Entertainment

Film adaptation of Wole Soyinka’s ‘The Man Died’ set for July release in Nigeria, UK

Published

2 years ago

May 3, 2024

Charles Flames

484 Views

……The Man Died will be released in July to coincide with Soyinka’s 90th birthday.

Nollywood veteran Wale Ojo is set to play famous Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka in a film adaptation of Soyinka’s renowned book, The Man Died. The memoir reflects on Soyinka’s experiences as a political prisoner during the Nigerian Civil War. Director Awam Amkpa announced the film’s release for July 2024 in an Instagram post on May 2.

Soyinka published The Man Died in 1972, following the end of the war. He made history as the first Sub-Saharan African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. Wale Ojo, expressing admiration for Soyinka on his 89th birthday last July, called him “a rare icon.”

The film also features Nollywood stars Chidi Mokeme, Sam Dede, Norbert Young, Francis Onwochei, Edmond Enabe, and Segilola Ogidan, alongside Simileoluwa Hassan, Christiana Oshunniyi, and newcomer Abraham Amkpa. The Man Died is produced by Femi Odugbemi and written by Bode Asiyanbi. It will be released to coincide with Soyinka’s 90th birthday in July.

Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, published in 1975, was similarly adapted into the 2022 Netflix film Elesin Oba, The King’s Horseman, starring Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello, Deyemi Okanlawon, Omowunmi Dada, and Jide Kosoko. Other notable works by Soyinka include The Lion and the Jewel (1959), The Trials of Brother Jero (1960), Aké: The Years of Childhood (1981), and You Must Set Forth at Dawn (2006).

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Entertainment

BBNaija season 11: “And The Winner is Temi Nkem”

The finalists were Temi Nkem, Barry, Tram, Oyin, Flora, Sheba, Aikou, Ricky and Bluethopia.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 5, 2026

OCHEFA

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Temi Nkem has emerged as the winner of BBNaija Season 11, bringing the reality show’s latest edition to an end.

The finalists were Temi Nkem, Barry, Tram, Oyin, Flora, Sheba, Aikou, Ricky and Bluethopia.

Temi Nkem was crowned winner during the grand finale on Sunday night after weeks of competition, evictions and intense drama among the housemates.

The victory sees Temi Nkem take home the ₦160 million prize package awarded to the winner of the season.

The season began with 24 housemates before the competition was gradually narrowed down to the finalists.

Entertainment

President Tinubu, Other Political Leaders Watch MKO Documentary

The documentary, MKO, directed by Nigerian-American filmmaker Ose Oyamendan, chronicles the life, political journey and legacy of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, with particular focus on the June 12, 1993 presidential election, its annulment, subsequent detention and the pro-democracy struggle that followed.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

OCHEFA

128 Views

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday attended the official launch and premiere of MKO at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos, ahead of the film’s nationwide cinema release from October 2.

Chief MKO Abiola occupies a prominent place in Nigeria’s democratic history as the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the then military government.

The President was joined at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Others present included Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba and other dignitaries.

The film, which had its international premiere at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival in the United Kingdom in June 2026, features archival materials and first-hand accounts from key personalities connected to the period.

Entertainment

Nollywood actor Cjay Nwokafor dies

Cjay, who began his acting career in 2021, featured in several Nollywood productions, including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight and A Day to My Wedding.

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

OCHEFA

134 Views

•Nollywood actor Cjay Nwokafor

The death of Nollywood actor Chijioke “Cjay” Nwokafor has been announced.

Cjay, an indigene of Anambra, who began his acting career in 2021, featured in several Nollywood productions, including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight and A Day to My Wedding.

His colleague, actress Nkechi Blessing, announced his death on Instagram on Wednesday, sharing videos of herself with the late actor.

Blessing did not disclose the cause of his death but said she had cancelled the release of her movie, Egusi Ogbono, in his honour. Cjay featured in the film.

The actress had initially scheduled the movie for release at 5pm on Wednesday but withdrew it after a hospital confirmed the actor’s death.

Blessing said she spoke with Cjay at about 8am on Wednesday, only to receive news of his death a few hours later.

“Cjay Nwoke Oma, so this is really the end? Omo we had plans. I spoke to you at 8 a.m. today and a few hours later you are no more with us.