste in West Africa at the 2018 AFRIMA with his album, FIA and was also nominated severally for various international award.
Falz’s “This is Nigeria” musical video which was inspired by American Gambino’s “This is America” musical video, also attracted international reviews and applauses though with little criticism anyway. He also won best African rapper award at the 5th AFRIMA held in Ghana in November 2018.
- Nollywood maintains No.3 world position after Hollywood and Bollywood
In the outgoing year, Nollywood remains stronger internationally. With Netflix’s acquisition of Genevieve Nnaji’s yet-to-be-released movie: “Lion Heart”, Nollywood movies continue to make international waves. Also, “Lion Heart” is the first original Nollywood film to be bought by the American movie streaming platform.
- More Nollywood movies go live on American video streaming platform, Netflix
As internet penetration increases across the country, Netflix has begun streaming a host of Nigerian movies for its international audience.
Some Nollywood films currently showing on Netflix include: The Wedding Party, Fifty, The Visit, When Love Happens, Road to Yesterday and Dearest Mummy.
- Nigerian movie producers & Nollywood acts receive international recognition
Four Nigerians made Oscars’ list of 928 members. The Oscars, simply identified as The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences, made visibly improved racial and gender considerations in its 2018 list.
They are Nigerian actresses, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wunmi Mosaku; movie producer and directors Femi Odugbemi and Ngozi Onwurah.
- Increasing revenues…
The Nigerian entertainment sector witnessed a 25.5 percent growth in the outgoing year. This amounted to $3.8 billion with $605 million of the estimated $764 million rise said to be attributable to internet access, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria.
- The growing Nollywood blockbusters in cinemas
Some Nollywood movies compete favourably with their foreign counterparts in most cinemas across the country.
According to Moses Babatope, the group executive director of Filmhouse Cinemas, the box office kings are Merry Men (N230 million), King of Boys (N100 million), The Ghost and the Tout (N80 million), Moms at War (N65 million) and Royal Hibiscus Hotel (N59 million) etc.
- But some mourning moments too…
The entertainment and Nollywood industry lost some good hands in the year 2018.
Some of the famous ones include Moses Adejumo aka Baba Sala; Aishat Abimbola aka Omoge Campus; talented OAP, Tosyn Bucknor; veteran singer, Ras Kimono; Baba Sabiko, whose real name was Abiodun Aremu and Dbanj’s one-year-old son, Daniel D Third, who passed away after he drowned in his dad’s swimming pool at his Lagos home.
Others are Uduak Akrah, Chike Osuji, Ezeora Nelson Oluchukwu, Okwy Chukwujekwu, Nora Nkiruka Ugo, Ikenga Gbulie, Motunrayo Adeoye, Friday Ogbulo, Bambino Anachina, and Chris Ekejimbe etc.
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