The beautiful city of Frankfurt in Germany, came alive in a grand style as the 6th annual Nollywood Film Festival Germany and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Awards, NEGA 2018 held at one of the most prestigious and impressive event centres in Frankfurt, Germany recently.
The event started with the screening of top Nigerian film director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s film titled, “Love Birds” shot in Atlanta Georgia USA. The screening took place at the prestigious Cinema Film Forum Höchst, Frankfurt am Main which was thoroughly thrilling to the diverse audience.
At the gala ceremony, the electrifying Dede Kay, the Belgium base female singer with magical dancing steps stole the show with her performance. German based E-Choya also entertained the audience with his latest album.
HOW THE SHOW ALMOST GOT MARRED
However, this year’s event was almost marred as it became the very first time since 2003 when Ehizoya Golden Entertainment E.V and its cross cultural integration programmes, will hold the NFFG/NEGA without any single invited stars and journalists from Nigeria present.
This year, an unprecedented occurrence took place as the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos denied all the invited guests visa to enter the country and prosecute the show.
Top actor and ace comedian, Igwemba Afamefuna Klint aka Klint Da Drunk who parades valid American and UK multiple entries visas on his passport, fast rising comedian Eboh Oghenerukevwe Michael aka Eboh Bomb and a widely travelled Nigerian culture and entertainment journalist were denied entry visas. All attempts to remedy the situation through contacts at the Nigerian Consulate in Germany failed to yield fruits despite the fact that the Frankfurt, Hessen State, Germany Ministry of Art and Culture among others were part of the Nollywood programme, since 2003.
Even the written intervention of other well-meaning sponsors and supporters of the yearly event to guarantee the show or the consideration that so much had been invested into the yearly show could change a thing.
ABOUT THOSE HONOURED AT NEGA 2018
Among those honoured at this year’s historic NEGA Awards gala-night event were: His Excellency, Ambassador John Chika Ejinaka from New York, USA. He bagged the “Nollywood Diaspora Grand Supporter” award – for his immeasurable support for Nollywood while serving as Consul General of the Nigeria Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. Belgium based musician Kay Prosper Dede was honoured as “Nigerian Best Diaspora Female Artiste” .
Also honoured were Klint Da Drunk and Eboh Bomb who were conspicuously absent to receive their awards of “Nigerian Most Creative Comedian of the Year” and “Nigerian Most Outstanding Comedian of the Year” respectively
ROLL CALL
Among other dignitaries present at the NEGA gala night that was well attended by fans from Switzerland, Holland, UK and Belgium were Nigeria Presidential candidate Mr Fidelis Lawrence-Ekoh and his crew from Belgium, Frankfurt based Engr Iyamu, Mr Kingsley Iyamu and Cyril Oseghale, the CEO of Zurich Lodge Hotel in Lagos among others. Ms Barbara Wilson, Antonia Thomas, Kadie Kamara Conteh, Pastor Elvis Iruh and Ms Sandra Hanson. Others include; Mr. Thompson Abhulimen, Ms Dupe, Iguman, Sister Eunice, Mr Alex Smith and Fred Akoman.
WHAT GUESTS SAID ABOUT THE SHOW
Answering questions from the press after the screening, the cinema director, Mr Peter-Roth Klaus said, “I have been watching so many Nollywood movies online since I met Mr Izoya some years ago but I must confess, this is a master piece of them all. Great story, good directing, good sound quality and superb acting”.
Zurich based Cyril Oseghale, the MD of Lagos Zurich Lodge Hotel described Dede Kay’s award as a well-deserved honour.
In the words of Engr Irabor Odijie; “despite the huge setbacks as explained by the event director, in my own assessment, the organizers got it right this time. I have attended NEGA/NFFG in the last four years but this night was more colourful and more organized with great location, good music by DJ Dee courtesy of DJ Stone and great performance by Dede Kay.
While receiving his award, Presidential aspirant Mr. Fidelis Lawrence-Ekoh, lamented the poor condition of the Nigerian nation which he described as rich, blessed with population and mineral resources that ought to have been a blessing to the black race has now turned otherwise due to high level of corruption which motivated him in the first place to run for presidency to enable him change the nation for good.
In his response, His Excellency, Ambassador John Ejinaka said “no nation in the world has ever developed without the participation of those in the diaspora. We are at the cross road in Nigeria now and Nigeria needs you more than ever before to move forward.” I advise you all in the diaspora not to be too comfortable with the system in Europe and forget home. If those in Nigeria failed in building our country, let those in diaspora step into their shoes and do the needful with your collective experiences you`ve gathered in Europe..The time is now!
Director of NFFG/NEGA, Isaac Izoya of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment, organizers of event in his vote of thanks, said “To have pulled off a show of this magnitude without our main stars is still a miracle to me so I give all the credit to God and our dedicated team for their sleepless nights of creativity. The success of this show is a collective effort and that is why we always say – The show Must Go On! The setback we suffered from the German Consulate for the very first time since 2003 was shocking and a source of worry but it will not discourage us in our efforts in promoting the cultural heritage of Nigeria and Germany.”
-Charles Nwagbara
