Nollywood's Most Influential Women List - Do You Agree?
8 minute read
This list of Nollywood's most influential women by iCampusng will either get you to nod a yes or no...or even argue!...As you read,please note that the names are in no particular order.
In Nollywood, there are
few leading women. Many of them strut the stage of stardom, power and
influence with attendant noise while some of them go about wielding
their power, influence and making and spending their money with any
attention. To some, being on the cover of every paper and magazine is
the true testament of their status while for others, being behind it is
the true test of power.
Either way, it will be
foolhardy to dismiss Nollywood in the schemes of power, influence and
money. Truly, lots of poverty masquerade the industry like colossus with
many barely surviving, yet so much wealth still exist. Amidst the
fakery, façade, and those merely putting up appearance of wealth, true
moneybags (comparatively) of a sort exist. Like the aphorism goes,
‘existence of fake, is proof that real exists.’
Who are the truly
powerful women in Nollywood? Who are the few controlling true money and
who are those that influence things, issues, style, trend, business and
market in the industry? Our list will shock you. The criteria is based
on the kind of money being generated in the industry, from investment,
endorsement, volume of work (directly owned), popularity, brand value,
and influence among the powers-that-be in politics, business and
industry.
The list is in no particular order
Uche Jombo
With over 16 movies, no
actress in Nigeria can boast of heavy movie catalogue like Uche Jombo.
There is also no other actress that commands the kind of reverence Uche
does among fellow actresses and actors, most especially the young ones.
The general saying is, Uche now has power to make star of a starlet, and
only a handful of people will fall into that category in Nollywood.
Despite being active production-wise, Uche’s face still adorns numerous
posters as lead actress. Aside being the highest grossing
actress-producer among her colleagues, Uche has two known properties,
one in Lagos, the other in Abia, her home town (where she is a chief).
Her influence in and out of the industry is definitely not in doubt.
Genevieve Nnaji
She might not have done
any major movie of late but there is no wishing Genevieve’s influence
away in Nollywood. Time and over again, except for ‘Doctor Bello’, she
has delivered top box-office returns for every movie she featured in.
Her less appearance in movies has been atoned for with appearances on
website and blogosphere.
She is one of the two
most popular figures in Nollywood and has evolved into an influential
and stylish brand with cult following. Aside delivering back to back box
office returns (Ije, Weekend Getaway (despite negative reviews), Tango
With Me, Mirror Boy, and most recently, Half of a Yellow Sun), Genny as
she’s popularly called is the most ‘endorsed’ celebrity by corporate
Nigeria. She has been reported to rake in millions most bank MDs will
only dream about and has extensive investment in real estate. Aside all
these, Genny has been reported to be the most stylish of the Nollywood
top three; true or false, we can’t say but what is not in doubt is her
popularity, influence and closeness to people in the corridors of power.
Rita Dominic
Long before many people
left Asaba behind, Rita Dominic did. She was sure she has a way to
evolve into something bigger. She did. She became known for style,
selected few movies and went on to produce the smash hit, ‘The Meeting’
which reaffirmed her place as one of the leading women in Nollywood. Her
human relations skill is almost next to none. Except for Monalisa,
there is not a celebrity who won’t listen and take action if Rita calls.
So entrenched is her influence that the president sent a representative
to attend the premiere of her movie in Lagos.
Ini Edo
Love or hate the Akwa
Ibom born actress, Ini is a financial war-chest of sort. Her brand value
might not be at par with some Nollywood leading ladies but you can’t
count top five richest actresses in Nollywood and her name won’t make
the list. Aside being busy in both ‘old’ and ‘new’ Nollywood commanding
figures between a million and N1.5 million, she has extensive and wide
real estate investment that will make some realtors green with envy.
Aside being close to powers-that-be in Akwa Ibom, Ini has invested in
movie production as well. Aside her movies getting bought by online
platforms, DSTV, marketers in Diaspora, her DVD market do good return on
investment. And she’s beginning to exert her influence as executive
producer, something only few actresses could lay claim to.
Mercy Johnson
If Genevieve Nnaji (who
coincidentally is the mentor of Mercy Johnson) has delivered
back-to-back return on investment (ROI) for movies in the cinemas, Mercy
Johnson must have tripled that figure in the ‘downstream sector’ of
Nollywood; Asaba, Enugu, Aba, Lagos, Alaba, and African countries. At a
point in Nollywood, Mercy is what determines the trend of movies to be
shot. If she acts comic role and the movie becomes popular, all other
producers follow suit. If she acts corporate executive with her
accentuating curve, that will then become the movie trend.
MJ is still the highest
paid actress in that part of Nollywood with the figure as much as
N2million to N2.5million per movie. The closest challengers are Ini Edo
(N1 million-N1.5million) and Chika Ike (N800 000). When she went on
maternity leave for months, many producers shut down till she
returned; Mercy is the market and the market is Mercy. As she prepares
to become a more prominent figure in New Nollywood, let’s hope she can
emulate her mentor and rule box office as well.
Blessing Effiong Egbe
She may not be very
popular, as a matter of fact many Nollywood starlets are more famous but
what Mrs. Egbe, the director and producer of Lekki Wives lacks in fame
she makes up for in influence and money. Only few Nollywood producers
could claim to generate as much as she does in influence especially
among the upcoming and established stars that want to star in her hugely
popular series.
As at last check, Lekki
Wives season 1 to 3 has sold over a million copies and a television
platform bought the right to air for a year for about N50 million. Tell
me about money and influence, there you have it.
Kate Henshaw
No other actress in
contemporary era has transcended generation and evolved to give younger
generation stiff competition like Kate Henshaw. She was in the
generation of Regina Askia and Liz Benson, moved on to give Omotola and
Genevieve a ride for their youthfulness, and now rolling with generation
of Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju to rock live stage. Despite being over 40, Kate
is truly ageless (an appellation first used for her by the publisher of
iCampus). Not only is she laying claim to Nollywood stake, she is one
of the few old faces adorning live stage and charting new course for
that part of Nollywood.
She has the ears of the
Governor and has been wearing the toga of ambassador for several
corporate companies long before some of these present ambassadors joined
Nollywood. If you doubt Kate’s influence ask the handlers of Onga
seasoning, the kind of attention she has brought to the cooking
seasoning and they will give you reasons her contract keeps getting
renewed.
Omoni Oboli
Omoni is about the only
A-list celebrity who has defied the norms in the industry. With less
than 30 movies to her credit she rubs shoulder with who-is-who in the
industry. Her rise to began after playing the lead roles in ‘Figurine’
and ‘Anchor Baby’ between 2010/2011. She generated conversation and ever
since, people have not stopped talking about her. She is one of the few
that went to the prestigious New York Film Academy to study directing
and has so far shot three movies of her own, expending over a total sum
of N60 million. Now, Omoni has the power to make a star out of a
starlet.
Her recent movie,
‘Being Mrs Elliot’ impressed from onset with the President, His
Excellency Goodluck Jonathan hosting private guests at the Aso Rock to
premiere it. The movie went on to make good impression at the box office
and furthering consolidating Omoni’s place as one of the box-office
queen.
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
It is impossible to tell
the story of true Nollywood super stars without Omotola. She
crisscrosses the Nollywood stage like a person born to be a star. She
has been a star since 18, and almost two decades after, Omos*xy is still
a star. With enviable career profile that include movies like Ije,
Prostitute, Last Flight to Abuja, Blood in the Lagoon, and a TV soap she
produced and directed, Omotola has more than earned her place. She has
led more charitable causes than any other celeb, even as far as other
African countries. So huge was Omotola’s influence that reputable Time
Magazine named her as one of the world most influential persons. Talk
about continental influence.
Emem Isong
Emem Isong is not an
actress but her fame and most especially her influence far exceed most
of the established faces. She has established herself as the foremost
female movie producer in Nollywood both in the days of Asaba and in the
new Nollywood, she boldly tell friends and acquaintances that she has
never lost money in movie business. She gave a lot of our established
stars first lead and till date she’s still giving leads, making movies,
selling movies and raking in millions. She added the director-ship title
to her many titles and from the look of things, Emem might still add
more.
Stephanie Okereke
Stephanie was the first
actress to break box office record in Nigerian cinema. Despite appearing
less in movies, Stephanie’s fame over the years hasn’t waned. She runs a
periodic film school in conjunction with New York Film Academy and has
trained thousands of young people making revolutionary films. Many of
them still give her kudos for bringing ‘New York’ so to speak to Nigeria
at a far lesser price. And if you don’t know, Stephanie has the ears of
Mr. President, you are definitely a ‘late-comer’.
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