Nigerian Newspapers
I am a Nollywood filmmaker and proud says Kenneth Gyang, director of AMAA’s Best Film
Kenneth Gyang, the director of award-winning film, Confusion Na Wa, is a young man with large vision. He had lived most of his dreams, making commercials, TV drama series, TV reality series and documentaries for BBC Media Action, Heinrich Boll Foundation, PATHS2/New Media Network, EbonyLife TV and Newage Network. He shot into limelight at the AMAAs, where he won the Africa Movie Academy Awards. His impressive resume is captured in this chat with Entertainment Editor
SO many people have wondered who Kenneth Gyang is. Who would you say he is?
Let’s just say that Kenneth Gyang is an award-winning filmmaker from Plateau State. He has been around Nigeria’s filmmaking scene since 2006. But I guess some people are thinking that he’s just a new bloke that’s coming into the picture now. I have worked with BBC Media Action as director of the critically-acclaimed drama series, Wetin Dey.
I also worked as the co-writer/producer and director of Televista’s Finding Aisha. I am the co-founder of Cinema Kpatakpata, a Nigerian film production company, built to make films in Nigeria and throughout Africa. The other members of the company are Tom Rowlands-Rees and one of Nigeria’s best cinematographers, Yinka Edward. As you already know, my directorial debut, Confusion Na Wah, which is Cinema Kpatakpata’s first feature film won. It won the Best Nigerian Film and the sought-after Best Film (equivalent of Best Picture at the Oscars) at the 2013 African Movie Academy Awards.
Are you in any way related to Jeremiah Gyang, the musician?
Haha! Funny thing is, I always get asked that question a lot, and I have always wondered why I am not linked with my more illustrious ‘cousin’ Asamoah Gyang instead? The closest that I have been to Jeremiah was back in the same secondary school. But he opted out of that school before me.
Looking at your frame and what you have been able to achieve, a lot of people find you quite unassuming. How old is Kenneth Gyang?
I still enjoy the speculation going out there in the media about my age, and I know I’ve been ‘bounced’ a couple of times in certain clubs in South Africa, and recently in Lagos for being an ‘underage’. I’ll say this to club bouncers around though; I am of age, really.
What did you study in school?
I was an Art student in secondary school because I managed to convince myself that I don’t have the aptitude for sciences. After secondary school, I went to study Film Production at the National Film Institute in Jos, Plateau State, where I was in a head-on collision with a lot of science-oriented subjects. Scripting, producing and directing ended up being my major
What inspired your career as a filmmaker?
To be honest, I came into film by accident. I know it started with my love for shortwave radio in the dead of the night. But I happened to visit a few film set around the museum of Jos, and I liked what was going on. One day I saw a poster advertising the NFI. I went there, checked the school out and was convinced that it was the place of learning for me. That was the beginning of my journey into the world of filmmaking
Would you say you are a Nollywood filmmaker?
I have realized a long time ago that it will be foolish trying to always be on one side arguing that I am an alternative filmmaker when everywhere I go people will always refer to me as a Nollywood filmmaker. I remember introducing myself to the famous cinematographer, Christopher Doyle, in a hall full of people in Berlin back in 2006, and the first thing he said was “Nollywood”. So yes, I am a Nollywood filmmaker and proud.
How involved are you in the art, business and politics of filmmaking?
Well, you can’t be a filmmaker without dabbling in some of these things. Your work has to be a reflection of what you are and what believe in as an artiste. It is not always enough to have that art in production alone. You need to know how and where to make this Art available to be consumed because you didn’t do it for yourself and family alone.
What or who are your foreign influences?
The works of Latino filmmakers like Fernando Meirelles, Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu and Alfonso Cuaron have heavily influenced me. But the biggest foreign influence in my filmmaking ideology would be Quentin Tarantino. I love how all the works of these filmmakers deal with issues that will get every scholar writing away. Most importantly, instead of their works being didactic, they could still serve as topnotch entertainment for those who are out looking for ‘fun films’.
Tell us about some of the talent campuses or film festivals you have taken part in.
I was part of the Berlinale Talent Campus in Germany with my first short film, called ‘Mummy Lagos’. That was a seminal hit,as it brought out the creative originality I showcased in my later works. Mummy Lagos was part of the official program of films in competition under Hunger, Food and Taste. And I was a wide-eyed kid sometimes visiting the red carpets and seeing paparazzi screaming the names of George Clooney as he came to showcase the political thriller Syriana, Natalie Portman with V For Vendetta and Vin Diesel with Find Me Guilty. I had a glimpse of those stars on my Mini DV camera. I was also in South Africa for the Sithengi Talent Campus as part of the now defunct Capetown International Film Festival.
Let’s talk about the film of the moment; Confusion Na Wa. What would you say inspired the story?
If we look around us, not only in Nigeria or Africa alone but also in the world, there’s always this sense of great injustice going on. We wanted to make a film that reflects on the small role individuals play, which always ends up having a big ripple effect on other people around them. We decided to tell a multi-layered story that’s kind of inspired by the film Amores Perros. The message is basically for individuals to be aware of how their little actions could have a major effect on the lives of others around them.
Did you imagine that Confusion Na Wa would go places?
We have always been confident about Confusion Na Wa. When it was written, we beat off competitions to be the only one of four projects to get Digital Production funding from Hubert Bals Fund, which is part of the International Film Festival Rotterdam in Netherlands. Again, that script was selected for the inaugural Durban FilmMart in South Africa. You can see there’s a pattern of success and likeability for the story, dialogue and characters. When we gave our actors the script, they were all eager to be part of it and made huge sacrifices that Cinema Kpatakpata is grateful for.
Ramsey Nouah read the script whilst on an international flight and when he landed, he said it was one of the best scripts he has ever read in his life. OC Ukeje, Ali Nuhu, Gold Ipkonmwosa and Tony Goodman loved it. Tunde Aladese, an accomplished writer herself, dropped her pen and agreed to be part of the film in front of the lens, a first time for her!
Is AMAA the first endorsement Confusion Na Wa has received?
The Africa Movie Academy Awards is the first competition we entered with Confusion Na Wa. It is the biggest and most glamorous film awards show in Africa and we wanted to start at that high level. If you look at how the lives and careers of former AMAA winners, and especially those who held aloft the Best Film of the Year prize, changed after winning, you would know it is an event you truly need to win. The fairy tale of Djo Munga’s Viva Riva and a host of other filmmakers like Wanuri (From a Whisper) started from the AMAAs and I’m glad we scaled that challenge spectacularly.
So, what would you say has changed since your film won the AMAAs?
People have become aware of our existence as a company and now know that there are equally a lot of young people out there who can make good films. Before now, I have directed ‘Wetin Dey’, which was a definite trend-setter in production values for both film and TV in Nigeria.I also did ‘Finding Aisha’ for Televista and a whole host of other productions. But not many people acknowledged those. Last year, as part of the 2012 London Olympics, a political love story I directed for Newage Network, entitled Blood and Henna showed in the host city and everyone loved what they saw at the Royale Theatre Stratford. But I guess no one took notice here. I was reading in some newspaper after Confusion Na Wa’s win at the AMAAs that I am a newcomer and I laughed because I guess if you’re not a filmmaker from Lagos, then you have not really started in this country. Joke!
Did you ever think that the film will appeal to an ordinary film lover?
Look right, the fact that one is making a thought-provoking film doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t attract people in droves to see it. And my personal philosophy is to make appealing films to cater for the different tastes people have. Quentin Tarantino makes films that on the surface are entertaining. But essays are still written on them by deep people, while he still smiles home to the bank, which for me is the hallmark of a cool filmmaker
How were you able to get Hubert Bals Fund for the movie?
We got funding for the film because we wrote a script that is strong in story, characters and dialogue. Again, we tried as much as possible to make the world of the characters believable. After writing, we submitted it to Hubert Bals Fund who totally loved it and gave us the money to do it. We also got some production support from Kunle Junaid’s Refuge Island Media, Noah’s Creed, Cinecraft and Newage Network.
In total, how much did the movie cost?
I would not want to brandish figures around. But the film is a low budget one and that serves as testament to that popular saying in film schools around the world “Story is King”! Yes! You need fancy equipment to make a good film. But generally, films are all about other values than just that. And we have shown that with little money, you make great films that will have people leaving the theatre and talking about it.
How far do you want to go as a filmmaker?
I want to go as far as I can push myself. All that talk of going to Hollywood is not my thing, and I am not interested in such talk coming from some actors and filmmakers in Africa. But my self-belief will definitely take me as far as I can go from my present position.
Have you followed discussions on the N3 billion Federal Government grant for the film industry?
Yeah, I have followed some news on the N3 billion Project Nollywood grant. Right now, there’s no guideline on how to access it, and if there will be a level playing ground getting it at the end of the day. In this industry, there are three kinds of people- a whole lot of people who know how to talk without delivering; a few who know how to talk and deliver and those who don’t even have the chance to talk. The first category, which is the majority, always spoil everything for us. I remember laughing at the 200 million dollars intervention form, I looked at it and said someone must have done a lot of copying and pasting to come out with that laughable document without really looking at the situations peculiar to our immediate environment and industry. A classic case of the rich getting richer! Back to the Project Nollywood grant, the Minister of Finance said they are thinking of distribution, scriptwriting and possibly production. Let’s see how it goes.
Would you or your organization think of accessing the fund?
Cinema Kpatakpata will look into assessing the grant if the conditions are right.
What is your private life like?
I am shy in front of crowds, plus I’m a very quiet person when meeting people for the first time. With time though, I could be silly and make jokes with funny impressions. So my true self is all about taking life easy all the time. I don’t know how to dance, but I can completely say I go with the beats better than white people (Tom had to take serious breakdance lessons to compete).
Would you say you enjoy the fame that comes with being a filmmaker?
I wouldn’t say I am famous, but I love entertaining people, it makes me happy. If I get a little attention after they see my film, of course I’ll be happy.
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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