Networking as a filmmaker is a piece of advice that can never be overstated. The Afro Cannes is one platform where this is inherent with more Africans finding a stage to network and connect.



May 17th is the first day of Afro Cannes 2023 for all filmmakers who have common interests and want to network. The event holds at the Hotel Gray d&#8217;Albion and will last until May 19th.



There are ongoing panel discussions, debates as well as master classes some of which are also available to join online.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Afro Cannes 2023 &#8211; Enyinna Nwigwe sits with Jana Wolff</h2>



Moving from the local film market up to the international stage is a hurdle that all kinds of filmmakers hope to cross at one point in their careers.



At this time, African filmmakers are starting to master the field &#8211; understanding the demand for African movies as well as the market. They are starting to vend made-in-Africa movies more to the outside world.



Enyinna Nwigwe who is also a moderator of the 2023 Afro Cannes presented a related question to Jana Wolff.



The actors asked &#8220;How best will you advise the average filmmakers from Africa to access the international market? What should they look out for and what boxes should they tick?&#8221;



In her answer, Jana Wolff the Head of Marketing &#8211; EFM/Berlinale, Germany mentions it is about preparation.



This is an important move for <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/considering-indie-filmmaking-in-nigeria-with-the-2023-sundance-film-festival/">filmmakers who want to attend festivals or film events</a> looking for opportunities to level up in their careers.



What preparations are needed when meeting with people at film festivals?



Much of Jana Wolff&#8217;s speech was focused on preparing in a good way;



&#8220;Try to set up meetings upfront.&#8221;



&#8220;Say who you are, what you do and never make anything too long.



She also talks about attaching some visual materials and making everything short &#8211; emails, videos, PDFs and more.



When Wolff talks about being present at the festivals, networking is her watchword. With little preparation, it is also possible to just walk around and meet people and establish connections.



This she said, is the most important thing in attending festivals like Afro Cannes.



Jana Wolff further provided some useful information for filmmakers to join film conferences in Berlin, to connect and participate in.

How African Filmmakers Can Approach the International Market – Enyinna Nwigwe On Afro Cannes 2023

It might be obvious to many that 90% of movie leaks come from insiders on the production team in a Nollywood movie like Malaika. The relevant people on a movie production team can leak photos/video from the set and even more during post-production regardless of how much precautions go into this.



Malaika is a movie by Toyin Abraham, a new addition to her directorial list. The movie drowned the sum of N500m, and though unverified, this amount for a Nollywood movie places it on the high-budget list. 



Before its cinema release on December 15, 2023, movie pirates had gotten hold of it and made it available. The actress/director took steps to stop that action but it was too late. The financial implications of this illegal release of Malaika and how many people have a copy are not yet known.



Movie piracy is a serious issue globally. When movies and series get an early release from illegal unauthorised sources, there are always patronisers waiting to watch them for free. This content is made available on certain websites and others on DVDs in Nigeria.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Safety of Nollywood Movies</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="701" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/malaika-1024x701.jpg" alt="Malaika Poster. Photo: Toyin Abraham" class="wp-image-868" style="width:793px;height:auto" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/malaika-1024x701.jpg 1024w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/malaika-300x206.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/malaika-768x526.jpg 768w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/malaika.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Malaika Poster. Photo: Toyin Abraham</figcaption></figure>



No safety measures against piracy for Nollywood movies are bulletproof. The one proven method is to monitor the core movie production team. Several film sets will ban mobile phones, the least kind of precaution, however, film pirates can hack the production server directly to get access.



There are several cases where movies leak through the censorship board that receives them for certification. The copies given to movie critics or even the premier copies carry risks too.



Errors from any of these channels can result in a lot of loss.



Also, consider releasing on <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/are-streaming-platforms-good-for-nollywood">streaming platforms</a> as they could take responsibility for leaks. Streaming platforms have become useful to Nollywood in this way over the years.



One move that is considered medicine after death could be to force movie pirates to take down intellectual property. There are tools available online for this purpose. With the correct proof of ownership, these tools pull pirated content from websites and prevent them from appearing on search engines.

How Malaika Leaked and the Cost for Toyin Abraham

There is an ongoing wave of remakes and sequels for good Nollywood movies from the 90s. This wave has seen the remakes and sequels of films like Ahanna: Rattle Snake and Domittila. 



The next to expect from <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-remakes-or-originals-what-is-best/">this wave of remakes and sequels</a> in Nollywood is Issakaba. It may not be very apparent, but the name is a palindrome of the word &#8220;Bakassi.&#8221;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="604" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/samdede.jpg" alt="Sam Dede from The Black Book" class="wp-image-930" style="object-fit:cover;width:618px;height:400px" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/samdede.jpg 1001w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/samdede-300x181.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/samdede-768x463.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sam Dede from The Black Book</figcaption></figure>



Issakaba was a vigilante movie that simulated the Aba Bakassi boys from the 1990s. 



These are some of the things to have in mind before the new Issakaba returns.



The Issakaba movie is a classic for a lot of reasons. From the &#8220;Issakaba&#8221; chant and charm that perpetrators wore before being tortured to death to all the parables, there are so many details to divulge here. 



There are over 100 local Nigerian parables used in the Issakaba. Igbo chants were also used to highlight most of the scenes in the movie.



Also, it was through mere run-in conversations, without any surveys that the popularity of most films was revealed in the 90s Nigeria. Issakaba was one of those movies. It drew attention across Nigeria due to the reality it put on screen.



Issakaba can be considered a successful film in its time and Sam Dede who plays the lead character, Ebube gave so much personality to the character.



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls loop src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/issakaba-sam-dede.mp4"></video></figure>



Bringing movies back to a time when Nollywood had modified its cinema system would show how much people appreciate films like Issakaba. 



The first two parts of Issakaba, released in 1999 and 2001, respectively, are highly rated by Nigerians. The audiences are keen to see what comes next.

Sam Dede who plays the lead character, Ebube gave so much personality to the character. Photo: Sam Dede

Relevant Moments From Issakaba to Remember Before it Returns

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science has released the nomination list for the 96th Awards, Mami Wata, the Nigerian official selection does not appear on the to be on it.



In recent years, the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood started to set targets to meet the Oscars specifications without much luck. This year it has failed to make the nomination list once again. 



The 2023 <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/considering-indie-filmmaking-in-nigeria-with-the-2023-sundance-film-festival/">diabolical movie by C.J. Obasi, Mami Wata</a>, was presented to the Academy by the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) as the official selection from Nigeria for the Best International Feature Film Category of the 96th Oscars.



Mami Wata was approved after meeting <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/king-of-thieves-meets-the-first-specification-for-the-oscars-but-there-are-more/">the specifications, unlike its predecessors including Lionheart</a> by Genevieve Nnaji. However, this approval is usually without assurance of a nomination.



Mami Wata is a narrative taken from a common myth about water goddesses in Nigeria that are addressed by the same name.



C.J. Obasi is charting a path and making hyper-stylised films as he had told <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNN</a>. He is taking on the concepts of Akira Kurosawa and David Lynch to add substance and make films with depth.



The production of Mami Wata was backed by Fiery Film Company, Guguru Studios, Palmwine Media, Swiss Fund Visions Sud Est, and Ifind Pictures of France.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best International Feature Film Category Nomination</h2>



Movies nominated in the Best International Feature Film Category of the 96th Academy Awards are;



Io Capitano &#8211; Italy Perfect Days &#8211; Japan Societ of the Snow &#8211; Spain The Teachers Lounge &#8211; Germany The Zone of Interest &#8211; United Kingdom



Nollywood may have to try hard to beat the production values of films like Parasite &#8211; South Korea who are among the previous winners of the category. For 2023, All Quiet on the Western Front &#8211; Germany, won the category. Other previous winners of the International Feature Film Category are;



Another Round &#8211; Denmark Drive My Car &#8211; Japan



Mami Wata is nominated in the Best International Film category of the 39th Independent Spirit Awards.

Mami Wata Fails to Make the 96th Oscars Nomination List

Directors in Nollywood have been known to play cameo roles that don&#8217;t take any time or effort.



However, movie directors and producers can sometimes fill actors&#8217; shoes on movie sets. Other times <a href="https://nollymania.com/merry-men-the-real-yoruba-demons-soundtrack-beats-movie/">a director can also be cast for a role </a>and vice versa.



Here are a few directors/producers who play roles in their films.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Femi Adebayo &#8211; Producer, King of Thieves</h3>



For the most part of his career in the Nigerian movie industry, Femi Adebayo has appeared as an actor including in the recent King of Thieves (Ògúndábède) which he is also a producer of.



King of Thieves is <a href="https://culturecustodian.com/no-nollywood-film-will-compete-at-the-next-oscars-awards-heres-why/">about a progressive and famous kingdom, Ajeromi</a> which unexpectedly catches the eye of a powerful bandit and terrorist Agesinkole.



With this new arrival, the kingdom of Ajeromi quickly went from a peaceful state to a chaotic and terrorized one.



The Ajeromi Kingdom refuses to have it and chases after the Agesinkole bandit with all its resources &#8211; sorcery, magic, hunters, witchery and wizardry.



Premiered under the theme &#8216;Epic and Dangerous&#8217; on April 4, 2022, at the IMAX Cinemas, Lekki, Lagos.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Genevieve Nnaji &#8211; Director Lionheart</h3>



Directing and producing was almost overdue for Genevieve Nnaji before Lionheart in 2018. It was her directorial debut and she made quite an appearance as it became the first Nollywood Netflix original.



Lionheart features the director in the lead role Adaeze as the daughter of a transporter who had to retire early due to ill-health. Adaeze was to take over the business in an atmosphere that challenges her gender. 



Her impractical uncle Godswill was to be her backing but he has his ideas about how to run a business well. 



The pair will agree and disagree but they both want to arrive at the same goal.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Funke Akindele &#8211; Producer/Director, Battle on Buka Street, A Tribe Called Judah, She Must Be Obeyed</h3>



Funke Akindele has always had big ideas about films. At this time in her career, she would most likely want to direct those ideas onto the big screen herself. 



That is most likely the reason viewers are going to be seeing more of Funke Akindele in movies and series that she directs and produces. 



Funker Akindele is a super actor.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Battle on Buka Street</h4>



Two women have lived their entire lives hating on each other. Their new street food vending businesses did not make it easier. They vow to destroy each other if it comes to that. Battle on Buka Street is on Netflix and more details are available here.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Tribe Called Judah</h4>



The Jedidah family is a large one with people having several personalities and abilities. But their mother has raised them to have similar values. Now on her dying bed, her boys whom she had conceived from 5 different men will put their heads together and agree to keep her alive. 



However, in the city, their other people who have made the same plan for the same night &#8211; to rob a store. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">She Must Be Obeyed</h4>



This series by Funke Akindle highlights the rivalry, anger and backstabbing activities between three successful music stars. They each fight for the top spot in the music industry against all odds and at the expense of the other&#8217;s efforts.

Nollywood Directors, Producers that Feature in their Films

It is not the first movie by Editi Effiong, but it is the one that will establish a lasting fintech-Nollywood collaboration after its huge returns. 



The first-time director and co-writer of The Black Book suggests that he will continue to work with fintech companies to make million-dollar budget movies. 



More so, fintech investors seem to have a strong conviction about the film industry in Nigeria and are setting aside film funds to partner with diverse creators.



They put their money down for The Black Book as a proof of concept and will do it again if they will.



The decision by fintech leaders to stake funds in movies is a way of showing support to the creative industry that is continually trying to take Africa to the world through culturally rich stories on thin budgets. With a global big hit on the streaming platform Netflix, the success and impact of The Black Book is satisfactory to investors.



The production value of The Black Book is evidently worth every shot. 



Its fintech influence appears to give it a huge boost, backed by the streaming platforms that made it even easier to reach places where it became a trend &#8211; South Korea, Greece, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Black Book</h2>



The Revenge List, the non-English title of The Black Book in some countries, has stayed at the top of the chart in 88 countries since its release on September 22, 2023,



In Nigeria, South Korea and 18 other countries, The Black Book has been No.1 and the first African movie to do so well on Netflix.



The Black Book&nbsp;takes on the narrative of a distraught church deacon, Paul Erima seeking revenge and honour for his son. He is caught in the intricacies of justice, revenge and his faith.



He refuses to let go and confronts the rogue police department that has a hand in his son&#8217;s death. The Black Book is slightly perceived as a manifest of the issues of corruption, injustice and prejudice in Nigeria.

The Fintech Investment that Gave Nollywood a Global Boost – The Black Book

Watch Any Movies Lately?

Awards a proof of credibility for actors and crew members of film productions. It carries so much capacity to upgrade, market and improve the financial, political and social status of a winner. 



Nollywood is yet to welcome its first Oscar winner. Anticipation started growing after the Academy elected a committee in Nollywood and has been that way ever since.



The <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/lionheart-still-the-one-hit-title-of-nollywood/">committee has been part of the decision-making for Nollywood movies like King of Thieves and</a> <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/lionheart-still-the-one-hit-title-of-nollywood/">Lionheart</a> which were both dropped. The one category that is open to Nolywood in the Oscars is the Foreign Language but this appears to also be a challenge in Nollywood.



Several Nollywood movies are made in English and the category expects more than five per cent of the film to be in a different language. This was the case for Lionheart leading to its disqualification. 



Winning an Oscar may not also be about skills in the job, but more of a popularity contest and there are ways to win an Oscar.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Win an Oscar Award in Nollywood</h2>



Grow Connections: Get involved in more than just making movies and TV shows as this can only get one far enough. 



Start by creating bonds, networking and connecting with directors, producers, and writers outside Nollywood if the target is the Oscars.



Learn about other film industries that have won the International Language Oscars and see what they did well. Stock up on good film ideas and get more international collaborations. 



Have Some Standards: Make good movies that can stand the test with previous winners of the International Language category of the Oscars. Set a standard for every film and go spend the right amount to upgrade it.



Seek professional advice from people who have won: Winning the Oscars is not cheap for anyone. It will always cost something both time and money to get the kind of guidance needed to win. 



Reach out to previous winners or even hire someone with connections to demonstrate the path to winning. 



The race to make <a href="https://nollymania.com/king-of-thieves-meets-the-first-specification-for-the-oscars-but-there-are-more/">an Oscar-winning film</a> is on in Nollywood. Some industry people have accepted the responsibility of producing Oscar-winning movies making it closer to Nollywood than ever.



Nollywood can hope and look forward to the best of people like Obi Emelonye, Femi Adebayo and more in this Oscar race.

Be the First Nollywood Oscar Winner

This One Character, Repeated in Different Nollywood Movies is Exceptional

Bollywood, Nollywood Set Off New Hit With “Postcards”

Considering Indie Filmmaking in Nigeria with the 2023 Sundance Film Festival

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre – Kunle Afolayan Developing a New Idea

Movies by Independent Nigerian Directors to Watch on Netflix Now

Several Nollywood Movies On Netflix Will Likely Be Cut

Lionheart – Still The One-Hit Title Of Nollywood

Best Themes to Choose From in Nigerian Movies – Mystery, Horror and Thriller

Now is the Best Time to Get Into Nollywood Movies

Nollywood is Getting a Boost from Making Comedy – Recent Records Show

A rich woman, Eniola Salami suddenly shifts her focus from business to trying politics. In the face of a new political ambition is everything she has ever worked for. 



A simple mistake could cost her all that but she decides she can handle chaos by becoming ruthless.

Eniola Salami

The character is the favourite of many. A village finds out she is pregnant after a one-day incident with a stranger from the city.



Luckily for Dumebi, she had an idea of where to find the stranger. She packs her bag, picks up her baby and goes to the city to find the man responsible for her pregnancy.



She shows up at his door looking all shabby and dirty. Now he has to teach her city life while being a father.

Dumebi

Nollywood continues on an upward trend in 2023. Going back to its humble beginnings, there is so much to revisit for an industry with a large global cultural and cinematic force. This narrative of growth and influence can be traced through several key stages:



<ol>
<li>Inception and Early Days: Nollywood&#8217;s origins can be traced back to the late 20th century, with the release of the first Nigerian feature film, &#8220;Living in Bondage&#8221; (1992). This low-budget production marked the birth of an industry that would eventually become known as Nollywood. At the outset, filmmakers faced limited resources, including equipment, funding, and distribution channels.</li>



<li>Prolific Output: Despite these challenges, Nollywood filmmakers displayed remarkable resilience and creativity. They produced a staggering number of films, often on shoestring budgets. These early productions often dealt with themes of mysticism, spirituality, and morality, reflecting the socio-cultural context of Nigeria.</li>



<li>VHS Era: In the absence of a robust cinema infrastructure, Nollywood films were initially distributed via VHS tapes. This grassroots distribution method contributed to the industry&#8217;s rapid growth and accessibility, as people across Nigeria and the African continent could easily access these films.</li>



<li>Quality Improvement: Over time, Nollywood invested in better production values, from cinematography to storytelling. While low budgets remained a hallmark of the industry, filmmakers increasingly adopted digital technology and improved their technical skills.</li>
</ol>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="210" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nollywood-image.jpg" alt="Nollywood Global Influence" class="wp-image-1108" style="object-fit:cover;width:600px;height:350px"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nollywood Global Influence</figcaption></figure>



<ol>
<li>Global Recognition: By the 2000s, Nollywood had gained significant recognition not only in Africa but also internationally. The term &#8220;Nollywood&#8221; itself became synonymous with Nigerian cinema. Nollywood films started screening at international film festivals, gaining attention for their unique storytelling style and portrayal of African life.</li>



<li>Market Expansion: Nollywood&#8217;s influence expanded beyond Nigeria&#8217;s borders, reaching African diaspora communities and global audiences. Its themes, characters, and cultural references resonated with viewers worldwide.</li>



<li>Global Distribution and Streaming: The rise of streaming platforms further propelled Nollywood&#8217;s global reach. Platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime began to feature Nollywood films, making them accessible to a vast international audience.</li>



<li>Cultural Impact: Nollywood has played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of Africa and Africans. It has contributed to changing stereotypes, presenting a more nuanced and authentic portrayal of African life, culture, and issues.</li>



<li>Economic Growth: Nollywood has become a significant economic driver in Nigeria. It generates employment opportunities for actors, directors, crew members, and various related industries. It also attracts investments and tourism.</li>



<li>Challenges and Future: Despite its global success, Nollywood still faces challenges, including piracy, copyright issues, and the need for more structured financing. However, it continues to evolve, exploring new genres and themes while maintaining its unique identity.</li>
</ol>



Nollywood&#8217;s journey from humble beginnings to global influence is a testament to the resilience and creativity of Nigerian filmmakers. 



It has not only transformed Nigeria&#8217;s entertainment landscape but has also had a profound impact on African cinema and the way Africa is depicted on the global stage. 



As it continues to grow and adapt, Nollywood&#8217;s global influence is likely to increase, further enriching the world of cinema.

Nollywood – The Humble Beginnings to Global Influence: The Black Book, Other Movies

The new generation of actors in all movie genres of Nollywood is not doing a good enough job if movie productions still need the ones from the 90s and early 2000s.



Many of those have remained the screen giants for so long that most millennials have watched them their entire lives. Films that cast them continue to break records in the cinemas and on streaming platforms. 



These are some of the actors who were identified early by movie fans because of how well they fit into a role. The distinct physics and personalities of these actors were significant too. 



Richard Mofe-Damijo, RMD, pulled off one of those great acts again in 2023 with The Black Book, earning the film <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/the-fintech-investment-that-gave-nollywood-a-global-boost-the-black-book/">its current title as the most streamed African movie</a> on Netflix. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/remake-99.png" alt="" class="wp-image-161"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Next Generation of Nollywood</h2>



Having a sound new generation of filmmakers is a two-way street as the previous ones have not done a good job either.



The younger actors are apparently putting in as much action to be called celebrities and are not to blame when leads are taken from the previous generation of Nollywood. They are here trying hard to make an impact in film, television, and theatre so that their accomplishments and brilliance can get them to the next level.



On the flip side, the performances of those before them lack a strong influence. Films should do considerably more than entertain viewers and communicate formative social information, they should inspire. The younger generation is stimulated by what they see rather than what they are told. 



It is the responsibility of today&#8217;s Nollywood to spread out their hands and inspire the younger ones to strive to be better than they are.



It might sometimes seem like the younger generation expects everything to be passed down to them. The difference between the two is that the previous generation understands that success is the output of the right packaging. 



They are persistent in their hard work to keep their titles as top actors of Nollywood and so should the younger ones. They put in a lot of time to retain the title, grow their fan base and maintain their relevance in the industry. 



That notwithstanding, Nollywood must take care to maintain a younger generation or just enjoy the attention of fans alone. Building a next-generation lies in their hands.



The global attention of The Black Book brings with it endless opportunities for newbies in Nollywood.

The New Generation of Nollywood and the Global Attention After The Black Book

A church deacon puts his beliefs aside, goes back to his old ways and picks the guns. He is after an entire police division, his former boss and everyone he believes had a hand in his son&#8217;s death.



Paul also retrieves The Black Book after defeating the enemy.

Paul Edima

A band of drug dealers rule and haunt the Shanty Town like a ghost. The people fear for their safety and those of their loved ones as they almost can&#8217;t avoid the criminals. There is always a victim.



Women have disappeared mysteriously and more are still held in custody of the ring leader Scar.



When they reach the height of the fear, the Shanty Town women will revolt against Scar together.

Scar

For him and his dirty circle of politicians to excel, Chief Fernandez has one loyal servant he can work with in Shanty Town, Scar.



Before Scar, he was the greater evil that plagued Shanty Town. He took advantage of women and covered up his deeds by any means. He is powerful and unreachable.



There might be only one way to get to him, taking down Scar.

Chief Fernandez

Before getting out, Inem was worried about her survival and that of her daughters in Shanty Town.



Her job at the club led her to <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wiki/chief-fernandez/">Chief Fernandez</a> and Inem gets ideas about how to regain freedom. It is later revealed that Inem is a different person from who they thought she was.



Inem further engages in a risky task to find answers about all the missing women of Shanty Town.

Inem

Nollywood has expertise in making movies that are rooted in superficial fiction without any references or traces back to history or books.



There is no telling how this makes storytelling easier or more difficult, but Nollywood manages to present good films in the end.



This current subject on Nollywood franchise movies highlights Toka Mcbaror&#8217;s Merry Men, the first chronicle of Ay&#8217;s rogue-themed creation with Ramsey Nouah, Ayo Makun and Ireti Doyle.



Where does this narrative go after the Merry Men frees Kemi from Dame Maduka in the second part by Moses Inwang? What ideas does AY have for the third part? What else is in his storybook?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Merry Men 3</h2>



Ayo Makun the creator and storyteller has confirmed part 3 of Merry Men which will take on the remainder of his story. Details of the production, director and release date are yet unknown.



Ay is trying the idea of trilogies, from simple storytelling, a new concept in Nollywood. As it seems to him now, <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/the-best-wedding-scene-yet-in-a-nollywood-movie-might-be-on-its-way-with-merry-men-3/">a third film in the Merry Men franchise</a> is sensible to complete the trilogy like with his other films.



If things go as planned with the next movie, the viewers may be looking at an impossible mission narrative.



A mission-impossible narrative in <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/filmname/merry-men-3-wiki/">the Merry Men 3 will complement the second</a> which picks up shortly after the events in the first movie.



Merry Men will continue on the journey with Amaju, Remi, Dame, Ayo and Naz this time with a new addition.



Ayo Makun has created a similar franchise in the past which also ended with a third part. He appears to have made his previous franchise progressively and expects to eventually make three Merry Men movies all from fiction.

How Many Merry Men Movies Will There Be After 1 & 2?

When Nollywood was born, it was creating a lot of good narratives or at least everyone thought so at the time. However, since the late 2010s, some producers are choosing to rewrite some of the narratives of these old movies. 



These remakes sometimes retell the story better, other times they can devalue the narrative that many grew up with, especially from the 90s. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why does Nollywood remake movies?</h2>



When a narrative is good, people tend to request more of the same. So why don&#8217;t Nollywood just make a new film with a similar narrative rather than remake an old one? Arguably, remakes are conceived from the lack of original ideas. However, redoing an old item is reasonable if it makes it better than the former version. With the help of new technology, new society and artistic evolutions, Nollywood can achieve this.



Nollywood has been taking these <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/the-african-folktales-reimagined-short-films-debut-on-netflix-globally/">old stories from the past and updating them</a> into better versions for today&#8217;s audience. The good thing is, <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/netflix-african-originals-for-2023-movies-and-series-to-expect-soon/">they don&#8217;t just replicate the original movie, they always add something new that is up to date</a> with new trends. Details may change, but the messages of <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/netflix-african-originals-for-2023-movies-and-series-to-expect-soon/">the original films</a> remain the same. 



The movie industry in Nigeria is also creating new avenues for everyone in it to make money &#8211; actors and production teams. A hit from the 90s or an old hit could be perceived as something with the potential to make money in the new age. 



This is why <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-is-getting-a-boost-from-making-comedy-recent-records-show/">Nollywood sometimes take old classics that are loved and updates them,</a> rather than making something entirely new. Nollywood remakes are becoming acceptable models that producers use to showcase masterpieces. It is not so phenomenal to see how the remakes outperform the originals. Despite no <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-is-getting-a-boost-from-making-comedy-recent-records-show/">box office records</a> from the 90s and inflation considered these remakes broke box office records each time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">List of Nollywood Remakes and Sequels</h2>



Many of the Nollywood remakes or sequels are movies from the 90s.



&#8220;Domitilla&#8221; &#8211; 1996 by Zeb Ejiro. The sequel by Zeb Ejiro was released in April 2023.



&#8220;Glamour Girls&#8221; &#8211; 1994 by Chika Onukwufor. The remake by Bunmi Ajakaiye was released in June 2022.



&#8220;Living in Bondage&#8221; &#8211; 1992 by Chris Obi Rapu. The remake by Ramsey Nouah was released in June 2019.



&#8220;RattleSnake &#8211; Ahanna&#8221; &#8211; 1995 by Amaka Igwe. The remake by Ramsey Nouah was released in November 2020.

Nollywood Remakes or Originals – What is Best?

Richard Williams is a character introduced in the sequel of the 1992 &#8220;Living in Bondage movie&#8221;.



He heads a mysterious cult, Brotherhood of The Six where members are told to offer human lives and get endless wealth. This lures desperate young people who want to live luxurious lifestyles at all costs.



The character has now been repeated in another movie in a new concept adopted in Nollywood.

Richard Williams

Take Me To Maama begins with an anecdote about the fear of witchcraft and the accusations that some women may face in Africa. 



Jerry, who is one the sons of Nnenna a woman accused of using witchcraft to kill her husband had to take up family responsibilities for his mom and younger brother, Dave. The hardship he faces is irreconcilable and he finds a solution in drug dealing to escape it.



His brother chose a different path but might have to pay with his life if he speaks up against Jerry&#8217;s drug dealer boss. During the entire action, Jerry loses his fiancee in a car fire accident but saves his brother.

Jerry

Folktale narration in Africa is taking a reimagined form to enable storytellers to express new ideas with old anecdotes.



With so many of them coming from all over Africa, the storytelling market will have a new drive for the foreseeable future.



The Netflix x UNESCO | African Folktales Reimagined collaboration is presenting the works of six African storytellers who have <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-is-getting-a-boost-from-making-comedy-recent-records-show">retold folktales in short films that will launch on Netflix</a> on March 29.



The storytellers from Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritania, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had been selected from a bunch after an open call for writers in 13 countries on the continent.



They were further empowered with resources from the collaboration that aims to <a href="https://nollymania.com/afriff-2021-festival-screens-encounter-gets-support-from-prime-video/">support the next generation</a> of storytellers.



Mohamed Echkouna, Enmity Djinn, Walt Mzengi Corey, Korede Azeez from Nigeria, Voline Ogutu, Loukman Ali and Gcobisa Yako were all beneficiaries of the $90 000 budget and mentorship offered by established filmmakers.



Netflix-appointed producer, Steven Markovitz supervised productions which were assigned to local teams.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Halima’s Choice (Korede Azeez &#8211; Nigeria)</h3>



Korede Azeez makes references to age-long practices of arranged marriage in Fulani villages with <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/winners-of-the-african-folktales-reimagined-short-film-competition">Halima&#8217;s Choice</a> short film. A young woman finds an escape route from this situation. She elopes with an AI after 99% of the world&#8217;s population had been uploaded into virtual worlds.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Anyango and the Ogre (Voline Ogutu &#8211; Kenya)</h3>



Based upon a childhood folktale, Voline Ogutu narrates the responsibility of 13-year-old Otis who has to protect his younger siblings from a monster living within their home.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Katera of the Punishment Island (Loukman Ali &#8211; Uganda)</h3>



A grieving woman is abandoned on an island by a powerful man. But with nothing else to lose after the loss of the child, she decides to take revenge on him.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Katope (Walt Mzengi Corey &#8211; Tanzania)</h3>



A child tries to save her community from drought by going on a dangerous trip into the wild believing in her magical origin.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">MaMlambo (Gcobisa Yako &#8211; South Africa)</h3>



Over the sacred waters of discarded bodies, a mystical river being, MaMlambo exists as a keeper.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Enmity Djinn (Mohamed Echkouna &#8211; Mauritania)</h3>



An ancient Enmity Djinn was summoned for the first time after three generations but to unknown territories.



However beneficial the reimagination of African folktales may be, could it do any damage to the original folklore? Are these folklores forever changed from what Africans today grew up to know?

The African Folktales, Reimagined Short Films debut on Netflix, globally

Katera grieves her dead child, the one consumed by the cold and unfriendly Akampene Island. However, like most girls before her, she has to pay the price of getting pregnant outside wedlock.



Katera has nothing but hate and wants revenge for her loss. She makes a decision to haunt the man who sent her to Akampene Island. The story is about healing, revenge and the search for redemption.

Katera

Can You See Us? tries to dissect a belief that has plagued Africa since time immemorial. The movie hopes to reach out to people who find albinism offensive and help shift their perspectives.

Joseph

An ambitious teenager, Ishaya Bello keeps finding himself in trouble with the wrong people. He has just gotten an opportunity and funding for a decent education, which he was hoping to improvise for an art apprenticeship in London.



Far From Home is a coming-of-age Nigerian series.

Ishaya Bello

It won&#8217;t come as a shock if the climax of the Merry Men 3 take place in a wedding scene and if most of the film&#8217;s budget went into that scene.



No big introductions are necessary for the 3-part Merry Men Nollywood movies. The first part came in 2018 with a modern Robin Hood story. As the narrative goes, Ayo, Naz, Amaju and Remi have real problems with rich people.



They figured out a way to take from the rich and return to the poor, but that is not without consequences. In the first and second parts, they outsmart and are outsmarted, but they win over everything and everyone and live a jolly life in Abuja.



In the last part of Merry Men, Dame Maduka makes life difficult for the Merry Men. The team had to try to rescue Kemi after a kidnap incident. Now in the third and final part of Merry Men, after his desired wedding to EFCD field operative, DERA, fails, Ayo Alesinloye (Ramsey Noah) finds love and walks down the aisle. A peek into the wedding shows Ayo in a deluxe-style wedding that is arguably not like any seen in a Nigerian movie. 



While it might seem that way from the sneak peek, the Merry Men 3 wedding scene would need other elements to be iconic. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s essential to having a grand wedding scene in a movie;



Merry Men 3 might be dedicating a grand nuptials scene if it expects to have its climax in the scene. To <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/dark-october-boys-will-always-have-viewers-heart-for-their-roles-in-the-nigerian-movie/">have an iconic scene in a movie</a>, it should not just have a decorated room but also have authenticity, chemistry and truth between the two characters.



The Merry Men 3 wedding scene probably also has an element of surprise waiting. Some gunshot or some kind of intense dialogue. More so, the surprise bride is Nadia Buhari according to the sneak peek. 



Is the character of Nadia Buhari a trap set by Dame Maduka? Is she here to infiltrate the Merry Men and is she a part of the EFCD? What is to come in Merry Men 3? 



Even though it was criticised, the action choreography and stunts are something to look forward to in Merry Men 3.

The Best Wedding Scene Yet in a Nollywood Movie Might Be on its Way With Merry Men 3

The character played by Ayo Makun, Amaju in the Merry Men movies is central to the narrative. He and his friend devise a criminal instrument that empowers them financially and they bring the money to the poor around them.



Rich politicians in Abuja who are capable of giving them contracts are their victims. The high-class women in the city are easily drawn to them before being scammed.



The Merry Men become popular among the lavish gatherings in town.

Amaju

Sarah is to marry the wealthy Kola Ademola who has abused her ever since they met. Suddenly Kola dies and now his family won&#8217;t accept Sarah or even let her live the house. 



They blame her for his death and holds her the prime suspect in Kola&#8217;s murder.

Sarah

Hollywood is not the only place to find true filmmaking mastery anymore.



Since the 2010s when Nollywood started getting recognition, it has become pressed with the responsibility to make globally acceptable films.



Filmmakers like Mo Abudu did not waste any time taking up that mantle, and she did so with grace. By 2022, <a href="https://theconversation.com/nollywood-could-see-a-major-boost-from-nigerias-new-copyright-law-an-expert-explains-why-200507">Nollywood has now advanced to a status where it can be addressed with films like &#8216;Blood Sisters</a>&#8216;, (not the remake of the old movie which had Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde in it).



The series has <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/what-studios-in-nigeria-made-the-highest-grossing-films-of-2022">a culture to share and the most creative, conceptual fashion</a> to display. However, the tale it tells is atypical of Nollywood with a clear depiction of principles in characters.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Relevant details in Blood Sisters</h3>



The filmmakers swapped the moralism that Nollywood has woven into characters for more complicated ones making for an easy, universal narrative.



&#8216;Blood Sisters&#8217; is an experience for viewers. It is African, and it is told in a better way with a more comprehensive approach to show the two categories of people in Africa and Nigeria.



&#8216;Blood Sisters&#8217; also reconciles the assertion by Nollywood films that good and evil are two extreme qualities. While achieving these, the backdrop of the movie, which is domestic violence against women is also illustrated in the most diabolical way.



&#8216;Blood Sisters&#8217; challenges the convention in the Nollywood film industry.



With it, comes an even bigger global audience, and the cinema results are off the roof for several other films.



This is a good place for Nollywood and Africa, and there is no reclination any time soon. It is not just &#8216;Blood Sisters&#8217;, there is a whole list to see.



In referencing Mo Abudu, &#8216;The Paradigm has already been shattered.&#8217; In the future, a partnership between Sony Pictures Television and EbonyLife Studios in “The Dahomey Warriors” is expected to add credits to Nollywood.

What Nollywood Made in 2022 – Blood Sisters

At the time of its release, Blood Sisters was a big hit on Netflix. It brings together the good and bad in an unconventional Nollywood manner, divulging how several one-sided narratives could have been better.



This is a series that openly deals with domestic violence and how families in Africa might encourage it by dismissing the rights of the women who want to get out of it.

Kola

Kopiko is a Tomboy who runs into a fancy rich guy and is the only one who can help him. On one occasion while trying to retrieve his stolen passport together, she gets offended at him for asking her why she is always mad.



Kopiko&#8217;s explanation points to the fact that they have different lives and he will not understand hers since he lives an exotic life in London. Kopiko feels she is better than him and that she should have his life.

Kopiko

The wealthy heiress of the Elesho wealth, Motunrayo is sucked into a marriage scheme by a businessman and a con artist.



When the scheme grows out of proportion, the sole heir to the Elesho wealth finds out what her family had been involved in in the past.

Motunrayo Elesho

In 2016, FilmOne / Inkblot Production / Koga Studios joined Ebonylife Films in the league of studios with the highest-grossing movies with &#8220;The Wedding Party&#8221; by Kemi Adetiba.



The group stayed at the top spot for about two years followed by studios like Corporate World Pictures, who came up with &#8220;Christmas in Miami&#8221;, &#8220;Merry Men&#8221; and others. In 2020, &#8220;<a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/king-of-thieves-meets-the-first-specification-for-the-oscars-but-there-are-more/">Omo Ghetto: The Saga</a>&#8221; placed SceneOne Productions for the first time at <a href="https://nollymania.com/nigerian-movies-production-companies/">the top spot bumping down the big group</a> that was at the top.



This has been the pattern and this set of studios is what <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2023/03/23/ebonylife-media-founder-mo-abudu-black-stories-do-matter-and-foreign-stories-do-matter/?sh=39e97ced47fa">most people will call the top studios</a> of Nollywood. However, these records have changed rapidly in the last years and this list shows how studios are emerging in Nollywood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-a40826d9-748c-4642-9362-81592e70f335">FilmOne, Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network &#8211; &#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221;, &#8220;Ijakumo&#8221;</h2>



Having directed the successful &#8220;Omo Ghetto: The Saga&#8221;, the all-time highest-grossing movie at the time, FilmOne invited Funke Akindele to join the production of the &#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221;.



The 2022 movie is currently the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time after dethroning &#8220;Omo Ghetto: The Saga&#8221;. FilmOne has a significant release record for top-grossing Nollywood movies.



More so, they are currently, the studio with exclusive theatrical licensees to The Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers Discovery, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Empire Entertainment in Anglophone West Africa.



As a distribution company, it occasionally produces films including &#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221; which it co-produced alongside Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network.



&#8220;Ijakumo&#8221; 2022 which falls under the FilmOne 2022 movies was co-produced by Toyin Abraham Films Production. In 2022, FilmOne still maintains its record as one of the top Nollywood studios.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-bb2dfdfe-0290-456d-9aa5-4562fc3a28e4">Greoh Studios</h2>



Though FilmOne claims to have released the top 10 titles of all time in West Africa, that is no longer completely valid. Greoh Studios is one of the studios that broke that record in 2020 with &#8220;Brotherhood&#8221;.



Currently the sixth highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time and the second highest for movies released in 2022, Lockman Ali&#8217;s &#8220;Brotherhood&#8221; was dexterous.



It divulges a possible new pattern for action and thriller Nollywood movies. &#8220;Brotherhood&#8221; came after Greoh Studios made a big mark with &#8220;Sugar Rush&#8221; in 2019.



The studio has been on an upward trend ever since. It currently has on its record the first-ever Amazon Prime Video original, a crime-thriller &#8220;Gangs of Lagos,&#8221; which will be released in April of 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-de87428b-90cd-437f-aef1-6cea968ac718">Euphoria360 Media / Anthill Studios</h2>



Euphoria360 Media / Anthill Studios are on this list of studios with the highest-grossing Nollywood movies of 2022 as well as the current top 10 list of all time with &#8220;King of Thieves&#8221;.

4 Nollywood Studios Whose Movies are on the Top 10 All-Time

Nollywood has got something going with comedy. The industry has made films in several genres including thrillers and comedy that became exceptional.



These genres where Nollywood serves quality storytelling, as well as pleasing visuals, are also some of the genres where its box office records are huge.



&#8220;King of Thieves&#8221;, and &#8216;Anikulapo&#8217; were big in 2022 and almost are on track for all-time best. However, they still fell behind the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of 2022.



Beginning in the 2010s, here is <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/what-nollywood-made-in-2022-blood-sisters/">a look at the movie gross in Nollywood</a> which also foretells the future of the industry.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221; &#8211; 2022</h3>



The movie was released on 16 December 2022 in Nigeria and had a limited release on December 30 at the AMC Theatres, United States.



&#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221; is the second film directed by Funke Akindele to <a href="https://nollymania.com/five-good-nollywood-movies-that-lost-at-the-box-office/">top the box office list</a> in Nigeria.



It is at this time <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/what-studios-in-nigeria-made-the-highest-grossing-films-of-2022/">the highest-grossing Nigerian movie</a> of all time. Uk and Irish cinemas are still currently showing &#8220;Battle on Buka Street&#8221;.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Christmas in Miami&#8221; &#8211; 2021</h3>



The film fused actors of different races to make one of the best and the fourth movie in the &#8220;Akpos&#8221; franchise.



More so, it is the first universally acceptable Christmas narrative seen in Nollywood.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Omo Ghetto: The Saga&#8221; &#8211; 2020</h3>



It was no surprise that the first feature film directed by Funke Akindele was a hit after the remarkable &#8220;Jenifer&#8221; series.



Until 2020, no Nigeran movies earned more the ₦400 million or even tracked the record of American movies in the Nigeria cinema.



&#8220;Omo Ghetto: The Saga&#8221; ran for over twenty weeks in 2020 and stayed at the top of the box office all the time.



It is currently the only movie that followed the same course as the &#8220;Black Panther&#8221; West African release record after surpassing the ₦600 million mark.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Sugar Rush&#8221; &#8211; 2019</h3>



The 2019 crime comedy is not strictly comedy and that gave critics some concern. Though fusing two opposite genres together has oftentimes produced good movies, it is also not a concept seen in Nollywood.



Despite this, &#8220;Sugar Rush&#8221; is at the top of Nigeria&#8217;s box office list of all time.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">&#8220;Chief Daddy&#8221; &#8211; 2018 &amp; &#8220;Chief Daddy 2&#8221; &#8211; 2022</h3>



The 2018 film was probably overcrowded with top and known Nigerian actors, however, the first part of the film &#8220;Chief Daddy&#8221; was a delight to viewers who demanded more.



There wasn&#8217;t much of a cliffhanger at the end, but the status of the characters still had to be determined and that gave room for a second part &#8220;Chief Daddy 2&#8221;.



In several other genres, it may still be a while before high-standard filmmaking can be achieved.

Jenifa is a character with a drive for success. She explores the world around her, gets a job and tries her luck at schooling. The latter deludes as she fails to meet the standards of university women in Lagos.



Jenifa is not a quitter, she has high hopes and her bad grammar can&#8217;t take that away from her. So she works as hard as she can as a hairstylist to give herself a decent life. 



Now called Jenifa, she envisions herself as a big hairdresser.

Jenifa

Nollywood has been ready for the world for a while now. It left behind the days of poor acting, scripting and picture qualities after beckoning investors for support to perfect its content.



In 2023, Nollywood is halfway there.



So far,&nbsp;<a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/gangs-of-lagos-trailer-kadara-the-street-calls-out/">Nollywood has gotten to be a genre-layered industry</a>, that has a library steep with amazing content. The&nbsp;<a href="https://decider.com/2023/04/13/gangs-of-lagos-amazon-prime-video-review/">first African Amazon Original &#8220;Gangs of Lagos,&#8221; by Jadesola Osiberu</a>&nbsp;has just been released from Nollywood. The movie succeeded in its dissection of street life in Lagos.



Gift, Obalola and Ify are employed by Kazeem a crime lord, having had some practice stealing on the street as kids. Obalola is to be a ring leader as he believes, taking after his father who was killed as a street king. Their new job isn&#8217;t very different from what they are experienced with, as they have had a taste of the dark side due to hard life.



However, the friends do hope for the best. Obalala hopes for decent a career in politics and Ify hopes to be a singer. However, their environment &#8211; a drug dealers&#8217; and human trafficking den is not the most suitable for people with such dreams. The friends continually find themselves on the dark side of life racketeering, stealing, murdering and engaging in political corruption.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gift (Adesua Etomi Wellington )</h2>



Adesua Etomi, the often savage lead actor &#8211; Sugar Rush,&nbsp;<a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wikiid/muna">Muna&nbsp;</a>&#8211; remember, she plays Gift. She is one of the four main characters who are Kazeem&#8217;s messengers.



Gift pairs with Oba to do reckless assignments in Nigeria&#8217;s megacity, Lagos endangering their lives aimlessly in a series of gory rebellious political battles. The character is less ambitious, unlike her friends, Oba and Ify but is captivating in every slide she appears in.



The director of Gangs of Lagos, Jadesola Osiberu is locked in on some future investment deals with Amazon Prime Video.

Adesua Wellington Etomi in Gangs of Lagos

Gangs of Lagos – Adesua Wellington Etomi is a Ruthless Slayer in this Crime Thriller by Jade Osiberu

Muna had 13 stunt doubles with two designated to Adesua Etomi-Wellington including Bridgette Michelle Bentley who is known for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and more.



 The character is filled with rage from the abuse of her childhood and is out for blood. Muna might be <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/gangs-of-lagos-adesua-wellington-etomi-is-a-ruthless-slayer-in-this-crime-thriller-by-jade-osiberu/">similar to some of the characters</a> that Wellington is known to play.

Muna

Several directors in Nollywood who successfully complete a feature film will always consider doing it a second time.



For most, the first instance is always a hoop and the hardest one. These directors get the first movie to their name but many are hardly a hit.



With a few exceptions, those who get positive reviews back for the first effort, often want to try again. They try to grow their list but it doesn&#8217;t always guarantee a hit.



The idea of jumping back into the director&#8217;s role is also less scary the second time. So many just take the chance and would often go on for a while to get a hit movie under their belt.



Funke Akindele is one exception for those who continue in the disciple for a while before a hit. She made <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wikiid/jenifa/">a hit out of her directorial feature</a> film, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Excellency_(film)">Your Excellency</a>, (2019).



The actress/director has some of the biggest Nollywood movies <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_on_Buka_Street">Battle on Buka Street</a> and Omo Ghetto: The Saga under her name.



Other directors try once and just completely leave the discipline behind to go back to acting, especially if reviews are negative.



In 2002, before subsequent directorial pieces, <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/actorsPg/saint-obi/">Saint Obi</a>&#8216;s, Take Me Maama was the first to demonstrate that a Nollywood director could make a hit out of a one-time effort.



As long as they remain filmmakers, many Nollywood directors are probably going to keep trying until they get both good reviews and a hit movie.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Genevieve Nnaji: The one-time hit director of Nollywood</h2>



Genevieve Nnaji specializes in acting and is pretty good at it. Fans almost can&#8217;t seem to get enough of her even though she has been in several movies.



In 2018 the actress veered into directing and made Lionheart. The movie grew a buzz and was instantly grabbed by Netflix to be the first original out of Nollywood.



The one obvious thing that influenced Lionheart is the popularity of Genevieve Nnaji throughout her acting career.



Her single directorial piece Lionheart got a lot of positive reviews and keeps making gains for her on Netflix 5 years later. This is the one single thing that most directors struggle to get lucky at.

When Chief Obiagu could no longer manage his bus transport business, he had only one young woman to trust, Adaeze, his daughter. 



The business atmosphere is not typical for a woman. However, Adaeze accepts the challenge and keeps her father&#8217;s business alive.

Adaeze

It is unsure why Ayo Makun uses this concept of repeating one character, Akpos in different movies 30 Days in Atlanta, 10 Days in Sun City and more. However, what is more apparent is the idea behind the character &#8211; a Lagos street boy who grew up to explore the world around him from his humble background.



Ayo Makun has put in a lot of work to create the Akpos.

Akpos

Arolake gives up her marriage to the King to run away with the weaver, Saro. The promise of love and affection drove her but Saro had other intentions that may not go well with Arolake.



The former queen is mocked for being childless by the other wives of Saro and he weeps for love and attention that she hardly gets from Saro. Arolake makes a hard decision to destroy Saro.

Arolake

Awarun is an older female character who seeks romantic or sexual relationships with men far younger than her. She plays a key role in Saro&#8217;s life and helps him settle down after he arrives in the town.



She holds the power over her relationships like the one she has with <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wiki/saro/">Saro </a>and tells him he has no right to question what she does with other men.

Awarun

The extended thriller drama story of Anikulapo transformed into a Netflix series &#8211; Rise of the Spectre already has a release date of March 1st 2024. The series will feature stars from the movie including Bimbo Ademoye, Kunle Remi, Sola Sobowale, Moji Afolayan, Aisha Lawal, Adeniyi Johnson and Uzee Usman. 



This news was <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/anikulapo-rise-of-the-spectre-kunle-afolayan-developing-a-new-idea/">originally reported here at the end of 2023</a>. At the time, not much was known of the new series only the information that was provided by Kunle Afolyan, the director of both the movie and the upcoming Anikulapo series. 



Kunle Afolayan had this to say about the new portion of the Anikulapo narrative that was inspired by Ifayemi Elebuibon’s mystery collection: 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Anikulapo emerged precisely when it was destined to, a manifestation of patience and the alignment of cosmic forces.
<cite>&#8211; Kunle Afolayan</cite></blockquote>



Components of the Anikulapo fiction include characters, time and age from Ifayemi Elebuibon books.



The most probable event in the upcoming series is the beginning of the life of Saro before the time that was seen in the movie. It will most likely go back to Arolake’s life before the palace and Saaro. 



One obvious detail that will be seen in the Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre is the battle for power over life and death.



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="whos-cast-in-mother-of-the-bride-1">The Cast Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="984" height="536" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-1.jpg" alt="Anikulapo is a successful movie with a folklore narrative. Photo: Kunle Afolayan" class="wp-image-873" style="width:624px;height:auto" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-1.jpg 984w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-1-300x163.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-1-768x418.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Anikulapo is a successful movie with a folklore narrative. Photo: Kunle Afolayan</figcaption></figure>



All the expected names are returning for Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre, but there are more people on the team. 



<ul>
<li>Bimbo Ademoye: Arolake, the former Queen who fell from grace to be with Saro the weaver. </li>



<li> Kunle Remi: Saro the Weaver, the main character. An arrogant traveller whom Arolake falls in love with before she is abused by his other wives.</li>
</ul>



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The production of Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre began in 2023 with most of the filming done in locations around Nigeria.



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Kunle Afolayan has&nbsp;confirmed that the series will launch globally only on Netflix on March 1st, 2024. Anikulapo, <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-movies-and-series-on-netflix-get-over-30-nominations-at-the-2023-amvca/">the movie has multiple awards</a> to it, the series Rise of the Spectre is without question a metamorphosis of that success.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Idea of Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre</h2>



Kunle Afolayan had envisioned a series analogous to Game of Thrones when the idea of Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre was conceived.



The series which was to be called &#8220;ODU&#8221; an ancient narrative set in the Oyo Empire never took flight as the time was at odds with the idea.



The years that have passed, availed the team with the tools for a contemporary production. This further revealed to them that time was an integral element of the now-completed production, as Kunle Afolayan noted.

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre Poster. Photo: Kunle Afolayan

Kunle Remi and Bimbo Ademoye Netflix Series ‘Anikulapo: Rise of The Spectre’ Sets March 2024 Release Date

Anikulapo failed to win in major categories of the AMVCA 2023- no best actor or actress wins but it grabbed 5 awards from other categories.



Successful movies like Anikulapo plant the idea of franchises.



Director Kunle Afolayan is making another <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-movies-and-series-on-netflix-get-at-least-32-monimations-at-the-2023-amvca/">Anikulapo film</a>, a new half of a narrative inspired by Ifayemi Elebuibon’s mystery collection.



The <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/what-amvca-2023-will-look-like-for-anikulapo-king-of-thieves-battle-on-buka-street-and-more/">first Anikulapo movie</a> hardly adapts any of Elebuibon’s books. Ifayemi Elebuibon&#8217;s greatest philosophical achievements are found in Yoruba poetry and literature.



He takes record of the supernatural more than a mere mortal should. His writings delve into the forbidden, abominable, cursed, doomed and powerful.



He explores ancient elements of life and powers that breathe air, spit out fire and dwell in the waters.



Elebuibon paints the divine within his text like he is one of them &#8211; from another realm. A large part of his work is termed myth, some of which were compiled from the massive Ifa literary catalogue.



Ifa, the Custodian of Destiny is a good case study for what could come in the next Anikulapo movie.



This is one where Ifayemi Elebuivon dissects destiny. The book stages Orunmila as the custodian of destiny, specially assigned by Olodumare (the Almighty God).



This is some of the context applied by Kunle Afolayan in Anikulapo.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="913" height="596" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-movie.jpg" alt="Kunle Afolayan Movies. Photo: Kunle Afolayan" class="wp-image-1017" style="aspect-ratio:1.676;width:634px;height:auto" title="bimbo.JPG" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-movie.jpg 913w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-movie-300x196.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/anikulapo-movie-768x501.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kunle Afolayan Movies</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre</h2>



Adaptations that require deep translation of the supernatural are not easy, this is why Ifayemi Elebuivon&#8217;s works serve better as inspiration.



A fictional narrative that mimics characters and other components like time and age from his books could be much easier to make.



However, out of curiosity, Is Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre going to be an inspiration or an adaption? Will Anikulapo progress into a franchise and how many will there be?



Kunle Afolayan only discloses the name of the next movie, not the details &#8211; whether it is a prequel or a sequel. He did hint at a series.



Kunle Remi&#8217;s Anikulapo character could be set up for greater vilification.



Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre will most likely continue on Arolake&#8217;s life back at the palace. With Saro among the living or dead, Anikulapo: The Septare will explore the weaver&#8217;s previous lives and possible hope for a new life.



What happens if Saro gets life one more time from the Akala bird? Does he get the power to raise the dead again, does he get Arolake back?

The life of a young man, Saro, leads down a dark terrain with every step. Born and trained as a weaver, Saro starts his life with the help of a woman after he arrives in a far town. 



As things go silent for him and <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wiki/awarun/">Awarun</a>, she initiates a love affair with the King&#8217;s favourite wife <a href="https://culturays.com/moviewikiafrica/wiki/arolake/">Arolake</a>. This did not go well for Saro. He is killed and restored to life. But Saro might die again if he doesn&#8217;t get things right.



Aníkúlápó also stars Hollywood actor, Hakim Kazeem.

Saro

As a couple that caught each other&#8217;s affection, Arolake and Saro risk death from their affair. However, Saro was the only one who got the punishment of death.



However, Arolake also traded her life at the palace to be with a simple weaver.



A woman who gave up everything to be with Saro should have the kind of pain that Arolake had at the end of the Anikulapo. Actress <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/nollywood-movies-and-series-on-netflix-get-at-least-32-monimations-at-the-2023-amvca/">Bimbo Ademoye delivered the role</a> flawlessly.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="179" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bimbo-Ademoye-anikulapo.jpg" alt="Bimbo Ademoye Best Crying Scene in Anikulapo" class="wp-image-1093" style="width:628px;height:auto"/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Happened To Arolake in Anikulapo</h2>



Arolake falls in love with a sojourner, Saro who has just settled in a kingdom ruled by her husband.



The weaver as he calls himself is enormously arrogant with a past that he appears to have tossed away quickly.



The pair has to sneak around to be with each other but only starts making a runaway plan after Saro is warned.



That night they are exposed.



When her lover Saro is killed and thrown out to rot for his betrayal of the King, he experiences resurrection through a mythical bird.



Unknown to Saro, Arolake witnessed this event and picked up a powerful portion that the bird had dropped when it brought him back to life.



In a later scene, Arolake hands the portion to Saro and tells him what the content is and how it can help them survive together.



Saro gains a new name &#8220;Anikulapo&#8221;, &#8211; one who holds death in his purse &#8211; from using the portion to raise people from the dead. However, it didn&#8217;t take long for him to lose it after he hurt Arolake.



The former Queen feels dissatisfied with her new life making her recall the one she had in these words:



&#8220;What a shame,



What a fool I have been,



At least as the wife of a great King of Oyo,



I was the favourite one,



The King&#8217;s favourite



Like the moon above all others



The king loved me



He loved me so dearly.&#8221;



After which she decides to leave Saro.



Those lines are so deep that <a href="https://culturays.com/nollywood/news/dark-october-boys-will-always-have-viewers-heart-for-their-roles-in-the-nigerian-movie/">it is possible to see Bimbo Ademoye feeling the pain</a> of Arolake. The actress delivers the lines with such great awareness of what is expected of her.



It is not just the lines, it is the sincerity she bore and the realisation of her mistakes. They are the best lines and a crying scene to come out of a Nollywood movie yet.



Bimbo Ademoye had a good handle on Arolake all the way and the actress sure pairs well with Kunle Remi.



Anikuapo is a story about culture and tradition, set in the 17th century of the Old Oyo Empire.



Bimbo Ademoye was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama at the 2023 AMVCA for her role as Queen Arolake in Anikulapo.

Bimbo Ademoye Best Crying Scene in Anikulapo

In Anikulapo, Bimbo Ademoye Delivers the Best Crying Scene Ever In a Nollywood Movie

This morning in Nigeria began with a demonstration against the rising cost of living. In the last few years, the country has seen a constant need to protest, either for insecurity or unemployment. 



However, those are put on hold as citizens now struggle to feed in an economy that is steadily growing into crisis.



The national assembly in Abuja is covered with a crowd of demonstrators who are guarded by the police. Protesters mount blocks on the road to minimise movement and activities in Abuja.



The initiators of the recent protest, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) intend to pressure the government to rethink the reforms put in place last year &#8211; the removal of subsidy. 



This system had previously allowed Nigerians to pay less for petrol and keep a balance in the country&#8217;s trade connections. A change in the prices of petrol drags every commodity in Nigeria. 



Currently, a litre of petrol costs over three times the price from a year before. Inflation rates are soaring and people who can afford meat, eggs and milk now are considered rich. 



Citizens blame the previous government for the economic crises and high inflation rates of 2024. The former government had the Central Bank print huge amounts of about $19bn as short-term loans to cover expenditures, thereby, fueling inflation. 



The National Bureau of Statistics in January said it has now recorded an inflation rate of almost 30 per cent, which is about three decades high.



The economy also further took a blow from new currency management as the naira plunged lower against the dollar.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests-1024x576.jpg" alt="Protests in Nigeria in 2024" class="wp-image-1243" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests-300x169.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests-768x432.jpg 768w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/nigeria-protests.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Government Response to NUC Protest</h2>



The Federal Government had met with the organised Labour at the State House Abuja the day before regarding the protests. However, this meeting did not go well for both parties and ended without a proper consensus.



They are demanding an end to this devaluation of the naira as well as an increase in the minimum wage which has been below $20. This could help people survive the rising cost of living. 



The government&#8217;s response to these demands is a plea of patience from the patience to allow the new reforms to take effect. President Tinubu says that the target is to attract foreign investment.



More on the list of demands by the NUC protesters are;



Stop wasting the country&#8217;s resources and putting an end to the dollarization of the Nigerian economy.



Fix abandoned factories.



Restore local and encourage local goods and services.



A substantial investment in Agriculture and value-added manufacturing to create employment.



Subsidy for farmers, so as to give agriculture and food security a boost.



Disclose all the hidden palliative and distribute them equally across the country.



Taking the repair of all refineries as a national prerogative.



Make power supply and water available, affordable and accessible.



Increase the road/rail transportation and social housing investments. Provide cheap mass transportation buses operating on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).



Abandon International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies which are perceived as a medium of hardship for Nigerians.



Increase funding for education and healthcare at all levels. Establish a working social security system for the old and vulnerable.



Pay workers and pensioners what the government owes them.



Joe Ajaero of the NLC and Festus Osifo of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) led two teams that presented these demands to the government.



On X the protest trends with the hashtag #EndHungerProtest.

Rounds of Protests Overtake Nigeria

A bunch of AI-generated misinformation that could be ravaging Black celebrities is all over and being relished by a certain type of audience. The perpetrators understand their audience needs to feed off lies which is what the fake content is propagating.



Social platforms are used to disseminate AI-generated media in a recent explosion of manipulated false news. Fake news has previously circulated in this way, however, recent occasions are influenced by present-day technological advancements sought for alternative news sources.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fake AI News on Black Celebrities</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="594" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ai-fake-news-1024x594.jpg" alt="The abuse of AI technology will not end with fake news about Black celebrities. Abusers will likely find new ways. Photo: Unsplash/Steve Johnson" class="wp-image-921" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ai-fake-news-1024x594.jpg 1024w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ai-fake-news-300x174.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ai-fake-news-768x446.jpg 768w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ai-fake-news.jpg 1217w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The abuse of AI technology will not end with fake news about Black celebrities. Abusers will likely find new ways. Photo: Unsplash/Steve Johnson</figcaption></figure>



NBC News said a number of YouTube channels it reviewed conveyed misinformation compiled from exploiting news about celebrities. They have a huge audience and made an impact.



The <a href="https://culturays.com/newscontent/world/fake-ai-generated-videos-on-youtube-target-bishop-t-d-jakes-black-celebs/">millions of viewers served this misleading content have no idea</a> what they are. The voiceovers narrate sensational topics mixed in artificial intelligence-generated media. 



The captions are also hyped beyond reality to catch attention and content is often inappropriate and untrue. Content like these violates terms and conditions on social platforms like YouTube where many of them are shared. 



The platform has responded and taken action. In the last weeks, several of these channels have been taken down, and the videos removed. Others have been demonetized. YouTube has yet to enforce its new policy that will check synthetic and manipulated media in videos. 



It is probable that these channels were created for the sole purpose of creating fake news. However, a few of them appear to have switched topics recently.



According to <a href="https://www.techtimes.com/articles/293171/20230629/ai-generated-tweets-trustworthy-humans.htm">a June 2023 study</a>, &#8220;cheapfakes&#8221; the term for media that is manipulated and imitates AI, look legitimate and trustworthy to people. It is almost impossible to tell them apart except with the use of AI models designed for the purpose.



AI technology will likely be abused in new ways even after this is controlled. 



<div class="post__">Read more on the topic of fake AI-generated news targeted at black celebrities <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/ai-deepfake-fake-news-youtube-black-celebrities-rcna133368" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> here </a>on NBC News</div>

The abuse of AI technology will not end with fake news about Black celebrities. Abusers will likely find new ways. Photo: Unsplash/Steve Johnson

AI Misinformation Against Black Celebrities Is In Circulation

Black celebrities are a target of a recent stream of artificial intelligence-generated media and videos spreading falsified news.&nbsp;Bishop T.D. Jakes, Jay-Z, Sean “Diddy” Combs and even Ivy Blue are among the latest victims having their real-life events overstretched in these manipulated videos that have no proof. 



They depict celebrities in inappropriate activities that are untrue and farfetched from the reality they claim to be narrating.



These videos contain graphic, expensive misinformation and suggestive voiceovers and are all made using generative AI tools. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="645" src="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ai-2-1024x645.jpg" alt="Ai Misinformation in Circulation" class="wp-image-1249" srcset="https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ai-2-1024x645.jpg 1024w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ai-2-300x189.jpg 300w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ai-2-768x484.jpg 768w, https://content.culturays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ai-2.jpg 1122w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ai Misinformation in Circulation</figcaption></figure>



Since 2022, manipulative copycats have begun emulating generative AI technologies with &#8220;cheapfakes&#8221; (non-AI). The technology by ChatGPT, Google and Microsoft, known to many and enables users to deliver more refined work, is abused to generate fake content.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to recognise AI-generated videos, content</h2>



A lot of people have possibly seen these pictures and videos and not recognised them for what they are. They appear on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok mostly.



Social platforms like YouTube have an obligation to terminate channels for violating its Terms of Service. Additionally, they are liable to removing channels from monetization programs along with all the content &#8211; videos and thumbnails. YouTube essentially reviews and removes channels flagged for having explicit content. However, taking these videos down could sometimes take a while, so they could get to millions of people before that happens. 



It is arguably easy to spot these AI-generated media and fake content. 



A considerable <a href="https://culturays.com/newscontent/world/ai-misinformation-against-black-celebrities-is-in-circulation/">part of the AI-generated fake videos is a dramatic depiction</a> of events. Only Black celebrities feature in the most latest narratives &#8211; Rihanna &amp; Beyonce have been seen showing excessive emotions in content with bloated captions relating to very personal issues.



That is how to identify them. They twist real stories to sound like the lives of these celebrities are falling apart with the intent to shock and exaggerate scandalous events about celebrities. 



The voiceovers narrate fake information pretending to provide new information about real topics that already have millions of audiences. 



AI detection models were used to run the videos and audio and they produced 98% &amp; 99% results of being made with generative tools. Audio from real voices is distinguished from synthetic audio by the model.<a href="mailto:?subject=Microsoft%27s%20Satya%20Nadella%20on%20AI%20and%20potential%20election%20interference&amp;body=https://www.today.com/video/microsoft-s-satya-nadella-talks-concerns-over-ai-and-2024-election-203215941939" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>



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<div class="post__">Read more on the topic of fake AI-generated news targeted at black celebrities <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/ai-deepfake-fake-news-youtube-black-celebrities-rcna133368"> here </a>on NBC News</div>

Black Celebrities are implicated in fake AI videos

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