Celebrating The Amazons Of Nigerian Film Industry.

The Nigerian film industry has over the years witnessed a shift from grass to grace through the great works and contributions of creative and innovative individuals who through grit has turned things around.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, we are celebrating some of the phenomenal women who have helped shape and transform the Nigerian film industry with their creative ingenuity.

“The Queen of Nollywood films” as she is widely called is a Nigerian filmmaker , Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and executive known for pioneering the screening of Nollywood films in International festivals. A TED fellow, she initiated 100 films project aimed at improving the quality of Nigerian-produced films.  She started off her TV career with her show A apiece Off My Mind that was directed at speaking for the socially neglected. Child trafficking and women equality were her areas of interest in film and television. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe founded the Africa Film Academy which has gone on to  become the most recognized awards for Africans in film-making. Indeed, she’s an iconic woman.

Joke Silva is an alumni of Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London and has won awards from Africa Film Academy Awards consecutively for her exceptional acts on the screen.  She is Director of Studies at Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, and also the pioneer managing director of Malete Film Village, in association with the Kwara State University. She is known to be a source of inspiration to the younger generation of women.

Born of Yoruba noble blood, the singer and actress is the late Duro Ladipo’s wife and a member of his Theatre troupe. She flourished as an actress in her husband’s performances, especially her role as Moremi. She appeared across Europe in several international festivals. After her husband’s demise, she started appearing in Nigerian television series that promote African culture. Posterity bears witness to her works that she set a path to make culture unforgettable.

 She is an actor known for her sizzling acts on screen. Her entire career from radio to TV has seen her flourish. In 2014, she was among the top 100 Nigerians honored by the government to celebrate the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates. 

Another tv sensation is Genevieve who flourished as an actress before making her debut as a director through the movie Lion Heart. This debut ended up being the first Nigerian submission for the Oscars and Netflix’s first Original in Nigeria.She is also the first woman to win the AMAA Best Female Act in a Supporting Role. Having starred in over 200 movies, her feat so far cannot go unrecognized.

Popularly known as Mo’ Abudu, is the CEO of EbonyLife Group. The group includes EbonyLife Media, EbonyLife Place and EbonyLife Academy. She has accomplished a number of feats that have put Nigeria on the map. From partnering with Sony Pictures Television to create a writer’s initiative offering a unique platform for writers of African heritage, in breaking  the record of becoming the first African woman led media house to become a case study for Masters’ students at Harvard Business School and partnering with Lagos State Government to help build and expand the skill set of aspiring filmmakers in the state. All these to mention a few. 

The Director and producer of the Netflix series King Of Boys worked her way from being a radio presenter to presenting TV shows such and eventually bagged a degree from New York Film Academy after which she emerged as a director. Kemi Adetiba is a woman who wears many hats graciously. She has simply shown that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

The lawyer cum actress and film producer popularly known as Jenifa trod the road  to stardom in her debut act I Need To Know between 1998-2002 and took the bull by its horn in Jenifa, Omo Ghetto and many others. She has starred in many mainstream movies and has grown to become a household face, creating blockbuster movies and empowers the youth with vocational skills through her NGO – Jenifa Foundation. She’s popularly known for always encouraging women, especially the younger generation to thrive and excel in honorable deeds as they pursue their career. 

The founder and managing director of Terra Kulture has pioneered the revival of the musical theatre through her numerous productions of legendary stories like Moremi, Fela and the Kalakuta Queens, Death and the King’s Horseman to mention a few. She also produced 93 Days, Bling Lagosians, Collision and Man of God. Her versatility is one to applaud as she is also a lawyer and was once the company secretary of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights in Switzerland.

Joy Efe is an award winning film distributor in Nigeria and the MD/CEO of Blue Pictures Film distribution in West Africa. She is a Sub distributor to Warner Brothers Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Black Sheep Entertainment & other Independent studios in the US, UK & South Africa for many years now, she has released over 5000 titles which have their record in the Nigerian box office as huge successes. If beauty and brains were a person, it’d be Joy. As a student, she emerged as one of the best students shortlisted/Won the Delta State higher institution scholarship based on Higher CGPA. She has a degree in Business Studies, Marketing and is a member of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria. It is noteworthy that she is also a member of AWLO (African Women in Leadership Organization). 

The popular actress who rocked the Nigerian screen between the 90s and early 20s was awarded Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for her contributions to the Nigerian cinema, she has appeared in over 300 movies. She is also socially applauded for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. Honored in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world alongside Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Kate Middleton, it is safe to say that she is an exemplary woman.

Chioma is a Nigerian film executive who founded Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), a film festival that is held annually in Nigeria. Her aim of creating the platform is to raise awareness on the benefits and potentials of African cinema. AFRIFF has so far become one of the most anticipated events in the Nigerian Film Industry.

We recognize every woman out there breaking barriers and moving against all odds to achieve their dreams, lending their voice to the oppressed and representing the unseen. Thank you for shining your light for all to see. We at KAP Hub stand together with the world to #breakthebias