Encomium
PORTRAIT OF A COLOSSUS
Amaka Igwe, one of Nollywood’s foremost producers, directors, script writers and film makers, was born Amaka Isaac Ene to Mr. Isaac Ene (a retired civil engineer) on January 2, 1983. Her mother, Mrs. Patience Ijeoma Eneh clocked 80 this year. She’s from Obinagu-Udi, Enugu State.
As a young girl, her ‘very principled’ father saw the inherent leadership traits in her, thereby nicknaming her General Officer Commanding (GOC).
HER EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Amaka Igwe, MFR, was ‘bread and buttered’ in Enugu, but ‘jammed’ outside it. She attended All Saints School (now Trans Ekulu Primary School), Girls High School, Awkunanaw both in Enugu. She then went on to Idia College in Benin City for her A’ levels. Her arts inclination was encouraged at Idia College, where she became vibrant because they were not doing much art wise. She started to do variety shows for her House which students paid for. She acted in and directed plays and also taught them the famous Atilogwu dance which later became the school’s official dance. Due to her skinny frame, she was called Ogwu Azu (Igbo word for fish bone). She became fat after she had her first child. In her end of year at Idia College, she featured prominently at a cultural festival for the Houses (FESTAC), from where she got lots of certificates.
She went on to University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and studied Education/Religious Studies. Amaka Igwe initially wanted to study law, but a twist of fate made her end up studying Education/Religious Studies.
She applied for law, but was offered admission to study Education/Religious Studies, which prepared her for what she eventually ventured into. From being stuffed with a lot of psychology, sociology, theology, philosophy and the entire arts and humanities, her spectrum of knowledge was broaden by understanding other people’s cultures. After she bagged her degree, she proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where she grabbed a Masters degree (M.Sc) in Library and Information Science.
In-between that time, she took part in a number of theatrical productions particularly as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), drama troupe. She returned to Enugu upon the completion of her NYSC programme.
HER FORAY INTO FILM MAKING
Amaka returned to Enugu after her NYSC programme to start learning television production. She founded the equipped massive studios of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS), where classics such as the long-rested Basi and Company and the New Masquerade were produced, it was clearly a good ground to learn how programmes are produced. Amaka was not fascinated by the sheer massiveness of the ESBS studios, but her creative drive was further triggered by encountering on screen the work of the female television director extraordinaire, Lola Fani Kayode. Lola is an icon who is well regarded and considered by a number of film practitioners as an inspiration.
Amaka disclosed that she got inspiration for Checkmate while watching Mirror in the Sun. She had written a script about an all-conquering female hero (like Queen Amina), but she had conceived it like a traditional stage play. But after she saw Mirror in the Sun, she decided to make it a modern all-conquering female hero story.
Amaka is the brain behind the BOB TV (Best of the Best African Film & Television) and CEO of Amaka Igwe Studios, an outfit synonymous with churning qualitative television and video productions over the years.
Her vision of providing a common access point for good an authentic movies, television programmes and overall broadcast content led to her conceptualizing and eventually staging BOB TV, an annual event that has clearly facilitated the buying and selling of audio-visual contents, the brokerage of production deals as well as facilitation of world-class skill transfer and training for Nigerian producers in particular and African producers at large. She also created one of Nigeria’s leading radio stations, Top Radio 90.9 FM, based in Lagos, but with national appeal.
She can best be described as not just a film making guru, but also a broadcast mogul.
Amaka Igwe is married to Mr. Charles Igwe, who brings his financial management skills to bear in managing the business aspect of her outfits. They are blessed with three children and have been married for 21 years, until her demise on Monday, April 28, 2014.
AMAKA IGWE’S FILMOGRAPHY
Credited with over 50 productions, especially on television series, some of Amaka Igwe’s works include: Rattlesnake (movie, 1995), Violated (movie, 1996), Forever (movie), A Barber’s Wisdom (movie, 2001), Tempest (movie), Solitaire (soap opera), Big Daddy (short film), To Live Again, Checkmate (soap opera), Fuji House of Commotion (soap opera), Decrees of Fate (movie, 1998) won four awards at the National Festival of Television Programmes), Now we are Married (a series on inter-tribal marriage), many advocacy films.
ABOUT AMAKA IGWE’S CHILDREN
AMAKA Igwe had three children: Ruby and two boys, David and Daniel.
Ruby, just stepping out of her teens is studying law at the University of Kent. A student writer and author of The Land of Kalamandahoo.
She also attended Highbury Sixth Form Academy, Portsmouth in Hampshire in the United Kingdom for her A’ levels.
Like all Amaka Igwe’s children, Ruby’s primary and secondary schools were at the prestigious Greensprings Schools, Lekki, Lagos. She graduated in 2011.
As at last year, her late mom said she has three more years to spend at Kent.
Amazingly, cerebral and iconic like her mom, Ruby once aspired to lead the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) at the University of Kent.
Charles and Amaka Igwe’s first son, Daniel also attended Greensprings Schools. Born on October 22, 1996, he is currently at Yale University in the UK.
Also, highly creative like his late mm, a family source told us he is good at systems. We can also recall Amaka Igwe boasting at a BOB TV forum years back that one of her children can now shoot with then emerging digital phones and cameras.
Amaka’s last child is David. 15 year-old David (born on March 31, 1999) has been in Greensprings Schools since 2001.
WHAT SHE WISHED HER ONLY DAUGHTER
Ruby is Amaka Igwe’s only daughter. And like every mother she wished her the best. This explains why they are spending so much to give her the best education money can afford.
She even wished she would only get married “after three more years of education (as at 2013), Masters, Ph.D, NYSC, Law School and $12m per annum job.”
Amaka also encouraged Ruby to explore the world of creativity despite her law background. She readily guided her in writing and other creative ventures she pursued. This paid off when she released her first novel in secondary school.
WHAT SHE STOOD FOR
She stood for excellence in all she did. From her works to capacity building initiatives, the late Amaka Igwe refused to compromise the quality she was known for.
WHY SHE CALLED HERSELF ‘BABE OF GOD’
Amaka Igwe refused to grow old. She kept churning out fresh and innovative ideas. When one of her relations called her an Elder in the church, she jokingly said she is rather “Babe of God.”
Although she clearly belongs to the old Nollywood, she encouraged new ideals and skills in film production.
HONOURED IN LIFE AND DEATH
While she lived, Amaka Igwe received awards and honours more than any other Nigerian female filmmaker. She also held the MFR national honour as well as other international awards. And now she is no more, it has been showers of encomiums to a quintessential film maker.
AMAKA IGWE’S NMULTI-MILLION BUSINESS EMPIRE
Amaka Igwe was not just a producer/director. She was a big businesswoman. In case you don’t know, she made a lot of money from shooting movies and documentaries for fellow producers, government agencies as well as corporate organizations.
Besides Amaka Igwe Studios, she also had Top Radio FM 99.9, a media content provider, BOB TV and Q Entertainment Limited (owners of the proposed QTV, a DSTV channel).
A source also informed ENCOMIUM Weekly that the Igwes are the brains behind the Centre for Excellence in Film and Media Studies, a film school.
While Top Radio is on Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi , the other businesses are tucked inside MKO Abiola Gardens where the Igwes reportedly have three duplexes including their residence.
Amaka Igwe Studios and BOB TV also market and rent out ultra-modern production equipment which net in millions of naira to the enterprising couple.
In all, Amaka Igwe, before her sudden death, helped her husband who is also a producer, build an enduring business dynasty that would continue to thrive even as she passed on.
HOW SHE RAN HER BUSINESS
Amaka Igwe was a very organized entrepreneur. She believed so much in delegating responsibilities. Hence, from Amaka Igwe Studios to the BOB TV and the film school, and even core movie productions, she put resource people in charge.
The quartet of Amaka Igwe, Charles Igwe, Chris Ihindero and Uche Odoputa formed the nucleus of the core businesses of the Igwes. Whereas the couple were more like MD/CEOs of the group, Chris was the Head of Studios and Facilitator at the film school while Uche Odoputa was more into location related jobs with some other competent hands.
AMAKA IGWE’S AFRO-CENTRIC STYLE
A culturally conscious soul, the late Amaka Igwe represented Africa in all she did. It showed in some of her attires at local and international events she attended.
THE LAST TIME WE MET HER
For us at ENCOMIUM Weekly, the last time we met Amaka Igwe was on Tuesday, December 18, 2013. And that was at the Association of Nigeria Core Producers (ANCOP) film forum held at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Attended by professionals in the movie sector as well as regulatory authorities, the departed Nollywood heroine used the forum to lambast National Film and Videos Censors Board (NFVCB) authorities for needless censorship of Nigerian films. She berated the board for not providing adequate support for film makers. The argument was so tense that the moderators had to appeal to other speakers to take it easy with one of the NFVCB officials invited to the forum.
TOP RADIO STAFFERS MISS HER BADLY
With a condolence register opened at the popular radio station on Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, staff of Amaka Igwe’s Top Radio have been expressing their loss in words and glooming mood. When ENCOMIUM Weekly called at their office on Friday, May 2, 2014, many we approached for comment pleaded to be allowed to take in their loss.
Our reporters who were not allowed to go beyond the security desk that welcomes guests to the reception could, however, sense the moody atmosphere that had enveloped the radio station since their boss died.
The security guy, who simply identified himself as Tunde confirmed this when we chatted him up. He further explained that the news came as a rude shock to them all.
Tunde went on to describe his boss as a mother who cares very much about her staff.
Q-TV DREAM NOT TRUNCATED!
Yes, it is true. All the dreams of the late Nollywood icon would materialize. Reason? The personnel and material on ground to achieve them all are there. Take her new TV channel launch on DSTV platform in just few days; all arrangements to achieve this are here. Even her pilot movie productions would still go on…
FROM VACATION TO ETERNAL REST
It is an irony of life that Amaka Igwe and her family travelled to her village for a brief vacation before her new production only for her to join the saints in heaven. That is why her demise has left her immediate family in shock and disbelief till now.
– UCHE OLEHI and MICHAEL NWOKIKE
