Nollywood Film Festival/Europe Awards 2017

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The story of how the German city of Frankfurt bubbled for three days non-stop during the Nollywood film Festival Germany NFFG and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Award NEGA which held from Sept 8th – 9th, 2017 is still being told by those who attended two months after the event.

NFFG/NEGA 2017 event as usual featured screening of Nollywood films including the special Europe premieres, of Diplomatic strings produced by Isaac Izoya and Queen Blessing Itua as directed by Paul Julius.

Aside from creating an opportunity for interactions and networking for film makers and other entertainment merchants, It ended in a super gala and awards night featuring Nollywood Legend Emeka Ike, Ghanaian star actress Nadia Buari, with five Nigerian Ambassadors as well as Nigerian top international publisher Elvis Iruh as special guests and attracted fans from across European cities who also came to see Nigeria’s top act DJ Zeez who was super in performance and did not disappoint.

Here is a postmortem of what played out at the 6th edition of the NFFG/NEGA mega event organised by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V.

FANS ARRIVAL

Fans from Holland, Greece, Belgium, Denmark, and other parts of Germany started arriving from Thursday, 7th of September. Some of them had put the show event into their summer holiday yearly agenda. Event director Isaac Izoya had started with the to and fro trips to the Frankfurt (Hauptbahnof) main Train station and the Frankfurt Airport to receive his guests and quarter them at various high star hotels within the city, not far from the event arena.

One NEGA fan Elizabeth Amelinz Felix described the yearly event “as a tonic to rekindle love for my family and friends. Isaac Izoya has continuously made it an interesting event that I have not missed it. My husband and I and the kids arrived on the 7th and never missed any of the programmes. I urge him to keep it up” .

 

THOSE WHO WON AWARDS

Among those honoured at this year historic classic NEGA Awards gala-night event were: Nollywood mega star Emeka Ike for “Nollywood Living Legend” Ghanaian movie icon, Nadia Buari for “Cross Cultural Actress of Nollywood”, The Editor in Chief of Holland based “The Voice” magazine, Pastor Elvis Iruh for “Nollywood Media Supporter in Europe” and His Excellency, Ambassador Abdul Bin Rimdap Retd for “Nollywood Ambassador – At – Large”. Others awardees that were conspicuously absent based on logistics were: His Excellency Ambassador Habib Baba Habu, OON for “Nollywood Grand Innovator”, Capt. Nicholas Anthony Okotie for Nollywood Grand Supporter, Otolorin Kehinde Peter “Most Creative Comedian of the year” Hon (Sir) Ezehi MD Igbas, representing Esan North East constituency for “Leadership and Service Award”, Abidemi Dairo for “Outstanding Entertainment News Producer” and chief Anthony Ajiduah“ for Nollywood UK – Leadership And Service Award”

 

ABOUT DIPLOMATIC STRINGS

The movie boasts of a roll call of some of the Nollywood best amongst whom are; Francis Duru, Cynthia Agholor, Uche Ogbodo, Jude Orhorha, the controversial Cossy Orjiako, Obi Madubogwu, Casandra Odita, Olutokun Amos and George Eyo.

Other foreign based stars include, Isaac Izoya, Queen Blessing Itua, Matthias Krämar, Hassna El- Bacha, Anslem Okhaimoh, Faith Ogoigbe, Imke Brenks and sensational Frankfurt based Zambia music icon, Yvonne Mwale.

 Diplomatic Strings is the first Nollywood movie with 80% choice locations ever shot in Frankfurt, Germany and Lagos, Nigeria

It is the story of ADAMS, a zealous hard working man who stands for truth and right. He is in love with a superbly rich lady, SHARON, who chooses illegitimate business as her only source of livelihood. She is highly connected to the high and mighty in both the private and political circle. Adams explores her connection to his advantage. Her ordeal starts when she request Adams to fetch a naïve girl from Nigeria to Europe to work in her restaurant with the ultimate goal of making her one of her trafficked prostitute.

Isaac Izoya`s newest film “DIPLOMATIC STRINGS”, co-produced by Queen Blessing Itua, written and Directed by one of Nollywood best directors, Paul Julius Obomokhai.

 

NADIA BUARI’S FILM DIDN’T SHOW

No one could immediately explain why Nadia Buaris film did not show but investigations reveal that She did not send the film in for preview beforehand so the German screeners rejected the showing.

 

THREE AMBASSADORS PRESENT

The screening that took place at the prestigious cinema Film forum Höchst, Emmerich-Josef-Strasse 46a 65929 Frankfurt am Main will go down in Nollywood – NFFG history book as the first opening ceremony that was attended by three present and past Nigerian Ambassadors to Germany namely; The current new Nigeria  ambassador to (Berlin) Germany, His Excellency, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, His Excellency, Ambassador D. O Falowo – Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany and the former ambassador of Nigeria to Germany, His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Bin Rimdap Rtd

 

OTHER DIGNITARIES

Aside Ambassadors, other dignitaries present at the gala-night that was well attended by fans from Switzerland, Holland, UK, Belgium, Denmark and Canada were the director of GTWorld GmbH worldwide Mhretab ,Her Excellency, wife of former Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Mrs Abdul Bin Rimdap, Mr. Joe Wanbagha members of diplomatic corps, Miss Vivian Ete Iboi, the event host from Copenhagen, Demark, Swiss based CY the MD of Comfort Inn hotel in Lagos, Benjamin James Hoffenheim Jr. Team coach, Joy Osaze aka Mama Joy of Berlin to name but a few. 

 

HOW AMBASSADOR TUGGAR DECLARED FESTIVAL OPEN

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany His Excellency, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar is a man who says the way it is and won’t mince words when it comes to appraisals. Before declaring the event open, Tuggar had lavished the organisers with praises. He declared that Nollywood is simply the pride of Africans not just Nigerians alone. In his words, “I will do my best within my power to always assist the growth of this great event which is indirectly promoting Nigeria culture in this part of the world. The organizers of this great event are also good Ambassadors representing Nigeria image for good. I am so glad in meeting such a solid and noble platform in Germany and we will all guide and protect the Innovation. I now declare 2017 Nollywood Film Festival Germany and Nollywood Europe Golden Awards  open”.

 

A MINUTE’S SILENCE FOR OBI MABUBUOGWU

2017 Nollywood Europe Golden Awards Gala Night which held at the prestigious Friesstra 20 60388 Frankfurt Am Main did not start until a minutes silence was observed in honour of Late Nollywood icon, Obi Madubogwu who died recently. He is a NEGA award recipient and was present at the previous award ceremonies to receive it personally.

 

SUPERLATIVE PERFORMANCE FROM DJ ZEEZ

Nigerian pop star, DJ Zeez was in top gear to entertain his fans and he did please them with superlative show.
Fans who travelled from all over Europe countries and beyond to attend the event joined in the chant of his very popular track 4kasibe.
Zeez known for very unique and sing-along beats dropped his latest singles Funwontan on the audience who received the fast paced heavy sound with pleasure.
NEGA show in Frankfurt was a spectacular beginning for a one month tour of European cities ending in Hamburg. He has since returned to Nigeria to release Funwontan with video footages from his Europe tour.

 

SOME SUPPORTERS OF NFFG/NEGA

According to organiser of NFFG/NEGA, Isaac Izoya, the success of this year event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany Ethiopian Airlines, GTWorld, Stadt Frankfurt Kulturamt, FilmForum, Irab TV, Nigeria community in Frankfurt and Nollywood Restaurant to name but a few

 

MEGA DEALS FOR EMEKA IKE AND DJ ZEEZ

 It was a memorable event which DJ Zeez and Emeka Ike will not forget in a hurry as both signed 150,000 Euro deal to feature Zeez in one East African girl Cassy Nyemba latest album by a German based sponsor Mr. I Grodtke while Emeka Ike is contracted to use his new Nollywood TV cable station to promote the music in the making.

DJ Zeez spent the period moving from one location to another shooting music video with Cassy Nyemba.

 

HOW KENNY BLAQ (OTOLORIN KEHINDE PETER) MISSED THE SHOW

Many fans who attended the NEGA show asked questions about the whereabouts of Kenny Blaq who was earlier promoted to perform apart from picking up awards for best comedian. Organisers said ‘we did everything to make him come. We did all possible including a return ticket a five-star hotel accommodation, but he disappointed at the last minute without communication even though he had a contract. We later found out that disappointment is his trademark as he also breached a contract in Italy earlier in March and another contract in September for other promoters in the UK and the US. A call to Kenny Blaq’s office did not yield a result before we published this story.

By Fred Iwenjora (Vanguard Newspaper)
…A postmortem