Nollywood Film Festival Germany & Nollywood Europe Golden Awards 2023

458

After our successful 2022 Nollywood NFFG and NEGA events, the stage was set for another record-breaking 2023 edition with high expectations. We, the organizers went extra-miles by extending invitations to outstanding Nollywood female stars, Empress Njamah, Ali Nuhu, the highest paid Nollywood star, the outstanding Abuja based Ex-Commissioner of Arts and Culture of Edo State that once collaborated with the city of Bochum in cultural exhibition,  traditional Afrobeat musical stars, top film producers and Nigerian cable Channel TV journalist among others were enlisted for the Nollywood Film Festival trip to Germany.

As usual, it was all road to Frankfurt City jingo that gone viral all-over social media platforms with their fans across Europe countries booked hotels across Frankfurt on standby to rock the event.

While promotion was in top gear two weeks to the opening ceremony, the unpalatable bad news stroked. For the first time in 21 years, 18 out of 21 regular travellers’ super stars and most of them with 5 – 10 years valid UK, Canada and USA valid visas in their passport were all denied visas for same flimsy excuse of fear that they might not return back to Nigeria despite the fact that, they were invited by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Frankfurt am Main. It was absolutely saddened for the fact that Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V is the only Nigerian organization that has enjoyed the collaboration of the Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and the Nigeria Consulate General in Frankfurt since 2003 till now because of the organization clean record. Tested and trusted by Nollywood fans across Europe. The denials decision was an irreparable damage to the organization reputation with huge financial losses.

The Ambassador that personally sent invitation letter to the stars in question before, His Excellency, Consul General, Ambassador Wahab Akande of the Nigeria Consulate General in Frankfurt, personally stepped in by calling and written appeal letter to the CG of the German Consulate General in Lagos, assuring him that the stars have no reason whatsoever to stay behind after their Europe program with proof based on Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V track records. Despite the high hope given by the German CG in Lagos till the last day including the letter of Guarantee by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V and from their Nigeria based Lawyer in appealing the visa denials as requested by the CG of the German Consulate General in Lagos with all efforts to revise the decision proved abortive. That was a big blow that sent a shocked waves across African communities in Europe.

It was very shocking because the other three stars that were interviewed at the German Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria were issued 5 years valid visa each with the same Diplomatic invitations letter by the Nigeria Consulate General that were rejected by the German Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria.

The visas denial implication was unimaginable financially. An event that took us a whole year to plan was deliberately destroyed with the action taken by the German Consulate General in Lagos which left us in a huge debt because it affected the turn out of the fans of the stars that were denied visas.

We have never had it so bad in the history of our cultural promotion in Germany. The insults we received from those that came from outside Germany before the final denial news break, and those that could not get back their hotels booking cash and those that planned their annual working holidays to enable them come to Frankfurt for the two days events is indescribable.

The possibility of cancelling the show was mission impossible and we had no option that to keep to the motto of the organization that says, “THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!”.

Surprisingly, the turnout at the cinema with the presence of His Excellency, CG, Ambassador Wahab Akande that declared the annual event opened was beyond our expectation. The screening of the event two movies from Nigeria and Ghana were highly appreciated by the Nollywood fans.

Ironically, the news spread from the cinema that the entire musicians among other stars were denied visas which affected the turnout at the Gala night.  

Nevertheless, emergency entertainers (Humble Stars Musical Band from Belgium) were contracted to savage our reputation considering the numbers of fans that arrived in Frankfurt from UK, Austria, France, Finland, Belgium among others and other cities outside Frankfurt am Main that filled up the cinema. Though, the turned out was low unlike our past events but the high personalities that honoured our invitation worth mentioning. The host Ambassador with his wife and children and the entire staff of the Nigerian Consulate General in Frankfurt were among other VIPs like Her Excellency, Desire Nsirim Nigerian first female Governorship election runner-up 2019 and retired Police Commissioner of Niger State, Nigeria presidential election aspirant Fidelis Lawrence based in Belgium, Manchester UK based event manager Ms Kimi Salami with her Europe Tampan-Nollywood members, Ms Schandl Benedicta Okuboere with her Esan Association group from Vianna, Austria, Osagie Peter Jinodu, the Chairman of Edo Union, Halle, Berlin Based Mr Fred Akoma and Austin Ediale from Finland among others just to mention a few.

Others are the celebrated and recipients of Nollywood Europe Golden Awards NEGA 2023 among whom were: Nigeria based Nollywood top stars, Ali Nuhu “Best Actor of The Year”, Empress Njamah “Mouthpiece for the voiceless women”, First Edo State, Nigerian female Arts and Culture Ex-Commissioner, Hon Omorede Ekogiawe Osifo “Nigeria Best Female Cultural Commissioner Ever”, Hamburg Based Radio presenter Hon Tony Airhenbuwa “Best Diaspora Broadcaster of the year” and the surprised award of the night presented to His Excellency Consul General Ambassador Wahab Adekola Akande of the Nigeria Consulate General, Frankfurt am Main, Germany “Outstanding Diplomat With Distinction”. Well deserved awards that added values to the image of both Germany and Nigeria nations despite the visa denials frustration that landed us in a painful colossal loss.

In his acceptance speech, His Excellency said “Izoya, you and your team are coup plotters, I was with you fighting to appeal the visas denial not knowing you guys were planning this behind me. You team worth emulating, and we are proud as a Nigerian Diplomat of having such people like your group, promoting Nigeria image through culture in this part of the world”. I am very happy with this award but the real people that deserved it are these visiting stars that have successfully put Nigeria in world map through culture exportation. I salute your professionalism and I will always do my best in supporting the industry by giving Ehizoya Golden Entertainment whatever they need to keep this dream going. Thank you all and I appreciate you all, he concluded. A thunderous applause in acceptance of his speech lit up the hall which follow with photos section and musicals group performances.

Humble Stars music band and DJ Stone kept everyone on the dancing flow all through the after-party night. The few fans that travelled far and near to attend the events were very much happy over the two days events coordination despite the disappointment of the low turned out. According to Mr Thompson Ehiebolo from Berlin and the CEO of Treasure Restaurant from Dusseldorf said, we enjoyed both film screening and the Gala night like never before. But we just hope the German Consulate in Lagos, Nigeria will accord our stars the respect they deserved next year 2024.

In a Nutt-shell, it was a successful festival despite the obstacles and Glory be to God. Like it is in our motto, “The Show Must Go On!!”