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From the death of John Okafor’s son, Oge Okoyer’s controversial confession and the humane deeds of Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, up-date on Mr. Ibu’s son’s death and Oge Okoye’s reasons for not acting nude in the industry. Naomi Adamu summarises the week’s happenings.
I Can’t Act Nude Because Of Our Society – Oge
Nollywood actress Oge Okoye has lamented that but for societal norms and perceptions, she wouldn’t have had any difficulty acting nude in a movie.
Several movie personalities, especially actresses, have received back lashes from the public for sexually inclined roles they have played in movies with some saying those roles are not of our culture.
The actress who boasts of a decade in acting said in an interview that any attempt to play nude will paint a very negative picture of her.
“Honestly I can’t because of our society, where we come from. The way we see it, I will just be seen as the worst person on earth. I wouldn’t do that because our culture doesn’t allow it. Although I can do other sensual roles but not nude, I wouldn’t,” she stressed.
Asked how her husband of seven years feels about her romantic roles in movies, the bubbly actress said her husband encourages her with her roles and has not complained about any of those roles.
According to Oge, her husband “is not complaining. I really don’t know if he feels bad, but I know that being a human being like I am, he might be feeling bad inside but he is not showing it. He encourages me a lot; he is always there for me. It’s not much of a problem; though he doesn’t watch my movies, unless maybe you see him hiding somewhere to watch it.”
Tributes Pour in? For Late Ihezie, Nigeria’s movie stars have continued to pay tribute to veteran actor, David Ihezie, 70 who died on Thursday night after a protracted illness. The Enugu-based thespian was one of the most respected elders in the motion picture industry, and he would be missed, not just for his acting prowess, but for the fatherly role he played among actors during his life time.
A condolence register will be at the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) secretariat in Surulere, Lagos so that colleagues and fans of the deceased can give him their last respect.
Meanwhile, actors are already paying tribute to the late Ihezie. Most of them described him as a professional, easy going and down to earth person who doesn’t compromise. Sultry actress, Stella Damasus said, “I met with him on one or two occasions, and honestly, he was a pleasant person to be with. Though he was based in Enugu, he had a big followership in Lagos and other parts of the country.”
National President of AGN, Segun Arinze described Ihezie’s death as an unfortunate one, “but his legacies will live on. His works can never die. We will though miss him greatly.”
The Sad Tale Of Mr. Ibu
No doubt, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, is one of the best comic actors in Nigeria. Aside the fact that he has carved a niche for himself in Nollywood; he is equally a down to earth person. He is a generous person, but events around him lately suggest he may have cultivated some enemies for himself.
Okafor, who lost his three-year-old son, Emmanuel Mandela Okafor last Monday, says the little boy’s death was not natural, claiming that he died of a spiritual attack or food poisoning.
The bereaved actor, who is obviously devastated at the moment, wondered why some people could decide to punish him by killing his most prized possession, Mandela. Initially when Nollywood called him shortly after the incident to commiserate with him, he denied that the late child was ill, and even declined to give details of to what led to his death. But in a chat, he finally opened up that he suspects foul play.
Nollywood gathered that the late Mandela was hale and hearty before he travelled with his parents to their village in Enugu State during the Christmas/New Year festivities. But shortly after they returned to their Lagos residence in Satellite Town, little Mandela fell ill.
According to Mr. Ibu, Mandela was initially taken to two private hospitals before the last doctor referred them to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, where the series of tests and scans conducted on him did not diagnose the little boy’s ailment.
“They demanded for blood and incidentally as a result of the situation, I was already running a temperature and not fit enough to donate blood. I, however, assured them that if they could get blood from anywhere I don’t mind the cost. Fortunately for me, my two personal assistants who were with me had a matching blood type and they donated two pints as against one pint that was needed.
“To transfuse the blood into the boy became a problem because according to the doctors, they did not have light to treat the blood and their generator was not functioning. I lost the boy while waiting for the blood to be treated”, Okafor explained.
The actor buttressed his claim of smelling foul play with the explanation that two years ago, the same boy, Mandela and his mother were kidnapped in Enugu when he took them there to celebrate the Christmas/New Year festivities. They were kidnapped on? January 4, 2010 and released 10 days after.
He further argued that if the illness of Mandela was natural, doctors would have diagnosed it before he eventually died. “I strongly believe he died of poisoning”.
Omotola Shows Love To Widows
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has put smiles on the faces of 20 widows in Lagos. The widows were adjudged to have shown strong courage aeven in the face of their limitations.
The gesture was made during an event tagged: The 20 Widows Makeover, held in honour of the actress’ late mother, Mrs. Shola Jalade. It was put together as a means of encouraging widows who have strived to keep their homefront in order, despite the demise of their spouses. One of the beneficiaries was Mrs. Elizabeth Fayemi, widow of the late Kayode Fayemi, a celebrity.
According to the actress, the event was targeted at pampering these women and helping to boost their confidence and self esteem by treating them to a makeover session at some of Lagos beauty parlours and lifestyle shops.
The women were later treated to a shopping spree as they picked different designer, clothes from ‘Every Woman Boutique. Done with the shopping, the women were moved to Anthony Village, Lagos studio of famed fashion photographer, Kelechi Amadi Obi for a photo shoot session and their complete transformation into stunning beauties.
“It was lovely and fulfilling to see the entire transformation of these women. I am really grateful to all who helped to see this happen. This is something I wished I or someone else had done for my mother” Omotola said.
