Africa’s leading music star, 2face Idibia will be the main attraction of this year’s Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NEGA) holding at Frankfurt.
NFFG, founded by cultural ambassador, Isaac Izoya is a viable platform designed for Nollywood (Nigerian/African) filmmakers to showcase their movies to Europeans and Nollywood fans in the Diaspora, while the NEGA awards is the arm of the event designed to honour Nollywood stakeholders, stars, comedians and musicians.
The NEGA Awards has also been expanded to recognise the artistic bias of outstanding politicians and businessmen whose actions have directly or indirectly added impact on the industry, thereby shaping what it has grown to become today.
The event which has been in existence since 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany in alliance with Hessen State Ministry of Arts and Culture-(Städt Frankfurt Kulturamt), The Ministry of Multicultural Affairs (Amt für multikulturelle Angelegenheiten, AMKA), Nigeria Embassy, Berlin, Germany, the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – Frankfurt, Germany and of course, the Nigeria Community Frankfurt Am Main e.V among others, will see Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s film, “Wede” opening the premiere on August 30, at the Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema, Emmerich-Joselstr 46A 65933 Frankfurt am Main, Germany from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. “Wede” exposes the obnoxious and debilitating negative effect of female genital mutilation which is still very much rampant among rural dwellers in the Midwestern part of Nigeria. A young lady got determined by leading other women to a revolt that saw an age-long tradition abolished.
The festival will climax on August 31 with the Nollywood Europe Golden Awards and Gala-night/After-Party where 2 Baba will thrill the audience to a musical experience and comedian Fiddy Ice is listed to anchor the event. Other artistes that will perform at the event, include some Europe base musicians like Don VS from Italy, Chuks Cbily base in Germany, Lilian Dinma from Denmark, Mark Edo the Shaking Shaking master from Spain, Berlin-based Keishera and Ghana top star – Zeal of VVIP among others. Also in the lineup are DJ Stone and DJ Dee.
At the event, several industries big wings are expected to win awards for their contribution to Nollywood in 2019. Also listed for a special award is Alhaji Bola Adenekan, a Heidelberg Germany based philanthropist that has single-handedly equipped and transformed several hospitals in Nigeria as well as offered free health care for high-risk treatment with European doctors without borders.
Other awardees that are expected to pick up their NEGA awards during the ceremony are Nollywood top director, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Nollywood diva, Rita Edochie, music icon Idibia Innocent Ujah (2Baba) in celebration of his 20 years on stage with his manager, Mr Omorogbe Efe and Don VS, the present best Nigerian music star in Europe.
Some of the highly distinguished personalities expected to grace the event are: His Excellency Ambassador Suleiman Dauda Umar – Consul General of the Nigeria Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany who is expected to follow the years old Nollywood event tradition in declaring the event open and to personally present the 24 karat gold NEGA award to 2Baba at the gala nite. Others are Medical doctor, Professor Edwin Scott from Heidelberg and a retired military officer, Mr. Weinbrod, the CEO of HRW GmbH in Offenbach among others.
Some of the supporters of the event this year are the Lindner Congress Hotel, Bolongarostr, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen State Ministry of Arts and Culture-(Städt Frankfurt Kulturamt), Frankfurt Film Forum Hochst cinema, Nollywood Restaurant, and Black Stars club of Mannheim.
According to the director of the event, Isaac Izoya, Cultural Ambassador during NEGA press conference in Frankfurt Am Main, he said, “We are good to go! The expectations of 2Baba are just beyond my imagination. In living up to those expectations, our team also chooses a well-befitting location Saray Turkuaz event center ERNST-WISSSTR 20 65933 Frankfurt, Germany for fun unlimited. “By God’s grace, we are ready to host both Nollywood and 2Baba fans across Europe and make them feel superb because The Show Must Go On!” he concluded.
