Tunde Aladese
Tunde Aladese is a Nigerian screenwriter. In 2018, she received an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[1] In 2020 she wrote a 65 nightly drama for MTV Shuga filmed by the actors themselves over four countries, explaining and set during the coronavirus lockdown .
Career
Aladese was interested in drama from her primary school where she was in the drama club and had an obsession with the Sound of Music. She studied English Literature at the University of Ibadan and began helping with a drama destined for the BBC in Nigeria.[2] She wanted to write and describes writing lots and realising that she didn't like what she had created. That was important because she then knew what she didn't like about it. She went on to study further at the private Met Film School based in London and Berlin. She gained a BA in Practical Filmmaking.[2]
Aladese has written scripts for Edge of Paradise and Tinsel.[3] She was the head writer for the series Hotel Majestic.[4] In 2018, she was listed by YNaija as one of the 10 most powerful Nigerians under 40.[5] In 2018, Aladese role in Kenneth Gyang's The Lost Café, got her nominated for best actress in a leading role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.[6]
Aladede began writing episodes for MTV Shuga when its series was called Shuga Down South. She wrote two episodes but in 2019 she was appointed as head writer for the project.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was asked to write daily episodes for MTV Shuga Alone Together highlighting the problems of Coronavirus. The show was first broadcast on 20 April and its backers include the United Nations.[8] The series was based in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Cote D’Ivoire and the story was explained with on-line conversations between the characters. All of the filming was done by the actors themselves.[7] The series was planned to last for 65 episodes.[2]
Filmography
- MTV Staying Alive
- Confusion Na Wa
- Hotel Majestic (TV series) (as head writer)
- Lost Cafe
Awards and nominations
- 2013 Best Supporting actress - Nigeria Entertainment Awards
- 2015 Best Supporting Actress - Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards[9]
- 2018 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
References
- "10 things you didn't know about 'Hotel Majestic' head writer". Pulse. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- Jack, Fisher (2020-07-01). "Nigerian Actress / Screenwriter (Tunde Aladese) Writes Coronavirus Hit African Lockdown Series – Sponsored by UN". EURweb. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
- "#TheYNaijaInterview: I never expected to make a living from writing in Nigeria – Tunde Aladese". January 28, 2015. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- "10 things you didn't know about 'Hotel Majestic' head writer". Pulse Nigeria. 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Gyang, Genevieve, others are 10 most powerful under 40s". Dailytrust. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
- Shaibu Husseini (August 11, 2018). "Africa's screen and acting first ladies slug it out at AMAA". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- Akabogu, Njideka (2020-04-16). "MTV Shuga and ViacomCBS Africa Respond to COVID-19 with "Alone Together" Online Series". BHM. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Every Woman Every Child partners with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation to Tackle COVID-19". Every Woman Every Child. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
- "Spotlight on Tunde Aladese". Nollywood Observer. November 24, 2016. Retrieved 2019-08-09.