NOLLYWOOD AWARD NIGHT By Chinyere Obinna O.

On the evening of April 3rd,2008, all roads in New York led to the Nigerian House gala hall, or would have loved to. That was the night that the Nollywood stars came out to shine or in this case were illuminated by one of their own in an exclusive, by invitation only award show that recognized their collective contributions to the explosion and the continued growth of that amazing phenomenon known as “Nollywood”, Nigeria’s own vibrant and prolifically thriving version of the Hollywood movie industry. The event, sponsored by that Public Relations powerhouse, the president of the “African Eye” publications, Mr. Tai Balofin, in conjunction with the New York branch of the Nigerian consulate drew a cross section of Nigerian Nollywood stars, most of whom came all the way from Nigeria to be recognized and honored for their tireless dedication to their craft. The recipients of the awards were Nollywood luminaries and creative thinkers whose contributions to the Nollywood experience cut across a broad swathe of the Nigerian entertainment industry. They ranged from veteran acting giants of the Yoruba movie genre, to gospel and Fuji singers, comedians, and movie producers. Topping the list was the president of the Film Makers Association of Nigeria (FAN), creator of the movie “Back To Africa:, and “Crazy Like A Fox,” and the multi-talented quadruple threat known as Oliver Mbamara, whose multiple talents extend beyond the title of filmmaker, to that of lawyer, Administrative Law Judge, playwright, poet, writer, actor, movie producer, and creator of that rib cracking movie called “This America,” and the 2005 epic tale “Slave Warrior.
The recipients of the awards expressed their joy at the honor that was bestowed upon them and accepted their awards with warmth and genuine pride. They expressed their extreme pride at being able to contribute to shaping the image of the Nigerian experience in a positive light. The president of the Nigerian film Assoc., Tony Abulu called for responsible film making amongst his peers and cautioned them to restrain from overtly sensationalism that could also tarnish the image of Nigeria. He reflected on the pride and joy that he felt in the major artists represented and the work that they were doing to shape the image of the country abroad. Mr. Mbamara stressed on the importance of boycotting pirated film material, which robs the filmmakers and hurts their bottom line. The Nigerian gospel singing sensation Kinglsey Ogunde , who also received an award, capped the event with an amazing performance that brought down the house and had the audience on the edge of their seats. Other performers that received awards included, included Dele Odule,Lanre Teriba, Moji Olaiya, Ronke Ojo, James Omiyinka, Amusan Bolaji, Hassan Taiwo, Idowu Bamisaye, Yinka Ayefele, Pasuma Wonder, and Peju Ogunmola.