The Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, has undoubtedly grown in leaps and bounds, becoming a major contributor to the nation's GDP. In recognition of this fact, Patience Ivie Ihejirika takes a look at some of the brains behind the great achievements who are no longer active in the industry.

The story of Nollywood cannot be interestingly told without mentioning the names of some people. These are the people who have made sacrifices with their time, resources, energy and skills to make the Nigerian Film Industry what it is today.

These players are not meant to be forgotten even in their death, given their immense contribution to the great achievements of the industry.

Unfortunately, most of them are no longer active and are not being heard of anymore. Their fame has vanished as many of them are not even recognised anymore. Some of these Nollywood veterans have died in poverty while others have returned to their hometowns with nothing to show for their efforts towards the development of the industry.

However, observers have opined that for obvious reasons; many of the pioneer actors have found new love in politics. Some of these actors, including Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Bob Manuel Udokwu, Desmond Elliot and others are currently involved in political affairs in their various states.

Many of them have also turned campaigners for politicians, while others are busy trying their hands in different businesses and professions.

The influx of new and upcoming players in the industry has also been identified as a factor that has further eroded the place of these legends as some of them are now being regarded as 'old-school'. Movie producers have also encouraged this practice since they now prefer to go for upcoming actors just to pay less.

Recall that In 2005, the Actors' Guild of Nigeria (AGN), placed Pete Edochie and several other actors, including Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Nkem Owoh, Ramsey Noah, Stella DamasusAboderin, Chinwe Okeke and Richard Mofe Damijo on a one year ban from filming after they were said to have been collecting huge fees from producers due to their A-list celebrity status.

However, as part of efforts to continue to recognise and honour these icons, one of them, Paul Obazele, in 2012 initiated an award show called “Legends of Nollywood”. The award in its fourth year now, is aimed at recognising and honouring the great individuals that have shaped the Nigerian movie industry.

According to Paul Obazele, “We have so many heroes that do not need to pass on before we start to honour them. Our people are dying and many live in abject poverty because of what the pirates are doing to us. They have been successful in writing their names on the Wall of Fame, hence the need to reward their undying efforts.”

He said “a time to pay glowing tribute to the great personalities and programmes that provided the capacity that has helped to form and shape our industry and a time to celebrate the truly memorable and greatest achievements in our motion picture history.”

The award is in categories, acknowledging the talents, skills and creativity of the individuals and organisations that have contributed in no small measure to the success of Nollywood.

The categories are the Grand Patriarch of Nollywood, Best Creator – TV Series, Best Male Act – Television Series, Best Female Actor – Television Drama Series, Best Director – Television Drama Series and Founding Father of Nollywood of Nollywood. Others include Excellence & Service to the Motion Picture Industry, Best Male Actor – TV Sitcom and Best Female Actor – TV Sitcom.

Some of the veterans who have received the awards include Alex Usifo and Patience Ozokwo.

Talking about those who have contributed tirelessly to the growth of the industry, one cannot forget to mention the likes of Pete Edochie, Alex Usifo, Olu Jacobs, Joke Silver, Paul Obazele RMD, Zack Orji, Sam Dede, Ejike Asiegbu, Patience Ozokwo, Nkem Owoh, Genevieve Nnaji, Liz Benson, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Stella Damasus Aboderin and a host of others.

Meanwhile, Obazele, who is the founder and president of Legends of Nollywood, has blamed the situation on government for not living up to its responsibility.

“Government has refused to live up to its responsibility, I would have expected a situation where state governor s will engage directly with film makers in the state, I would have expected that , just like what governor Fasola is doing in Lagos, engaging Nollywood in Lagos, you know, supporting the Eko international film festival for example, giving directive in LASU for a department of filmatography to be created for them to go back to school and read, trying to fight piracy for us as it where within villages, that is engaging us,” he said.

Obazele also identified piracy as a major setback in the industry. According to him, “ it is painful, a situation where a group of people who were not given money to write the story of Nigeria took it upon themselves and collected their fathers and their mothers landed properties to shoot the films they shot and brought us into limelight, and they are treated with ignominy and disdain.

“A situation where you have an average film maker today going back to his village with his loads in a paper bag because he has lost everything to pirates. The people who are leading us today, from the States to the National Assemblies and all of them, if they are not directly or indirectly involved in piracy, why have they not lent a voice or hand to the fight against piracy? Because what we see today is a group of people who want to travel out of the country, they carry our products, they go to London, the Caribbeans, they go to all parts of the world to sell products of the industry which they claim ownership of. This group of people who don't have regards for intellectual works have messed up what we have created.”

Also, speaking on why they are no longer active in the industry, Nollywood veteran actor, Bruno Iwuoha, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that most of them have taken a break because they are treated with disdain.

“They price us as if we are not even up to crayfish. The government is not helping matters too. Aside oil, Nollywood is the largest industry that generates money in the country. It provides the largest job opportunity to the youths and government is supposed to come into it.

“The other time they said government gave us $2.5million. Quote me, Bruno does not know what bank is handling that money. These are some of the reasons why you don't see most of our faces in movies regularly anymore,” he said.

Another veteran actor, Bob Manuel Udokwu said even though he is into politics, he is still acting and even acted some movies recently.

Also, Keppy Ekpenyong, said he is still very much around in the industry and said some of the recent movies he has featured in are already being shown in cinemas across the country..
Via leadership.ng