Anthoina Soyingbe / Snr Reporter
Her name became a household in the early 90s when her soap opera, Checkmate debuted on National Television Authority (NTA).
• Amaka Igwe
The story line, selection of cast as well as the high quality of production captivated and sated the thirst of Nigerians who at that time were looking for something more interesting than they were getting from television. Though soaps like, Village Headmaster, “Cook Crow At Dawn, Mirror In The Sun were very exceptional, Checkmate introduced a new spice as well as fresh faces into the sub consciousness of television viewers.
Because it mirrored the different intrigues in our daily lives, reflecting a bit of everybody, it was well received by both men and women; you and old.
Naturally, the extra ordinary success of that movie zeroed on the writing skill and production prowess of Amaka Igwe.
Her other works, like Fuji House of Common, taken from the Checkmate series, Violated, Rattlesnake and her other production confirmed her success with Checkmate wasn’t a flash in the pan. The brilliance of the successes of her other works, opened her up to members of the public as a ‘super producer and writer’, one whose professional intellect matched the size of her imposing frame.
At the last African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) , Igwe one of the think tanks of the industry in her paper, provided clues on how the industry can be better modeled. She was to work with other intelligent minds to fine-tune the workings of the industry.
Painfully, that will no longer be as the movie colossus joined the way of all mortals early Tuesday morning from complications of asthma attack.
As with every such news, it was first received with doubts and later, profound sadness at the news of such a brilliant mind
The founder of BoBTV Expo and CEO of Top Radio 90.9FM, Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly-launched Q Entertainment Networks reputed for her luminous professional concept; is one of the very few film practitioners who genuinely loved the industry. She was always at the forefront promoting the industry and yearning for positive changes in the industry.
According to a spokesperson for Amaka Igwe studios owned by the deceased, the sad incident occurred in Enugu where she had gone, in company of her husband, for pre-production preparations for a new Igbo soap. “She suffered an asthma attack and was immediately rushed to the hospital after initial interventions had failed. She passed on before getting to the hospital’, the statement said.
Reactions from her colleagues reveal the importance and value of this woman to the industry.
In the view of Don Pedro Obaseki, “She might just be the singularly most important woman in the creation and evolution of Nollywood. Starting out as a young Lecturer Assistant at the then Anambra State University, Amaka 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 first class Stars of Nollywood. Her Rattlesnake movie trilogy, though came out a few weeks after Living in Bondage, it was the first artistic success of Nollywood’s videography. With her Fuji House of Commotion, Amaka redefined the landscape of Situation Comedy on national TV. Amaka and Charles Igwe strove to evolve a seismic paradigm shift 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). Amaka was on set of her current movie when she died. She died working. Rest in Peace, Great Amazon. We Won’t Miss you, because everywhere we turn to in Nollywood, we see you! We feel you, Amaka! I remain your friend, even in the afterlife!”
In the words of Saidi Balogun, “Amaka Igwe is one of the few iconic figures The Movie Ambassadors of Nigeria(TMA), look up to and still hope to meet to tap from her wealth of experience. We received the sad news of her death with shock amidst tears. On personal achievement as a thespian, she is a doyen but most importantly is her quest to unify the movie industry with the identity of professionalism is enormous and glaring. We will always remember you and pass this on to generations to come,” he said.
He went further to describe her contribution to MOPICON alongside her great movies and other relevant and progressive programmes that would have set practitioners free from the cankerworm that has eaten deep as immeasurable. “A silent achiever, it would be an understatement to say we will never see another Amaka Igwe, the truth is, she has left a big shoe difficult to fill. She left when the industry needs her most. You will live a million years more. We will miss you,” Balogun stated.
“I just heard and I’m short of words. Amaka Igwe is to the movie world what Fela was to music world. A legend that had so much to give to the world, a true definition of what the new Nollywood is and a woman of integrity. She’s one in a million and a true teacher. Honestly I’m so sad.” Thelma O’khaz, an actress and singer stated.
In the opinion of Etcetera, nobody should “mourn Amaka Igwe. Instead she should be celebrated because she will go down in history as the most important person in the creation and evolution of what is known all over the world today as Nollywood. Everyone born before the 90s can testify to the fact that her Soap-Opera, Checkmate launched the careers of the biggest stars we have today in Nollywood. Also not forgetting that her movie, Rattlesnake 1,2 and 3 was Nigeria’s first movie trilogy and one of the most successful and well scripted movies till date. Fuji House of Commotion gathered a cult follower-ship with families nationwide and also made comedy on national television very interesting and educating. Her impact will forever be felt by all Nigerian movie lovers and stakeholders. We all at TOP RADIO 90.9 FM will always remember her as a mother and an inspiration. In an industry dominated by men she conquered. She was a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).
May her soul forever Rest In God’s Peace”.
An accomplished filmmaker, writer, director, teacher and an entrepreneur, her last major outing was at the inaugural edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference held last Saturday in Lagos.As a keynote speaker at the conference, she delivered a speech on the ‘Reflections from an unapologetic commercial Nollywood filmmaker’.
From OAU, Mrs. Igwe signed the MNET short celluloid film, ‘Barbers Wisdom’ as director and then proceeded to the University of Ibadan where she grabbed a master degree in Library and Information Services.
She worked as a lecturer at the Anambra State University of Technology and briefly in the oil and gas sector before settling for the motion picture industry.
The late veteran who is one of the foremost movie directors in Nigeria and one of the few contemporary directors who have had their films on celluloid is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University where she studied Religious Study. She will be remembered for raising the bar in movie and TV production in Nigeria, creating high standards with her company Amaka Igwe Studios at a time when Nollywood wasn’t taken serious, for not conforming to low standards as a means to achieving success and, inspiring many Nigerian movie makers. Her celluloid film, A Barber’s Wisdom is a film which was part of M-Net’s new direction on film project with Nigerian producers.
Her films have drawn international recognition to the home video industry. She produced the award winning movie, Forever. She is survived by her husband, three children, aged mother, siblings and extended family members.
Good night, trail blazer.
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