Tag Archives: Kenneth Gyang

Netflix lines up first EbonyLife feature

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Oloture centres on human trafficking in Nigeria

Netflix is set to premiere its next original Nigerian film, Oloture, on October 2, the first title produced for the global streamer by Nigeria’s EbonyLife Films.

The film will be made available in more than 190 countries by the SVoD giant, marking the first time the film will be seen by the public, aside from private screenings in cities such as LA and Lagos.

Executive produced by Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife TV, and written by Yinka Ogun and Craig Freimond, Oloture tells the story of a young, naïve, female journalist who goes undercover to expose the shady business of human trafficking in Nigeria.

The film was selected to screen in October 2019 at the prestigious JCC Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia, and it aims to put the spotlight on a current African crisis told by creatives from the region.

Announcing this news on Instagram, Abudu said: “We are super-excited about our first Netflix original feature film. A project dear to our hearts.”

She added that Oloture may well be EbonyLife’s most important film to date. “We had to make it. Human trafficking is a global problem, with trafficking networks flourishing across Africa through the exploitation of hundreds of thousands of migrants.

“According to the UN, more than 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually – looking for a better life, but ending up in forced labour, domestic servitude or sexual slavery. Oloture is another example of us telling the African story from our perspective.”

The film was directed by Kenneth Gyang and stars Nollywood actors including Sharon Ooja, Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Omowunmi Dada, Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju, Wofai Fada, Pearl Okorie and Omawumi Megbele.

Oloture is the second Nigerian original feature film for Netflix after it announced its move into Nollywood film production last year. Its first Nollywood movie was 2019’s Lionheart, produced by The Entertainment Network.

EbonyLife Films has produced seven feature films so far: Fifty, The Wedding Party, The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Chief Daddy, Your Excellency and Oloture. Three of these – The Wedding Party, The Wedding Party 2 and Chief Daddy – are the highest grossing movies of all time at the Nigerian box office.

The company has also produced over 5,000 hours of original television shows, including Fifty, Castle & Castle, Sons of the Caliphate and On the Real, all of which are now available on Netflix.

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AFRIFF to hold 10th anniversary in Lagos

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The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), dedicated to African films and filmmakers, will take place in Lagos in November, marking the event’s 10th anniversary.

This year’s festival, themed Africans for Africa, will be held from November 7 to 13 at the Landmark Centre.

It will give expression to players in the African film sector, aiming to raise filmmaking standards by profiling keynote conversations on issues of strategic importance.

The sessions will connect expert speakers and facilitators from around the globe who will speak in keynote conversations, workshops and seminars, aimed at sharing knowledge, ideas and trends to empower film industry professionals.

Panel sessions have titles including Blockbuster Storytelling: Producing for the Big Screen, The Stakeholders: In Conversation with African Filmmakers, Film Industry Financing: Building Sustainable Structures, How to Build Global Bridges: Exploring the African Global Cinema and Accessing International Film Grants.

African feature films that have been selected include Oliver Black, directed by Tawfik Baba from Morocco; Binti, directed by Seko Shamte from Tanzania; Juju Stories, directed by CJ Obasi, Abba T Makama and Michael Omonua from Nigeria; and Mission to Rescue, directed by Gilbert Lukalia from Kenya.

Films in the documentary section include For the Love of Dance by Seun Adeleye, The Hero’s Walk by Tolulope Awobiyi and Road2blow by Deji Ayoola from Nigeria.

Films in the animation section include Kenda by Stephane Mendonça from Côte d’Ivoire, Lady Buckit & the Motley Mobsters by Adebisi Adetayo from Nigeria and Halima’s Vote by Mbuotidem Johnson from Nigeria.

There will also be student short-film competitions as well as masterclasses and, according to the organisers, the closing film will be Collision by Bolanle Austen-Peters from Nigeria.

The jury comprises award-winning Moroccan producer Khadija Alami; award-winning actor and filmmaker Femi Oyeniran; Jackie Motsepe, chair of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission in South Africa; Egyptian film curator Sheriff Awad; Rwandan filmmaker Eric Kabera; and Nigerian filmmakers Kenneth Gyang and CJ Obasi.

To register to attend AFRIFF click here.

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Netflix picks up Nigerian legal drama

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Global streamer Netflix has added EbonyLife’s legal drama Castle & Castle to its line-up of Nollywood content.

Directed by Tope Oshin, Niyi Akinmolayan and Kenneth Gyang, the series follows a happy couple, Remi (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) and Tega (Richard Mofe-Damijo), who run a successful legal firm in Lagos.

Business and marriage often clash when the couple are on opposite sides of the law. Remi prefers to work with affluent clients while Tega is zealous about pro bono cases that impact society.

The show stars Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Eku Edewor, Deyemi Okanlawon, Etim Effiong, Dorcas Shola Fapson and media personality Denola Grey.

The show is one of EbonyLife films’ TV Afropolitan projects which reflect African issues, contemporary African life and African drama generally. It will be available on Netflix from Friday February 14.

The news comes after Netflix licensed EbonyLife female-led drama Fifty, about four women who are approaching 50 years of age, as well as previous acquisitions of Crazy, Lovely, Cool and Sons of the Caliphate.

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EbonyLife ON captures Castle & Castle

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Legal drama series Castle & Castle will air exclusively on EbonyLife’s VoD service EbonyLife ON from July 1.

Nollywood’s Richard Mofe-Damijo in Castle & Castle

Billed as the first legal TV drama in Nigeria, the show centres on a family who struggle to remain united and keep the family law firm running despite numerous challenges.

It is produced by Isioma Osaje and Temidayo Abudu, and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, Tope Oshin and Kenneth Gyang.

The series features the likes of Richard Mofe Damijo, Dakore Akande, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Denola Grey, Eku Edewor, Deyemi Okanlawon, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Dorcas Shola  Fapson, Ade Laoye, Diipo Ayo-Adeusi and Anee Icha.

EbonyLife TV focuses on a pan-African audience, creating original TV series and films such as Fifty The Series, The Governor and Sons of Caliphate. Launched in December 2017, EbonyLife ON aims to provide the network’s services to a global audience.

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Ebony in Nigeria’s ‘first legal drama’

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Nollywood’s Richard Mofe-Damijo in Castle & Castle

New Nigerian TV series Castle & Castle, billed as the country’s first legal drama series, has gone into production, reports Gabriella Opara.

Temidayo Abudu

Scheduled to begin airing exclusively on broadcaster EbonyLife TV from July 2018, the legal drama is the first of its kind in Nigeria, according to the network. EbonyLife is also promising A-list local stars.

Produced by Temidayo Abudu and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, Tope Oshin and Kenneth Gyang, the series stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Dakore Egbuson-Akande, best known for their big-screen Nollywood roles.

Castle & Castle is about a married couple of 20 years who run a successful law firm together. Despite their successes, Remi Castle (Egbuson-Akande) and Tega Castle (Mofe-Damijo) reach a crossroads where their legal interests become conflicted and their marriage is put to the test.

EbonyLife said the casting of two top Nollywood stars in the TV series was “a bold move” and “reflects the current trend in Hollywood, where A-list movie actors are switching to television.” The series looks set to be the most talked about TV series in Nigeria next year.

“It is a pleasure to see the concept coming to life and we look forward to showing the finished product next year,” says Abudu. “Working with such a professional cast and crew is making the filming process quite smooth. We hope that viewers will get hooked on this complex and interesting show.”

Some of EbonyLife’s other original productions include dramas The Governor, which chronicles the struggles of the first female governor in Nigeria; Fifty, a series adaptation of the 2015 movie that follows four women in their fifties in Lagos; and Sons of the Caliphate, a drama about feuding political families in northern Nigeria.

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