Tag: Veteran Nollywood

  • It hurts to realize you are no more – Veteran actor, Francis Duru remembers his son on his first death anniversary

    It hurts to realize you are no more – Veteran actor, Francis Duru remembers his son on his first death anniversary

    Veteran Nollywood actor, Francis Duru has taken to social media to mark the first anniversary of his son’s death with an emotional message.

    According to 56-year-old via his Instagram page on Thursday, he’s still yet to get over the death of his son. He also recounted the pain his family has endured since the loss.

    He wrote:
    Sweet soul Anyi
    It’s one year today you passed unto glory
    One year you slipped out of our hands son…

    “Hmmm…it’s been painful..and still hurts
    Son…no one can fill the void you have left
    In our lives, hearts but in all…we give thanks
    Sweet soul you remained
    It hurts…it hurts…to realize you are no more

    “But His grace has been sufficient
    Son…we mourn you no more bc you live
    In our hearts, in our spirits, on our lips…
    Your fond memories…you were a good kid

    “You brought so much joy, laughter and light…
    Adieu…Rest on sweet soul…rest on champ…Loads of love always and forever.”

    Francis Duru lost his son Ifeanyi on August 7, 2024, at age 15. The actor did not reveal the cause of death but described the boy as a “lion” who “fought like a champ”.

  • Celebrities react as veteran actress Sola Sobowale’s daughter gets engaged

    Celebrities react as veteran actress Sola Sobowale’s daughter gets engaged

    Veteran Nollywood actress Sola Sobowale is overjoyed as one of her daughters is set to marry, making her a soon-be mother-in-law.

    The actress took to her Instagram page to express her joy and gratitude as her daughter prepares to start a new journey in life.

    She stated that her baby had found her forever person and she has gained.

    She accompanied her short note with beautiful pre-wedding pictures of her daughter and her son in law.

    “My baby found her forever person. My heart is overwhelmed with Joy. I have gained a son. A wonderful inspiring young man. All the glory be to God. I love you both.” she wrote.

    In the post’s comment section, several celebrities and fans congratulated the soon-to-be couple.

    Chacha Eke wrote, “Congratulations mom.”

    Kiekie wrote, “Congratulations mummy.”

    Nancy Isime wrote, “Yayy.”

    Jide Awobona wrote, “Congratulations.”

    Femi Adebayo wrote, “Congratulations.”

    Faithia Williams wrote, “Congratulations ma

    Linda Ejiofor wrote, “Aw congratulations mama.”

    Muyiwa Ademola wrote, “Congratulations Aunty.”

    Kunle Afolayan wrote, “Congratulations.”

    Dakore Akande wrote, “Congratulations Aunty.”

    Joke Silva wrote, “How beautiful. Congrats babes.”

    Omotola Jalade Ekeinde wrote, “Congratulations.”

    Juliana Olayode wrote, “Aw. Congratulations Mama.”

  • It is an abomination – Fred Amata drags ex -wife for walking their daughter down the aisle while he is still alive

    It is an abomination – Fred Amata drags ex -wife for walking their daughter down the aisle while he is still alive

    Veteran Nollywood Fred Amata has slammed his estranged Agatha for walking their daughter, Stephanie, down the aisle while he is still alive.

    TheNewGuru.com (TNG) reports that the estranged wife of the actor, Agatha Amata, shared videos from the low-key wedding on her Instagram page, on Wednesday walking her daughter down the aisle,  a ritual usually carried out by the bride’s father.

    Agatha, who expressed how happy and proud she was of her daughter, prayed for the blessings of God upon her daughter as she began the new chapter with her husband. 

    The veteran was also noticeably absent at the ceremony.

    Reacting to his daughter’s wedding, the actor in a lengthy rant on Facebook, described Agatha’s action as an “abomination”, adding that it was a “challenge to tradition”.

    Despite his prior blessing, the famous actor questioned why the wedding date and time were hidden from him.

    The aggrieved father also recounted his failed marriage and how he made his ex-wife, Agatha, a success, specifically creating the talk show ‘Inside-Out with Agatha,’ which he claimed made her a household name.

    The actor also alleged that Agatha exploited his name, reputation, and intellectual property for personal gain.

    The couple got divorced in 2005 due to irreconcilable differences.

    Read the full post below:

    For over 20 years I kept silent, and desisted from any comments on my failed marriage, allowing the ‘good wife’, hoping the wounds will heal and a reconciliation possible. But for 20 years the ‘good wife’ pounded me, rubbished my reputation, belittling my achievements, exploiting my name for her selfish benefits.

    It was over 25 years ago that I came up with the unique idea of Inside-Out with Agatha, a talk show with six informed and opposing points of view represented by a person with oratorial skills, now male now female. We had gone to see a talk show by Regina Askia, and Agatha wanted to be a talk show host. I told her not to worry ‘I will come up with something, it will make you be like Oprah Winfrey’.

    And I did. Ingeniously. I was the dedicated creator, throwing in flesh blood and sweat to create and deliver a concept that had never before been done in Nigeria, save for a similar perhaps less engaging 6 episodes of a program called MEE to you, or something like that, by the late May Ellen Ezekiel, who was married to RMD. A program that could stand the test of time and put bread on the table of the young marriage.

    A program, so versatile, it is still relevant today. Inside-Out with Agatha was an instant hit, the genius of the angle the production values the directorial approach the lighting and production design were so engaging, it was irresistible. I was at the height of my directorial rendezvous, and I gathered a production crew of the best technical hands in what is now early Nollywood and TV soaps were the biggest things because we dared to stand out from the emerging crowd of Nollywood directors.

    Kingsley Ogoro my friend brother and nemesis would lead a high. I co-opted Nollywood greats Zack Orji, Okey Bakassi, Sunny Mcdon, Francis Onwochei, Emeka Ossai, Zik Zulu Okafor, Francis Duru, Prince Jide Kosoko and numerous friends who looked up to me and I asked their support for the first episodes, and soon everybody who was anybody wanted to be part of Inside Out.

    I staked every resource, friends, favours, loyalties, family, extended family wife and links, I involved the creme de la creme of the big production, studios. Tunde Kelani, Wale Fanu, Tade Ogidan, Tunde Oloyede, Pat Nebo, Uzor Okpeche, Simi Opeoluwa, Opa Williams, the late Chico Ejiro and numerous others to ensure no failure of the program. I staked even my first attempt to be president of DGN. Don Pedro Obaseki and Matthias Obahiagbon will attest.

    With the influence it wielded and the contacts and connections it gathered, ‘The Good Wife’ soon built an empire with no emperor. She employed maligning my name to acquire favours and contracts. Inside Out is the source of all the Good Wife’s wealth. My genius, my sweat, my vision, and for 20 years, I swallowed it. My reputation diminished as the Good Wife’s gathered momentum. So today, the Good Wife, using my brainchild, has become a billionaire—no credit to me.

    No compensation, no royalty. But the good wife is good; let raising the children be my royalty. Buoyed by her success without recourse to the creator, the Ebu Delta State-born Good Wife has gathered a litany of resentment. She has registered a new company to own the programme, discarding the company we set up. She has sued for and obtained a divorce, and 20 years on, she still carries bitterness and will go to extremes to tarnish my image.

    But understand this, ‘good wife’ Agatha: everything you have ever owned and will ever own is because of ‘Inside Out’. It is my brainchild, my intellectual property. You have yet to put a nail to a coffin to bury me for being silent, taking no heed of the billions you have harvested, carefree of your stupendous assets. The ‘good wife’ will dare tradition.

    Challenge abomination, embrace taboo, stare Africa in the eyes to manipulate my daughter and her husband, hoodwink the lovebirds, and walk my daughter down the aisle to give Stephanie away to a husband. I can’t keep quiet anymore. It’s time to speak up. This is an abomination. This is taboo. Nowhere in the world, nowhere in Africa, nowhere in Delta State and the lands where we come from can a woman give away her child in marriage especially where the father is alive.

    Especially when the father is willing and able. Worse when the father is in the same city. What malice would drive a woman in an attempt to rubbish her ex to lead his daughter to marriage? What manipulation would warrant concealing the date and time from a father who has already given his blessing? Even if the daughter forgets when father and daughter are in the same city of London. Is it not the place of ‘The Good Wife’?

    Good people, netizens, well-wishers, haters, and influencers. What options are left to this heartbroken father? How do you throw away the baby with the bathwater? Do you cast away the ones you will forever love because a ‘good wife’ has been blinded by wealth and fury to jeopardise the father’s blessings on his daughter? They came to me in London; Aaron brought drinks as kola to me, the father, as the pictures show. What kind of ‘good wife’ does a thing like this simply to make a man look bad?

    As of the time of this report, Agatha has not responded to her ex-husband’s allegations.