Don Pedro wrote:
"AMAKA Ene Igwe, MFR(1963-2014) - A Brief Elegy. Born 2nd January 1963, Amaka Igwe (nee Isaac Ene) may be the singularly most important WOMAN in the creation & evolution of Nollywood. Starting out as a young Lecturer Assistant at the then Anambra State University, Amaka Isaac Ene dedicated her young adult life to the creation of CHECKMATE (a Soap-Opera that leveraged on the previous success of Lola Fani-Kayode's MIRROR in The SUN).
"Her star actors were the 1st Stars of Nollywood. Her RATTLESNAKE movie trilogy, though came out a few weeks after Living in Bondage, was the 1st artistic success of Nollywood's videography. With her FUJI House of Commotion, Amaka redefined the landscape of Situation Comedy on national TV. Married to ex-banker-turned-Film producer/marketer Charles Igwe in April 1993, Amaka was Nollywood's female colossus.
"And together, Amaka & Charles Igwe strove to evolve a seismic paradigm shrift in Entertainment Content provision in Nigeria, the latest being TOP FM Radio, Lagos. Toe-to-Toe with men she stood! In recognition, she was awarded national honours as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
"Last night, Amaka was on set of her current movie! And Last Night, Amaka Died, still working on a Movie! Goodnight, great woman! Goodnight!! :'( Tears rain down. Rest in Peace, Great Amazon. Rest. We Won't Miss you, because everywhere we turn in Nollywood, we see you! We feel you, Amaka!! I remain ur friend, even in the afterlife! - Don Pedro OBASEKI, PhD (Enogie-Isi of Benin Kingdom)
"On the same development, Genevieve Nnaji declared that she has experienced the darkest day in her career today. “This is the darkest day of my entire career. That I believe sums up how I feel right now. Your legacy will leave on Aunty Amaka. I promise you. #RIPAmakaIgwe ????”
One of her colleagues, Don Pedro Obaseki, Enogie-Isi of Benin Kingdom, could not hide his sorrow as he declared: “We won’t miss you because everywhere we turn in Nollywood we see you! We feel you, Amaka! I remain your friend, even in the afterlife! Your body of work will be an inspiration to many generations.”
Comedian Julius Agwu, whose life was also touched by the famed Amaka, had this to say: “Death visits the wrong home at the wrong time and snatches the wrong person. She gave me my first movie role in Nollywood as Peter, Jnr. in her blockbuster Rattlesnake. May Almighty God grant her family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. Rest in Peace, Aunty Amaka.
Top Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, expressed her grief thus: “This is the darkest day of my entire career. That I believe sums up how I feel right now. Your legacy will live on, Aunty Amaka, I promise you.”
For Kate Henshaw, “a great woman who dared where men tread has passed on! RIP, Aunty Amaka. Our prayers are with you, Uncle Charles.”
According to Stephanie Linus, “I am still in shock. Oh! How we have lost a great one. Rest in Peace, Amaka Igwe.”
Stella Damasus said: “She has gone home. God rest her soul. For the rest of us here, I wonder what the future holds or how long we have. I would rather spend each day working towards my salvation. Death does not have a clock. RIP Aunty Amaka. My prayer goes out to Uncle Charles and the children."
Alex Eyengho, President, Association of Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP, wondered why Amaka Igwe should bow to death now. Substantial part of Nollywood is dead“ A substantial part of Nollywood and the African motion picture industry is dead with her sudden demise. She was indeed the Duchess of Nollywood. She never did any business outside Nollywood and the Nigerian entertainment industry generally. She gave the industry her all,” Eyengho said.
However, actor John Njamah, remembered in the sitcom “Fuji House of Commotion” as the notorious Gbenro was discovered by the deceased and John could not hide his feeling.
“Words are not enough to say goodbye to this awesome woman that carved my yesterday and defined my today as a film-maker. Farewell, Mrs Igwe,” he said.
Belinda Effah, a fast-rising Nollywood actress, gave a stirring account of her meeting with the great lady and expressed her emotion: “A lady with a great personality. Her name resonated in the industry such that those that spoke about her revered her. My first encounter was not short-lived at all. I relive the moment all the time because she was able to impact upon me and challenged me not to restrict my acting locally but aim for the sky and become an internationally acclaimed actor.
Another fast-rising actor, Ken Eric, eulogised her in few, yet touching words: “Shocking. She really was a pace setter. A director par excellence. Words cannot explain everything she stood for. She would be greatly missed. But her towering legacy lives on. Adieu, Amaka Igwe.”
Also paying tribute to the prolific film maker was the AfricaMagic family. It said:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of iconic Nigerian film and TV producer, Mrs. Amaka Igwe.“The African creative arts industry has lost an admired and respected leader whose vast knowledge, proven business acumen and boundless imagination made an immeasurable contribution to the development and success of our community.“
AfricaMagic extends its sincere condolences to her husband, her children, her family and friends during this difficult time, and will honour Mrs. Igwe’s memory by screening a collection of her most beloved works in the days and weeks ahead.”
M-Net West Africa Regional Director, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu confirmed the special tribute, saying: ‘Amaka Igwe was a giant in our world, a loyal supporter, a committed professional and a valued partner.”AMAA boss mourns.
In her tribute, the CEO of Africa Film Academy Award, AMAA, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, said: “I received with sadness this morning the news of the passing away of my big sister and Nollywood icon, Mrs. Amaka Igwe.“The motion picture industry in Nigeria and Africa will sorely miss this revolutionary who raised the bar of professionalism and artistic excellence early in Nollywood when it was not fashionable.”
Wunmi Tunde-obe tweets:
AMAKA IGWE.. I REFUSE to believe it..! Just like THAT..??!
The ONLY movie maker/director who believed in me so much, she created a soap opera just so I could star in it.
Atiku mourns.
Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday described Amaka Igwe as “a jewel of the Nollywood industry.”In a statement by his media office in Abuja, Atiku expressed shock at the demise of Mrs. Igwe, who was a major player in the Nigerian movie industry. Atiku recalled that Mrs. Igwe’s first major production, “Decrees of Fate” won four awards at the National Festival of Television Programmes in 1988.“Amaka (Igwe) was one of the pioneers of the movie industry. Her presence in Nollywood grew to become quite impressive as she amassed a number of well received movies,” Atiku said. He said the versatile artiste organized the annual BOB TV film festival and was noted for productions, which included “Rattlesnake” and “Violated” that dwelt heavily on contemporary family issues. The Turaki Adamawa expressed his condolences to the Igwe and Ene families and friends and associates of the deceased, in particular members of Nollywood.
Life and times of Amaka Igwe.
Born Amaka Isaac-Ene, the deceased was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. She is the founder of BoBTV Expo, founder and CEO of Top Radio 90.9FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks. A visionary and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and film, she hit national limelight as the writer and producer of award-winning TV soap ‘Checkmate’ and its off shoot ‘Fuji House of Commotion’. Her Nollywood projects include RattleSnake and Violated, two critically-acclaimed movies that set apart Amaka Igwe Studios in the much-criticised Nollywood industry.Amaka Igwe studied Education/Religion at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She had a Master’s degree from the University of Ibadan. She had her early education at All Saints School (now Trans Ekulu Primary School), Girls High School Awkunanaw, Enugu and Idia College, Benin, where she did her A levels. She worked as a lecturer at Anambra State University of Technology and briefly in the oil and gas sector before settling for the motion picture industry. She is arguably the most important woman in the creation and evolution of the movie industry, called Nollywood and was born and bred in Enugu.
Jara TV, Dele Momodu and many others also pay their tributes.
#May your beautiful soul rest with the Lord Mrs Igwe, Nigeria mourns!!!
Still in shock aunty Amaka, may God rest ur beautiful n brave soul, amen
ReplyDelete