INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY SPECIAL: WOMEN IN NOLLYWOOD.

Hey guys Stephaaaaanie here, as you know last Wednesday the 8th of march was International Women's Day. In honor of this, I'm writing short um biographies? There's a better word for this but I can't think of it right now. Anywho I'm writing short biographies on a couple of badass women in the second largest (after Bollywood) production house in the world: Nollywood!! Yeah, baby.




1) Amaka Isaac-Ene:

Also known by her marital name as Amaka Igwe. She was one of the pioneers in Nollywood, known for her incredible screenwriting and directing skills. Igwe produced films like Violated (1996) and Rattlesnake (1995) that set the tone for filmmaking in Nollywood. She also was the producer of iconic Nigerian tv programs like CheckMate and Fuji House of Commotion, yes she made your childhood. Not stopping there she established a radio station, Top Radio 90.9 FM. If that isn't awesome then what is?  Sadly she passed away in 2014 in Enugu, but the mark she has left in Nollywood can never be erased. She was a true icon and pioneer.

2) Emem Isong:

Here is another super talented screenwriter, director, and producer. Her films kicked off the scene for the Nollywood New Wave (yes I am ripping off the french new wave). Her second film Codes of Silence  (2015), addressed rape in Nigeria using her platform to address societal issues. She continues to write and produce films collaborating with other filmmakers and has also gone on to set up her own academy called "Royal Arts Academy", where she tutors students in film and gives them an opportunity to break into the industry with a hit film or tv program each year also making it its own production house. Yeah, I'm considering dropping out of uni now.

3) Mo Abudu:

She could be arguably one of the most successful women in Nollywood currently for her ability to bring in that Hollywood glossiness with Nollywood content. I began to recognize her on my telly with the inception of her show, Moments with Mo, which then quickly turned into the TV channel "EbonyLife TV", which back then I used to call the Nigerian "E!" (they had similar logos too). EbonyLife quickly moved on to becoming its own production house, producing the last two biggest hit films over the past year; Fifty (2015) and The Wedding Party (2016). Yes guys, The Wedding Party, which also happens to be the highest grossing film ever in Nollywood. Talk about success huh? Both films had top notch production quality from sleek camera work to on point characterization and casting.

4) Kemi Adetiba:

Speaking of The Wedding Party, who was the amazing director that brought it all together? This gal. But before this big break, she hustled from being a radio personality to being a presenter on TV  and also directing music videos for many A-List artists like Wizkid, Banky W, TY Bello, Niyola and more. Later in life, she decided to enroll in New York Film Academy (NYFA) to get to grips with filmmaking, this then led to her directing The Wedding Party, which was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival, which is also pretty huge!

5) Omoni Oboli:

Another NYFA alumnus famously known as an actress, starring in films like Fifty (2015), The Figurine (2009), Anchor Baby (2010) and more, slowly becoming the face of the new wave of Nigerian cinema. This star actress also directs smash hits. She directed another one of the most talked about films last year Wives on Strike (2016) along with other films like Being Mrs. Elliot (2014) and The First Lady (2015). Can you say multi-talented?

6) Funmi Iyanda:

Here is an icon of Nigerian television. She began her career in TV producing and presenting Good Morning Nigeria, which delved into the lives of the common Nigerian and was hailed for that. After a two-year break,  she started producing Talk With Funmi (TWF) in 2010, which followed her around the country having conversations with individuals from state to state. Also in 2010, she completed a documentary titled My Country: Nigeria to celebrate Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independence which was aired on the British tv channel BBC.

7) Agatha Amata:

A sister to Miss Iyanda in Nigerian TV. Agatha Amata began her TV career with her long-running talk show, Inside-Out with Agatha Amata, which held the purpose of bringing out the inside stories of Nigerians. She quickly turned this brand from being just a talk show to being a tv production house, producing a range of tv shows from factual to fictional gracing the screens of many Nigerian homes. Her ambition never dulled as in 2014 she launched an interactive TV channel, Rave TV, which aimed to bring back the culture of Nigerian TV with the newness of today. The channel features classic hits like the KKB show, Tales by Moonlight, African Pot and more, yes she brought back your childhood. She also went on the launch Trend 100.9 FM in 2016, Delta state's first ever privately owned radio station. She has also had a hand in producing many Nollywood films.

Thank you so much for reading, let me know if you feel I've left any woman out or other women you find inspiring in the comments below. I am truly blown away by these women they honestly inspire me so much, a good amount them also openly discuss gender issues in Nigeria and I'm proud to call one of them my mother. I just had to mention that lol. Happy International Women's Day again. Appreciate the women around you every single day by respecting them. Thanks again and be back next week x.