Ace movie producer, Amaka Ene Igwe, Dies At 51
Salimot Raji
Nollywoods has lost another person to the cold hands of death. This time a prolific movie producer, Amaka Igwe.
Igwe according to a report died a few hours ago from complications arising from asthma attack.
Born 2nd January 1963, Amaka Igwe (nee Isaac Ene) may be the singularly most important woman in the creation & evolution of Nollywood. Starting out as a young Lecturer Assistant at the then Anambra State University, 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 1st 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 April 1993, Amaka was Nollywood’s female colossus.
And together, Amaka & Charles Igwe strove to evolve a seismic paradigm shrift in Entertainment Content provision in Nigeria, the latest being TOP FM Radio, Lagos. Toe-to-Toe with men she stood! In recognition, she was awarded national honours as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR). Last night, Amaka was on set of her current movie!