Amaka Ene Igwe, MFR (1963-2014)- A brief Elegy.
Born 2nd January 1963, Amaka Igwe (nee Isaac Ene) may be the singularly most important WOMAN in the creation & evolution of Nollywood. Starting as a young lecturer assistant/librarian at the then Anambra State University of Technology. Amaka Isaac Ene dedicated her young adult life to the creation of CHECKMATE (a soap opera that leveraged on the previous success of Lola Fani-Kayode’s MIRROR in THE SUN.) Her star actors were the first stars of Nollywood. Her RATTLESNAKE movie trilogy though came out a few weeks after LIVING IN BONDAGE, was the 1st artistic success of Nollywood’s videography. With her FUJI House of Commotion, Amaka redefined the landscape of situation comedy on national TV.
Married to ex-banker turned film producer/marketer Charles Igwe in 1993, Amaka was Nollywood’s female colossus. And together Amaka and Charles strove to evolve a seismic paradigm shift in Entertainment Content, provision in Nigeria, the latest being TOP FM Radio, Lagos. Her best of The Best (BOBTV) is both TV-Film Festival as well as a communion.
Toe-to-toe with men who stood! In recognition, she was Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). Last night, Amaka was on set for her current movie and last night Amaka died still working on a movie. Goodnight, Great woman, Goodnight. (Tears rain down. Rest in Peace, Great Amazon, Rest. We won’t miss you because everywhere we turn in Nollywood, we see you, we feel you, Amaka. I remain your friend even in the afterlife.