Before the birth of Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Beverly Naya, Beverly Osu, Ihuoma Linda Ejiofo, Adedamilola Adegbite and more Nollywood names regular in cinemas presently, the industry was already booming with the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Ini Edo, Rita Dominic, Stephanie Linus and Uche Jombo, all making waves in the 90s and early 2000’s produced films.
The feat of prestigious award shows and events surrounding Nollywood achieved world recognition by the involvement of these early birds of Nollywood. A fact which can be buttressed from the 2005 edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, which had on its winning slot; Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, for best actress and best supporting actress.
African movies, which still have the power of to draw families together, cause sons and daughters to reminisce their early childhood memories had a formidable cast of either a two, three or four of the Nollywood queens (popularly referred to currently) in the cast mentions. Talk of Reloaded, Sisters War, Girls Cot and Ije, surely the good old days it was.
Just as the saying goes ‘It takes a queen to throw a queen’s party’, Genevieve, lived up to that status as she celebrated her 40th birthday in a beach style over the weekend with the true queens her three decade-long career started with. The guest list as seen on Instagram in photos came as a surprise and amazement to most, since we hardly chance on such reunions.
The emergence of the reunion photo has sparked up much admiration and respect on Instagram attracting the famous ‘love’ emoji for lack of words and long speeches to in showing the power of the photos.
The first gentleman to win the African Movie Academy Award best actor prize, Richard Mofe-Damijo, celebrated the coming together with the comment, “Awww see my girls. See how far you girls have come! I am happy you guys made this happen. POWER!”. Our very own legend of the early 2000s as well, Nadia Buari also left two words and a love emoji beneath the comment area, “Absolutely dope!!…❤”.
In one of the posted photos by Uche Jumbo, which had in it the four cast of ‘Girls Cot’ only (Genevieve, Rit, Ini and Uche), got ‘Cold Feet’s’ film director/producer Moses Inwang giving out an unofficial promise of a possible reboot. He wrote, “I’m going to attempt to remake that movie in 2020.” Renowned actress Dakore Egbuson-Akande, also joined in on the photo admirers Instagram club with a dropping ‘love’ emoji for short.
All six, including the birthday celebrant have evolved from being daily employed actresses into film directors/producers and starers of only award-winning films (on the part of our one-time cover girl, Omotola, yet to produce her own film).
Last year African cinemas reached international status with ‘Lionheart’ produced and directed by Genevieve. Movie theaters in Africa became a delight to attend with the showing of ‘Heaven on my Mind’ produced by Ini and Uche. Stephanie’s self-produced and directed movie ‘Dry’ won the best film at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award and Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2016, whiles Rita’s ‘The Meeting’ became an award season contender after its release in 2012.
BY: Larry Adams
