Biodun Stephen is a brilliant Filmmaker, director, writer, producer and actor.
She is responsible for such, critically acclaimed – award winning, works as,”Looking for Baami”, “Breaded Life”,”Progressive Tailors Club” and “Introducing the Kujus”.
You can watch her films on Netflix and Prime Video.
My first introduction to her work was “Looking for Baami” which was in English and Yoruba. The delivery and level of craftsmanship displayed by the actors, especially Femi Jacobs and Bimbo Ademoye (my crush – shameless and unapologetic), could only be achieved by skilled directing and mastery of the art of filmmaking. After that movie, I actively looked out for more works from Biodun Stephen. What got me hooked was, thinking to myself at the time that, this director was obviously different and placed value on attention to detail, her art and the rights of her audience to quality content.
Look out for Biodun Stephen she is definitely going to be more widely celebrated and promoted locally (in Nigeria) and Internationally in due course.
A common theme in her movies are, “family, love and life” from a fresh and authentic human angle.
Nollywood movies have come of age. Sure it could do with more funding and standardization to better compete internationally with Hollywood, Bollywood and Korean Films. But she is getting there. Thanks to Film power houses like, Filmhouse, Ebony Life/Mo Abudu, Inkblot productions and brilliant directors and Filmmakers like Mildred Okwo (the Meeting), Tunde Babalola (Last Flight to Abuja), kunle Afolayan (October 1), Emem Isong (Apaye & Knocking on Heaven’s Door), Omoni Oboli (Anchor Baby, Wives on Strike, Love is War), Kemi Adetiba (of Wedding Party and King of Boys repute) and now Biodun Stephen. Supported by amazing young talent like Lateef Adedimeji, Bola Ogunmola, Stan Nze, Zainab Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Adesuwa Etomi, Timini Egbuson, Kehinde Bankole, Ademola Adedoyin, Kunle Remi, Bisola Aiyeola, Nse Ikpe Etim, Jemima Osunde, Toni Tones, Linda Ejiofor, Falz, Uchemba Williams, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Sharon Ooja, Deyemi Okanlawon, Daniel Etim Effiong & OC Ukeje.
Of course I would be remiss if I did not mention those that came before the current crop of creatives. Giants whose contributions are invaluable and upon whose shoulders Nigerian film and Nollywood now stands and filters delightfully to the rest of the world.
Herbert Ogunde is regarded as the father of modern Nigerian Cinema. I remember watching “Aiye” at the National theater in Lagos as a child. I had nightmares for weeks. That was how realistic, vivid and poignant an effect the movie had on me.
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) also played a crucial role by sometimes commissioning and airing TV series and movies that gave many veteran actors their first major roles and exposure on national television. Such memorable TV series include: Adio Family, Cockcrow at Dawn, Village Headmaster, New Masquerade, Second Chance, Third Eye, Icheoku, Samanja, Jaguar, Sura the Tailor, Things Fall Apart, Checkmate, Behind the Clouds, Ripples, Super story, House No. 13, Thrift Collector, I need to Know, Tinsel, Ken Saro Wiwa’s Basi and Company, Papa Ajasco, Fuji House of Commotion, Fortunes (later Mega Fortunes), Koko Close, Treasures, Tales by Moonlight, Candlelight, Heaven’s Gate, Paradise Park, Palace… to name but a few. The programs also enjoyed corporate sponsorship from PZ, Unilever, Union Bank of Africa, Cadbury, NBL, NBC and Nestle. This love affair Between NTA, Actors, Filmmakers and Sponsors spanned over three decades from the late 1960s to Early 2000s.
The TV series, Soap Operas and Movies created from these collaborations featured actors and involved filmakers like, Ambassador Olusegun Olusola ( creator of the Village Head master), Sam Loco Efe, Jimi Solanke, Jab Adu, Rosemary Anieze Adams, Julie Coker, Peter Igho (Ace NTA producer), George Menta (Bello), Ene Olaja (Zemaye) Matt Dadzie, Sadiq Daba (Bitrus), Karim Yero (Uncle Gaga), Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Richard Mofe Damijo – RMD, Alex Usifo (Talab Abbas), Ego Boyo (Anne Haastrop), Segun Arinze, James Iroha (Giringori), Claude Eke (Jegede Sokoya), David Ofor (Clarus), Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya), Victoria Ezeokoli (Director, Programming NTA and creator of Tales by Moonlight), Lari Williams, Romanus Amuta (Natty), Bimbo Manuel (Nduka), Ramsey Nuoah, Pat Attah, Regina Askia, Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Charles Okafor, Saint Obi, Sandra Achums, Nobert Young, Christy Essien Igbokwe (Apena), Lizzy Evoleme (Ovularía), Dejumo Lewis (Kabiyesi) Babara Soky, Clarion Chukwura, Victor Olaotan, Justus Esiri (Village Head master) Enebeli Elebuwa, Ibidun Allison (Amebo), Albert Egbe (Mr. B.), Joe Layode, Funsho Adeolu (Chief Eleyinmi), Jide Kosoko, Rachel Oniga, Albert Kosemasi (Gorimapa), Femi Robinson, Desmond Elliot, Chris Iheuwa, Sola Sobowale (Toyin Tomato), Sam Dede, Fred Amata, Zack Amata (Papa Efe), Franca Brown (Mama Efe), MacArthur Fom (Nosa), Liz Benson, Zik Zulu Okafor, Monalisa Chinda, Sola Fosudo, Usman Baba Pategi (Samanja), Lomaji Ugorji (Court clerk/Icheoku), Nkem Orakwe (Aunty), Ebele Okaro, Afeez Oyetoro (Saka), Yemi Shodimu, Tade Ogidan, Ireti Doyle, Funke Akindele, Genevieve Nnaji, Dakore Akande, Funlola Aofiyebi, Osas Ighodaro, Wale Adenuga, Zulu Adigwe (Basi), Frank Donga, Eniola Badmus, Abiodun Ayoyinka (Papa Ajasco), Lasa Amorro, Aso Douglas, John Njamah (Rabiu), Toun Oni (Iya Mojí) Ngozi Nwosu (Peace), Okey Bakassi, Kate Henshaw, Basorge Tariah Jnr (Dogood) Tunji Bamshigbin, Foluke Daramola, Femi Brainard, Femi Branch, Antar Laniyan, Bukky Wright, Peter Fatomilola, Francis Agu, Kunle Bamtefa (Chief Fuji) and Julius Agwu. The list is endless … Thank you NTA for creating an avenue for so many unforgettable roles and characters.
Also worthy of mention are Chief Eddie Ugbomah (Rise and Fall of Oyenusi), Tunde Kelani (Thunderbolt:Magun, Oleku, Mister Johnson & Ayinla), Amaka Igwe (Checkmate TV Series, Violated & Rattlesnake), Lola Fani Kayode (Mirror in the Sun, Mind Bending) Zeb Ejiro (Domitila, Nneka, Mortal Inheritance). Pete Edochie (Who played Okonkwo in the TV Series adaption from Chinua Achebe’s Award winning book, Things Fall Apart). Nkem Owoh (Osuofia). Moses Olaiya (aka Baba Sala), Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group which gave the likes of Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Sunday Omobolanle (Aluwe) and Lanre Adesina (madam Awero) a break.
Ditto Nollywood classics like, Rattle Snake:the Ahanna story; Living in Bondage; Nnneka: the Pretty Serpent; Glamor Girls – which have been remade and now on Netflix thanks to Charles Okpaleke of Play. This has sparked interest in those early Nollywood movies amongst younger folk via searches on the internet and YouTube.
There have been talks of a bifurcation of the Nigerian Movie Industry into two distinct entities, namely, Nollywood Asaba/Enugu/Aba and Alaba International Market which feeds DSTV African magic with content. And the common folk with a battery of weekly CDs churned out like the old American Bee Movies with little regard for quality. Nollywood Asaba has its roots in early Igbo Movies which were largely financed by Producers and Traders from the Eastern part of Nigeria. It has been criticized as being more profit driven rather than aimed at promoting the arts or culture. They have received flak for copious portrayal of rituals, corruption and violence and nothing positive about the Nigerian society. (that is debatable though. After all art mirrors life most times).
The other half of the bifurcation is Nollywood Cinema which is dominated by professionals and promoters of art. Who seek to standardize the craft and focus mainly on producing movies for cinema release as well as View on Demand (VOD)/Streaming on YouTube. Thanks to a revival of the cinema culture by movie theater owners/entertainment entrepreneurs like Silverbird Cinemas, Genesis Cinemas, Filmhouse, DSTV/African Magic and IrokoTV. Kudos also to VOD giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Videos.
Whether it is Nollywood Asaba or Nollywood Cinema Nigerian content is here to stay and continues to grow and improve locally and globally.
I salute the journey and progress of the Nigerian film industry. Bravo and Applause.
DrAlexanderGrey 