Amaka Igwe

Amaka Igwe (2 January 1963 – 28 April 2014) was a Nigerian filmmaker and broadcasting executive. Igwe was the owner of Top Radio 90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. she was recognized as one of the second generation filmmakers who helped begin the video film era of Nigerian cinema. She remained a prominent figure in the industry until her death in 2014 resulting from Asthma attack.[1]

Amaka Igwe
Born
Uzoamaka Audrey Igwe

2 January 1963
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Died28 April 2014 (aged 51)
Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
OccupationFilmmaker, Producer
Years active1980s–2014
TelevisionCheckmate, Fuji House of Commotion

On January 2, 2020 Igwe was honoured on her 57th posthumous birthday with a Google Doodle.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

Uzoamaka Audrey 'Amaka' Igwe was born to Isaac and Patience Ene on 2 January, 1963 in Port-Harcourt. Igwe was the fifth of seven children, and the fourth of six sisters. She was known as 'GCO' (General Commanding Officer) by her father and 'Storm' by her mother because she was always busy with some activity. As a child she acted as a Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.

She studied at All Saints School and Awkunanaw Girls High School in Enugu. She boxed, played basketball, and was captain of the girls' soccer team. During her A-Levels at Idia College, Benin, Igwe began to explore her creative side. She taught people the Atilogwu dance, and competed nationally. She also began writing plays and songs. Amaka Igwe wanted to study law, but officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) offered her "Education and Religious Studies (Theology)" instead. Hence, she studied Education/Religion at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University).

From OAU, Igwe jointed the MNET short celluloid film "Barbers Wisdom" as director and then proceeded to the University of Ibadan, where she obtained a master's degree in Library and Information Sciences. She spent her time during her National Youth Service Corps as a travelling secretary for the Scripture Union. She then worked at the Anambra State University of Technology as an executive director at Eida Information Systems before settling in the creative industry. She married her husband Charles Igwe in April, 1993, and had three children.[5]

Talent

Igwe was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. A 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 offshoot ‘Fuji House of Commotion’. Her Nollywood projects include Rattle snake and Violated, which set Amaka Igwe Studios apart in the Video film era of Nigerian cinema. She founded BOBTV Exp.,[6] and was the founder and CEO of the Lagos mainland-based Top Radio 90.9FM station,[5] the quality content production powerhouse, Amaka Igwe Studios and Q Entertainment Networks, and DSTV channel.[5]

Legacy

Igwe will be remembered for raising the bar in movie and TV production in Nigeria, setting, attaining and maintaining high standards with her company Amaka Igwe Studios at a time when Nollywood was not taken seriously, for not conforming to low standards as a means to achieving success and for inspiring many Nigerian movie makers, Nigerians, and the world as a whole.

A sense of duty to and respect for God, her family, excellence in everything, the integrity and quality of her work, and tradition in general was an integral part of Amaka. She loved her family, and resolved to always be there for them. Amaka Igwe invested in people, and they remain her testimony. She often told those she directly trained that she would give them what she has so they could add to what they have and be better than her. She never thought she was indispensable, and she was committed to the growth and sustenance of the Creative Industries.[7]

Honors and tribute

Igwe won a number of awards during her career. In 2011, Nigeria recognized her substantial efforts and immense contributions to the creative industry by awarding her with the Nigerian National Order of '"MFR," which stands for "Member of The Federal Republic of Nigeria."[8][9]

On 2 January 2020, Google celebrated her 57th birthday with a Google Doodle.[10][11]

Death

Igwe died in Enugu on April 28, 2014 at 8:30 pm,[12] after efforts failed to save her from an asthma exacerbation. Her funeral was attended by Rochas Okorocha, the then governor of Imo State, as well as personalities from the Nollywood film industry.[13][14][15]

Quotes

"I am an unapologetic commercial filmmaker. I make films to make money."

"I will give you all I have, so you can add it to what you have and be better than me."

"By the Special Grace of God."

"Mr. President, what is Arik Air without an airport?"

"Nollywood is a global movement."

Filmography
  • Rattle Snake 1,2 & 3
  • Violated 1&2
  • To Live Again
  • Full Circle
  • A Barber's Wisdom

TV series
  • Fuji House of Commotion
  • Solitaire
  • Now We Are Married
  • Infinity Hospital
  • Bless This House
  • Checkmate
gollark: Alas, due to some refrigeration issues at Site-613 my temperature is in excess of 27 Kelvin.
gollark: Obviously the coolest people implement "Alman, Williams".
gollark: Maybe I should have picked a different one. Oh well.
gollark: I wonder if I could have used z3 for this. It's a great tool.
gollark: Probably, yes.

References
  1. "Amaka Igwe Dead at 51". SilverbirdTV. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  2. Published. "Google Doodle honours Amaka Igwe on 57th posthumous birthday". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  3. Augoye, Jayne (2 January 2020). "Google Doodle celebrates Amaka Igwe on posthumous birthday - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  4. h. "Google Doodle celebrates Amaka Igwe on posthumous birthday".
  5. Eribake, Akintayo (29 April 2014), "Amake Igwe, Renowned Nollywood movie producer dead", Vanguard, retrieved 4 June 2019
  6. BOBTV ends fest akunyili assures fund
  7. "Amaka Igwe". onlinenigeria. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  8. "Nigeria: National Honours Awards 2010 and 2011 - Economic Confidential". 10 November 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. List of Nigeria national honours
  10. "Amaka Igwe's 57th Birthday". www.google.com.
  11. Bryte, Daniel (2 January 2020). "Google Pays Tribute To Late Nigerian Iconic Filmmaker, Amaka Igwe".
  12. Adekunkle, Edwina. "Amaka Igwe Biography". Online Nigeria. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  13. Atisele, Kenneth. "Tears and Sorrow as Amaka Igwe is Laid To Rest". thenet.ng. NET News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  14. "Amaka Igwe Dead at 51". SilverbirdTV. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  15. "WATCH: Late Amaka Igwe Speaks On The Birth Of Nollywood At NECLive1". Nigerian Entertainment Today. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.

Bibliography
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