Entertainment
Filmmaker, Eddie Ugbomah Died 48Hours before Surgery
Veteran filmmaker, Chief Eddie Ugbomah, died yesterday, 48 hours before a scheduled surgery.
The respected filmmaker died in a Lagos hospital following a protracted illness. He was 78.
Although details of his ailment were not disclosed, Ugbomah had said it had to do with the nerves, his ears and brain.
His death was announced by Shaibu Hussein, a member of a committee set up to raise funds for his treatment.
“I have the permission of the Chair of the Chief Eddie Ugbomah Medical Fund Committee Alhaji Adedayo Thomas (DG, NFVCB) to break the news of the passage into eternity of the Veteran Filmmaker Chief Eddie Ugbomah, OON,” Hussein wrote on his Facebook wall yesterday.
“The veteran filmmaker died an hour ago at the hospital where he was scheduled to undergo a surgery on Monday. Sad…but we totally submit to the Almighty.”
Several persons in the Nollywood community have expressed their condolences.
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe condoled with Hussein and Paul Obazele, former president of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP).
“May the CHI bless all of you who came to his aid at this time and May his family and friends find the fortitude to bear the loss,” she wrote.
Keith Shiri, a programmer at the London Film Festival and collaborator of the Tarifa-Tangier African Film Festival (FCAT) also expressed his condolence.
“Very sad to hear the Chief’s passing,” he wrote.
“I was honoured to have been introduced to him by the late South African filmmaker Lionel Ngakane in Fespaco in the late 80’s. He was of a generation of filmmakers that paved a way for African Cinema. Let’s celebrate his life and May his work be preserved for future generations. Go well Chief.”
Filmmaker and promoter Mykel Parish Ajaere wrote: “Sad news. Lord lead him through a smooth journey home.”
Ugbomah had told The Nation in 2018 that his illness has “something to do with my ears and my brain”.
Some of Ugbomah’s works include ‘Rise and Fall of Oyenusi,’ ‘Oil Doom,’ ‘The Boy is Good,’ ‘Death of the Black President’ and ‘Apalara’ lamented that government had not come to his aid in his trying time.
A Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has banned public viewing and streaming of a controversial film titled, “Gang of Lagos”.
The order was contained in a consent judgment delivered by Justice Idowu Alakija.
It followed terms of agreement between parties in the suit delineated LD/6903GCM/2023 between Isale Eko Descendants Union & 2 Ors against Amazon Web Services and 11 others.
The judge agreed with the submission of the applicants that the movie erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of “the well respected Eyo Masquerade of Lagos and the peace-loving nature and the long standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People.”
Justice Alakija ordered the defendants in the matter to “tender an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard”.
Justice Alakija also asked the defendants to tender an apology to the applicants, Isale Eko Descendants Union.
“In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and in full and final settlement of all the claims in this suit, the parties hereby agreed that the 3rd to 11th respondents shall jointly issue a letter recognising the applicants’ position that the movie titled, “Gangs of Lagos” erroneously portrayed and disparaged the cultural heritage of the well-respected Eyo Masquerade and the peace-loving nature and the long-standing traditions of the Isale-Eko People, and shall therein, tender an unreserved apology to the applicants in this regard.
Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their home in New Mexico along with their dog, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office told CNN. He was 95.
Their causes of death have not been confirmed, but foul play is not suspected, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Denise Womack-Avila told CNN on Thursday morning.
Deputies responded to a welfare check request at the home around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and found Hackman, Arakawa and a dog deceased, Womack-Avila said. An investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s office said. The gas company is assisting in the investigation, The Associated Press reported.
The welfare check was conducted after a neighbor called authorities, concerned about the couple’s well-being, CNN affiliate KOAT reported.
A search warrant shows that Hackman, his wife and their dog had been dead for some time, and the couple’s bodies were in different rooms when deputies found them during the wellness check, the AP reported.
Hackman was found dead Wednesday in a mudroom, and Arakawa was found dead in a bathroom next to a space heater. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on the countertop near Arakawa, the AP reported.
Medical examiner’s reports with the final cause of death “generally take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to generate,” said Chris Ramirez, spokesperson for the New Mexico medical investigator’s office.
CNN has reached out to Hackman’s representatives.
The actor’s death comes just days before the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Hackman’s performances in such films as “The French Connection,” “Hoosiers,” “Unforgiven,” and “The Firm” elevated character roles to leading-man levels.
Hackman’s best roles were often of conflicted authority figures or surprisingly clever white-collar villains, such as the iconic, evil Lex Luthor in the “Superman” film series in the 1970s and ’80s. Many held a hint – sometimes more than a hint – of menace.
He won an Oscar for his portrayal in 1971’s “The French Connection” of New York cop Popeye Doyle, a detective who gets his man but at a high cost. His surveillance expert in 1974’s “The Conversation” is single-minded to the point of obsession, losing all perspective.
He won his second Oscar for his performance as Little Bill Daggett, the violent sheriff in Clint Eastwood’s 1992 film, “Unforgiven.”
Source: CNN
Nigerian music star, Patoranking, is guest this week on the Glo-sponsored African Voices, the magazine programme of the Cable News Network (CNN) International.
He will share the story of how he rose from the slums of Lagos to global fame to host of the programme, Larry Madowo.
The programme will equally host Ghanaian Derrick Cobinnah, who has been using his “Forces Help Africa” to turn round for good the fortunes of Ghanaian war veterans.
Patoranking, whose full name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, hails from Onicha in Ebonyi State. He was born in Lagos on 27 May 1990. He is a Nigerian Afrobeats and reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter who starred out in life as a street musical performer.
He has won notable awards including Headies, Vodafone Ghana Music Awards as well as the MTV Africa Music Award in recognition of his hit albums including God Over Everything (2016), Wilmer (2019), Three (2020) and World Best which was released last year.
Patoranking has used his wealth and his position as a UNDP Regional goodwill ambassador to champion the cause of youth development in Nigeria.His counterpart, Derrick Cobinnah, has been employing his Forces Help Africa, a non-government organisation to render help and support to war veterans who are sick, injured, displaced or destitute.
The current edition of African Voices started airing on DSTV Channel 401 om Saturday, with repeats coming up on Sunday at 7p.m. and at 4 a.m. on Monday.
