Once again, a sad story has encompassed the Nigerian film industry. Another veteran performer has passed on. This is someone I used to watch while growing up as a kid. Rest easy Mrs Stella Ikwuegbu! You will forever be missed.
Nollywood has evolved over time, coupled with the good side and controversies. Indeed the Nigerian film industry is one of the biggest movie makers, often regarded as second to the American Hollywood.
Additionally, there’s this paradox in the industry where it could be perceived that the pioneers of Nollywood are Igbo actors and actresses. These actors occasionally sprinkle their movies with Igbo expressions and the late Mrs Ikwuegbu is one of them. She often uses the Igbo aphorism, ‘Chineke’.
It was barely a year ago we lost the famous humorous actor, John Okafor popularized as Mr. Ibu, then sometime last month we lost the young prolific gem, Junior Pope Odonwodo. A series of losses right ? It’s so bedeviling that an industry with so much talent and passion would incur many deaths all in one year or less.
What more can we say ? They gave their own quota to the Nation, Film and Economic Development.
Here’s a list of other Nollywood actors that died this year;
Ethel Ekpe: The veteran actress died on February 7.
Amaechi Muonagor: The renowned actor died on March 24. Another childhood memory saddened.
Zulu Adigwu: He died on April 23.
However, the sad part of this tragedies is that there is this contingent lack of care given to these heroes.
Observations indicate that irrespective of their impacts on the Nigerian economy, they live below means, most of these people are impoverished and are accorded almost no benefits from their work.
In developed countries, such creativity and talent begets juicy rewards and comfortable living conditions.
saharandaily