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By Opute C. Joel
“Straight is the way and narrow the path that leads to
eternal life” is a quote originated by the greatest Being that has ever lived
on earth. This is one principle strictly adhered to by all great and successful
entrepreneurs and personalities that climbed the ladder of wealth, fame and
greatness and remained there for ages against all odds because like the saying
implies; it is step by step, line upon line, precept upon precept, a little
here and a little there and they are in their destination of greatness never to
be dragged down again. This I believe is a guiding principle for the
prestigious actor/filmmaker, Nosa Obaseki who has climbed to a great height
yet, still gradually climbing to the apex of his career.
Nosa Obaseki, born into the humble Agbonifo’s home in the
famous Obaseki’s family, in the great Benin Empire, started his career in the
movie industry in 1998 as a Production Assistant (PA). He was one of the PAs in
the award winning African movie titled Igodo. He is a biological brother of Dr Don
Pedro Obaseki, who is a veteran and scholar in Nollywood, and Iyen Agbonifo
Omoruyi, the immediate past president of Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria
(CDGN)
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| Kabat Esosa Egbon (Left) With Nosa Obaseki during the Shoot of the movie Queen of Queens. |
Like many other great men, Nosa has progressed from grace to
grace by venturing into acting. He has featured in movies like Brave Soldier,
Prisoner of Passion, Seduction, Adam and Eve, Sleep Walker, Emerald, I have a Dream, Missing Angel,
Tangle with me, Anini, Beginning and the End, Bridesmaid, Saving Dreams,
Complicated Lies, Sunburn, Ebomisi, Wede, Forbidden Cave, Queen of Queens
Molly’s Love Story, Believe in You etc. He has been privileged to work with
many great filmmakers and actors like Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, Lancelot Oduwa
Imasuen, Kabat Esosa Egbon, Iyen Agbonifo Omoruyi, Amen Imasuen, Isioro
Tokunbor Jaboro, Opute C. Joel, Wendy Uwadiae Imasuen, Osagie Elegbe, Ramsey
Nouah, Jim Iyke, Genevieve Nnaji, Majid Michael, Yvonne Jegede, Linda Osifo,
Kenneth Okorie, Belinda Effah, Matilda Obaseki, Etomi Okoka, Segun Arinze, Oge
Okoye, Seun Akindele and so many other names that cannot be mentioned for now.
In 2011, he relocated to Canada. One would have thought that
his attention should have naturally drifted from the movie industry yet he
progressed more, not just as an actor that featured in series of blockbusters
like Saving Dreams but he became a producer too. He produced the movie titled Sunburn which was directed by Amen Imasuen; the multiple award-winning
director, and played the lead character in the movie. The movie became a hit as
it was premiered and screened in places like Toronto, Canada, New Jersey,
London, Madrid, Spain, Valencia, Spain, Antwerp, Belgium and Paris, France. It
is good to note that the movie will still be undergoing screening in several
places before the year ends.
Three recent movies that are getting him excited as the
world awaits their release in anticipation are Complicated Lies, produced by
Isoken Ibie, a renowned actress and philanthropist based in Canada and directed
by Amen Imasuen. The second is Wede, produced and directed by Mr. Consistent
himself, the Guvnor of Nollywood, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, the man encapsulated
in filmmaking who is the father, grandfather and great-grandfather of many
great filmmakers. The third is Queen of
Queens, produced and directed by Kabat Esosa Egbon, a prolific director and
writer with excellence. Complicated Lies and Queen of Queens have been screened
and in the cities of Toronto and Calgary, Canada and more cities are requesting
for them.
I will now give a brief insight of these movies through
their synopsis and log-lines…
COMPLICATED LIES
Nina is the last of three children. Her older brothers, Rex
and Christopher form her solid protection after they lose both of their parents.
They agree to stay together “Always and Forever.” Rex and Christopher continue
to shield their sister and train her in school.
Nina’s return from the NYSC sees her in a pool of anger mixed
with jealousy when she finds out that her brothers have gone against their
promise of sticking together and now have girlfriends. This singular fact makes
Nina appear rude and disrespectful to her brothers girlfriends and most of all,
Nina becomes too clingy to her brothers, making them to have less time for
their girlfriends and this gets Lois (Rex’s girlfriend) and Chioma
(Christopher’s girlfriend) really pissed that they have to think of a way to
get rid of Nina.
Lois has a cousin, Tobi (an Artist), who is hired by Lois
and Chioma to help keep Nina away from her brothers by making her fall in love
with him and keeping her occupied. This plan works and soon Nina is consumed by
Tobi’s love.
Although this is a job for Tobi which earns him extra
monthly cash, he starts falling really in love with Nina. Tobi decides to end
the deal between him and the girls by inviting them to his home to talk over
the deal they had made. It is during this meeting that Nina, while on her way
to visit Tobi, finds out what actually happened; Nina is heartbroken!
After getting herself together, she summons a family meeting
with Tobi and her brothers girlfriends in attendance and has everything out in
the open much to everyone’s shock and surprise. Christopher and Rex are angry
at their women for being masterminds of such stupidity but with Nina’s
intervention, they are able to forgive their girlfriends.
Tobi meets up with Nina a day after to apologize and make
his intentions and feelings clear. It is a perfect ending when Tobi pulls out a
ring and proposes to Nina and the fashion at which she does this is one that
will leave the viewers in a thunderous ovation.
Watch out for this great piece…
WEDE
The blade has become the most dreaded symbol in the heart of
all feminine yet; liberation into womanhood must come only through its rites
and rituals. Edewede has suffered the agony of losing dear ones in the past.
Its peril is like the unpardonable wrath of hell bulged at a helpless soul. The
grief is unimaginable.
She had directly suffered the effect of the blade and almost
gave up the ghost but survived in an unexplainable way. It is time for Oseme,
her dearly beloved only surviving child to become a woman. She must undergo the
divinity of the dreaded blade according to tradition for the rite of becoming a
woman to be complete. Ordia, her husband is skeptical and confused of what to
think and believe. Meanwhile, Ebikere, Ordia’s mother and Edewede’s
Mother-in-law is determined and head bent in fulfilling the demands of custom
and tradition. Oseme must be circumcised
according to the demand of tradition.
The love of a mother for her child is beyond comprehension.
The norms of the land were enacted by people in the past who probably became
deity in the future. It is time to
change them and enact new standards that will become the custom of the people;
it is time to change tradition as the unforgiving wrath of a frenzied mother
fights to save her only child.
It is an epic African story that entails love in all
ramifications, faithfulness, willingness, togetherness, the powers of womanhood
and the ills of circumcision. “Do not underestimate the powers of a wounded
raving woman…
Watch out for this great piece…
QUEEN OF QUEENS
Queen or Queens is the story of Queen Iden of Benin Kingdom.
A woman of virtue, character, courage, strength and the embodiment of patience
and loyalty… It is the story of one woman who against all odds defies nature
and reasoning to offer herself as the ultimate sacrifice to restore the
monarchy and the throne of her husband’s fathers and their fathers before him
with her uncommon deed.
Oba Oreoghene passes to join his ancestors and the kingdom
stands at a precipice with the rejection of the throne by Akenuzama, next in
line to the throne. The monarchy must never suffer a vacuum for when the
plantain dies, another must take its place. Benin must have a king!
Ewebonaza, wife of Akenuzama would do all to have her son as
Oba if her husband rejects the throne of his fathers. Despite all the
obstacles, Idova ascends the throne as Oba Ewuakpe, the 26th Oba of
Benin Kingdom and Empire but this was the beginning of the gathering storm.
Ewebonaza, mother of Oba Ewuakpe passes on to the land of
silence. His grief and pain is
unbearable and to give his mother a befitting burial, suitable for a Queen
Mother, he unleashes mayhen on the people as he seeks human sacrifices to
accompany his mother into the land of the dead. The people revolt against this
high handedness and turn their backs on the palace and the Oba; even his wives
and slaves abandon him except for his ONE-IDEN
Through Oba Ewuakpe’s trials and struggles, we encounter the
true meaning of leadership and love; a journey that reveals his true QUEEN OF
QUEENS…
Watch out for this great piece…
Patience, diligence, persistence, hard work and endurance
are indeed attributes to greatness and staying great ti eternity. No wonder
straight is the way and narrow, the path that leads to eternal life. We all
must stay focus in steadfastness on the track else we will dwindle away and
lose our track. Nosa Obaseki, a true
icon to reckon with indeed
