Nigeria became independent from the British in 1960 and they seem to have had identical history with Ghana in politics, having a fair share of military adventurists – Major General Gowon, who fought a civil war against his intake mate, Lt. Col Ojukwu of ill-famed Biafra; my idol General Mutala Mohammed, General Buhari (now president), who had an iron Chief of Staff, Brigadier Babatunde Idiagbon; General Babaginda and civilian leaders like Shelu Shagari and others.
Geographically, Nigeria is about three times the size of Ghana, and population wise they are over 100 million people. Fortunately, Nigeria is an English-speaking country, so there are thousands of Ghanaians in Nigeria and thousands of Nigerians in Ghana – interesting enough, either of them thinks that it is easier to make money in the other country.
Artistes are the greatest beneficiaries of the large size of the country – make a film or write a popular play and you cannot cover the whole country in a year even with daily shows.
There was a big boost in the film industry in the mid-80s and ever since Nigeria has never looked back. Both Federal and State Governments have given priority to promotion of the film industry in Nigeria, and they turn out new films almost like how a university produces graduates every year.
Their films tell the culture of the Nigerian society – for instance, there is a landmark bridge in Lagos which almost every film tries to show, both at night and daytime. The rich in Nigeria are really rich, very opulent, fabulously wealthy, throwing money away like that.
Here in Ghana, we call our chiefs as NANA or TOGBUI or NII but in Nigeria, they call them IGWE, each of them with some big beads around their necks.
I attended a law students’ conference in University of Ife in lle Ife, near Ibadan, in 1976 and I saw the countryside, just like Ghana.
Most of their films portray the power of traditional priests, so much influence of the gods on their daily lives – whether in real life; this is true I cannot say.
I have watched over 500 Nigerian films on Dstv and I can authoritatively group their actors into three main categories – the first category is the yesteryears, those who came up with the boom of the industry – the famous Kanayo O Kanayo, Pete Edochie, Noah Ramsey, Emeka Ike, Tony Umez, Clems Ohameze, Jim Ike, to mention a few. For the actresses, my favourite Monalissa Chinda, Ini Edo, Genevieve Nnaji, Patience Ozokor, Omotola Jaleidi Ikenji Regina Askia, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, to name some.
The second category I call the current superstars – and these are Zubby Michael, Emeka Amakedze, Ugezu J Ugezu, Yul Edochie (like father like son) Ken Eric and Vitallis Ndubuisi.
The current actresses of fame are Regina Daniels, Eve Esin, Belinda Effah, Destiny Ekiko, Rita Kaderi and Cha Cha Ike Faani.
The third category of actors and actresses are those I call evergreen superstars; always around all these years – Amaechi Muonagor, Chinwetalu Agu, Harry B, Desmond Elliot, Oge Okoye, Mercy Johnson, Chioma Chukuoka, Queen Nwokoye and Ngozi Ezeonu.
Sitting here in Psalm 40 Lodge at Kasoa with my binoculars, I will grade Mercy Johnson as the greatest actress of Nigerian of all time, and for the men I will vote Ken Erics as best actor – capable of turning every script into gold.
The stories are many, and of course, varied but generally they confirm what I have always believed in, that they are very expensive to make, so don’t just waste money and produce anything, saying I have made a film – no, take your time, look for a very good story, full of suspense, rich in culture, select correct actors with appropriate locations, and come out with a production that will always be on the screen. People never get tired of watching a very good film on evergreen stories.
Of all the Nigerian films that I have watched so far, my fourth best is ‘Plantain Girls’ starring Regina Daniels and Eve Esin; my third best is ‘Caro The Shoemaker’ starring Ken Erics, Harry B and Mercy Johnson. My second best film is ‘My Humble Servant’ starring Mercy Johnson. Vitallis Ndubuisi and Chizzy Alechi and my evergreen superstar knock-out film of all time produced from Nigeria for mankind is ‘Death Warrant’ starring Genevieve Nnaji and Emeka Ike in their prime.
In that must-watch gripping film, Emeka acts as an expert mechanic who went to the house of Eucharia to fix her car for her. She was so impressed with his professionalism that she invited him for lunch in a restaurant to the annoyance of her visibly angry friend Genevieve Nnaji who could not stand the idea of eating lunch with a mechanic.
A love affair developed between Eucharia and Emeka, and in no time Eucharia used her father’s (Anaechi Mnonogor) resources to completely transform Emeka into a complete black suit gentleman, living in an executive bungalow – true to form, as a husband snatcher Genevieve Nnaji decided to snatch Emeka from her friend, as a lover.
On her way to visit Emeka’s mother in hospital, Eucharia had an accident, and was condemned to wheelchair for life due to spinal injury.
At a celebrity wedding ceremony, Eucharia got sharp shooters to kill the bridegroom Emeka, and finally she herself ambushed Genevieve Nnaji in her sitting room and shot her to death.
The film is a masterpiece.
By Nkrabeah Effah Dartey