Amaka Igwe

Amaka Igwe
Years active	1980s–2014

Amaka Igwe (1963–2014) was a prolific, award-winning and critically acclaimed Nigerian film maker and broadcasting executive. She was the owner of Top Radio 90.9 Lagos and Amaka Igwe Studios. She is recognized as one of the second generation of filmmakers who pioneered the Video film era of Nigerian cinema, and she remained a prominent figure in the industry until her death in 2014.

Early life and education

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

She studied at All Saints School and Awkunanaw Girls High School in Enugu. She could box, played basketball, and was frequently found playing soccer as the captain of the boys Ngwo Park soccer team. She said she did not want any special treatment because she was a girl, she just wanted to play. This formed an essential part of Igwe’s ethos in life. She refused to be gendered. Having her own self as her only competition came from her father, Isaac Anekwe Ene. Amaka also set up a library, as well as many other public works and ventures on behalf of her neighbourhood. She also remembered vividly many aspects of the Nigerian Civil War, despite only being three years old at the time. It was a dream to eventually be able to capture some of those memories on film.

During her A-Levels in Idia College, Benin, Igwe fully and publicly engaged with her creative side. She trained people in the Atilogu dance, and it eventually became the school dance and was used to compete nationally. She also came up with plays, songs, and other creative exploits. Interestingly, Amaka Igwe wanted to study law, although officials of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) offered her a chance to study Education and Religious Studies (Theology) instead. Hence, she studied Education/Religion at the University of lfe (Now Obafemi Awolowo University).

From OAU, Igwe signed 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 Services. She spent her time during her NYSC Youth Service as a travelling secretary for the Scripture Union, procured an MSC in Information Science and then afterwards, worked at the Anambra State University of Technology, and as an executive director at Eida Information Systems, before settling fully with the creative industry.

Personal life

Igwe was the fifth of seven siblings, and the fourth of six sisters: Stella Mbubaegbu CBE, Alice, Bob, Gloria, Uche, and Rita. She met her husband in September 1992, although they had been in the same primary school. They got married the following year in April 1993, and they had three children: Ruby (Born 1995), David (Born 1999) and Daniel (Born 2002).

Talent

Igwe was an accomplished writer, producer, director, entrepreneur and teacher. A visionary and 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 Rattlesnake and Violated – two critically acclaimed movies that set apart Amaka Igwe Studios in the much-criticised Nollywood industry. She is the founder of BOBTV Expo, founder and CEO of the Lagos mainland based Top Radio 90.9FM station, the quality content production powerhouse Amaka Igwe Studios, and Q Entertainment Networks, a DSTV channel she was working on before her death.

Honors

Igwe won a number of awards in her career, many of which could be found hung up on the staircase and hallways of her office. She kept her more personal awards on her desk. In 2011 Nigeria recognized her substantial efforts and immense contributions to the creative industry by awarding her with the Nigerian National Order of 'MFR', meaning 'Member of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.'

Death

Igwe died in Enugu, Nigeria on 28 April 2014 8:30 pm, after intentions failed to save her from an asthma exacerbation.

Quotes

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

"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

Bibliography

"Amaka Igwe - She Came, She Saw, She Made a Difference." Africa News Service. 5 May 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2016.

Charles Igwe's Touching Eulogy to Late Wife, Amaka. (2014, June 23). Africa News Service.

Esonwanne, U. (2008). Interviews with Amaka Igwe, Tunde Kelani, and Kenneth Nnebue. Research in African Literatures,'(4), 24.

Haynes, J., & Okome, O.. (1998). Evolving popular media: Nigerian video films. Research in African Literatures, 29(3), 106-128. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3820623

How Amaka Igwe died with her numerous visions - nigeriafilms.com - 5 May 2016 - web: http://www.nigeriafilms.com/news/26978/20/how-amaka-igwe-died-with-her-numerous-visions.html

External links

• Amaka Igwe at the Internet Movie Database
• Amaka Igwe at the Africa Film Academy
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