Encomium
+ Nollywood stars pay condolences
TWO weeks after the death of prolific and iconic filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, scores of her colleagues in Nollywood have been trooping into her MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos residence to condole with her husband, Charles Igwe and family.
When ENCOMIUM Weekly visited the Igwes on Thursday, May 8, 2014, the atmosphere that pervaded their hitherto cozy abode was expectedly somber as sympathizers and relations of the deceased kept to themselves.
Inside the compound was a portrait of the late Nollywood amazon whose early films and soaps shaped and defined Nollywood while grooming emerging movie stars and personalities.
With the inscription, “We still can’t believe you are gone…resting in our Lord Jesus Christ, you are always in our hearts,” the colourful portrait (in a standing flex banner) led visitors to the lobby of the family duplex where a condolence register and a framed photograph of Amaka was positioned for sympathizers.
A peep into the condolence register showed that former National President, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejike Asigebu, movie star, Genevieve Nnaji, Moyo Lawal, veteran filmmaker, Igwe Gabowski, TV presenter, Agatha Amata have all called to condole with the bereaved family.
In their short messages, the virtues and immense contribution of the departed writer, producer, director and creative entrepreneur were extolled even as they prayed God to grant her eternal rest.
Those who had not made it to her residence have since been paying tribute through the social and mainstream media. From movie, music to comedy stars, Nollywood stakeholders and Nigerians from all walks of life, it has been a heavy rain of tributes to one of Africa’s greatest film makers.
ENCOMIUM Weekly had before proceeding to Amaka Igwe’s house that Thursday, called at the Palm Avenue, MKO Gardens office of Amaka Igwe Studios and Centre for Excellence in Film and Media Studies to condole with her staffers and ascertain how they are coping with the demise of their beloved boss. But unfortunately, none of them could say a word to our reporters since they were not authorized to speak with the media for now. That was also the position of Amaka Igwe Studios’ spokesman, Mr. Chris Ihidero when ENCOMIUM Weekly contacted him on Thursday, May 8.
Similarly, the chief mourner, Charles Igwe also pleaded with us to patiently wait for official releases from the Igwe family as they are still mourning for now.
Amaka Igwe, MFR, 51, passed on on Monday, April 28, 2014, at her hometown, Obinagu-Udi in Udi Local Government of Enugu State after a bout of asthma. She had travelled home with her husband, children and crew in preparation for a new Igbo soap, Borromeo Hospital.
She was reportedly taken to two hospitals in the Coal City where she was allegedly denied the most needed medical attention because of the on-going strike by health workers. She died on her way to the next hospital.
Amaka Igwe was one of the leading figures in Nollywood. An entrepreneur par excellence, she was the founder/CEO of Amaka Igwe Studios, BOB TV, Top Radio 90.9 FM, Centre for Excellence in Film and Media Studies and Q-Entertainment/Q-Networks due to be launched on DSTV channel before her untimely death.
Some of her movies are Rattlesnake 1-3, Violated, Barber’s Wisdom, Tempest, Big Daddy, Forever, Decrees of Fate…
She also shot soaps like Checkmate, Solitaire, Fuji House of Commotion, Now we are married, Memorial Hospital and scores of films she produced for her colleagues, corporate bodies, government and governmental organizations (NGOs).
Amaka Igwe is survived by her octogenarian mother, Mrs. Patience Ijeoma Ene and three children, Ruby (her only daughter), a writer and law student at the University of Kent, United Kingdom; Daniel, 18 (in October 22, 2014) and currently at the Yale College. Amaka Igwe’s last child is David. The 15 year-old boy has been in Greensprings Schools, Lekki, Lagos since 2001. He was born on March 31, 1999.
– UCHE OLEHI
