For Nollywood, the year 2017 was quite eventful. It witnessed controversies, scandals, deaths, marriages and marriage breakups.
Inside Nollywood brings you the major activities that shaped the movie industry in the outgoing year.
MARRIAGES
Banky W and Adesua Etomi
This is one of the biggest celebrity weddings of 2017. The lovebirds exchanged their vows on November 25, 2017 at Cape Town, South Africa. It got the attention of people both at home and abroad because it is a union of two well-loved celebrities who are on top of their games.
Daniel K. Daniel
Nollywood actor, Daniel K. Daniel and beau, Tina exchanged marital vows on November 18, 2017, few months after they had their traditional wedding.
Sholagbade Mustapha
Popular Yoruba actor, Sholagbade Mustapha also got married secretly in Osogbo, Osun State, after dumping his baby mama, Adewumi Fatai.
Seun Ajayi
The star of popular TV series, Hustle had his wedding on September 9, 2017 in a rustic themed wedding ceremony.
Mercy Ebosele
Yoruba actress, Mercy Ebosele got married to her man in Lagos on July 30, 2017.
Kenneth Okolie
Actor cum Mr. Nigeria 2010, Kenneth Okolie, got married to the love of his life, Jessica Nwakah on Saturday, December 16.
MARRIAGE BREAKUPS
Tonto Dikeh vs Oladunni Churchill
All was going well between Tonto Dikeh and Oladunni Churchill until January 2017 when their marriage packed up. Till date, the duo has continued to diss each other by exchanging expletives and revealing shady details of themselves on social media. In fact, it’s about the messiest marriage breakup that Nigerians have witnessed in recent times.
Mercy Aigbe vs. Lanre Gentry
The crisis engulfing the marriage of star actress Mercy Aigbe and her hotelier husband, Lanre Gentry was initially downplayed by both parties, only for Aigbe to release photos of her sporting a black eye allegedly inflicted on her by her husband. This eventually led to the breakup of their marriage.
Damilola Adegbite vs. Chris Attoh
The hitherto blissful marriage of actress Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh that many admired finally hit the rocks in 2017. Cracks had shown in the marriage in 2016, only for Attoh to give hints of their separation during an interview sometimes this year. Damilola had earlier stopped bearing his name.
Patrick and Iretiola Doyle
Celebrity couple, Patrick and Iretiola Doyle also parted ways this year.
Their marriage of over two decades crashed. The veteran broadcaster cum actor is now a single man, likewise his Tinsel star wife, Ireti. Till date, the cause of their breakup couldn’t be ascertained.
Ibinabo Fiberesima vs. Uche Egbuka
During Ibinabo Fiberesima’s birthday on January 13, 2017, she broke the sad news that her two-year-old marriage to Uche Egbuka has ended.
While narrating how it happened, the mother of three thanked everybody for their support and love.
CONTROVERSIES
Funke Akindele’s pregnancy
Against the doomsday prophesy of Pastor Faleyimu that if care was not taken, Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele may remain barren, the comedienne became pregnant with her first child.
Only last year, the 40-year-old actress had married her lover and best friend, JJC Skills in a secret wedding in London. Their marriage had been quite blissful until she lost her pregnancy a few weeks ago.
Oge Okoye’s dog scandal
Most Nigerians would not forgive Nollywood actress, Oge Okoye, for disgracing not only herself but also other African celebrities when she falsely claimed as her own American TV star, Kenya Moore’s dogs, King and Twirl. She even did the ‘naming ceremony’ on Instagram, christening the dogs ‘Rob and Rosy’.
Iyabo Ojo, Daniella Okeke vs. Pastor Suleiman Johnson
A certain lady named Stephanie Ogbonna had alleged via Instagram that Yoruba actress, Iyabo Ojo and Daniella Okeke had had sexual affair with Apostle Suleiman Johnson. The man in the center of the drama was also fingered to be responsible for the luxurious lifestyle of the actresses.
DEATHS
Toyin Majekodunmi
The Yoruba movie industry recorded its first death of 2017 on January 2 when Toyin Majekodunmi aka Iya Kike, died. She was the first Nigerian entertainer to pass on in the outgoing year.
Ibrahim Bauni
Kannywood producer, Ibrahim Bauni died on February 17 after a brief illness. Buni spent 20 years in Kannywood film industry and had produced films like ‘Kalubale’, ‘Harafin So’, ‘Rumaisa’, and ‘Sarauniya’, among others.
Prince James Uche
After a protracted battle with diabetes and kidney ailment, veteran Nollywood actor, James Uche, died on March 8. He passed on in an ambulance while on his way to undergo dialysis.
Moji Olaiya
Olaiya who delivered a baby in Canada in March died in that country in May and was given a befitting burial. The 42-year-old star actress was the ‘daughter’ of legendary Nigerian highlife maestro, Victor Olaiya.
Modupe Oyekunle
Nollywood actress, Modupe Oyekunle died on April 5 after giving birth to her third child, a girl.
Olumide Bakare
Veteran Nollywood actor, Olumide Bakare died on April 22 after a failed battle with a heart and lung disease.
Samuel Adesanya
Seasoned Yoruba actor, Samuel Adesanya popularly called Pastor Ajidara, died on May 7. The 62-year-old thespian had solicited for financial support of N12 million from the public, following his doctor’s recommendation that he would need a kidney transplant to survive.
Victor Eze
Victor Eze Okwuchukwu, who played Alika in the popular TV series, Fuji House of Commotion, passed away on Sunday June 25, 2017, after a long battle with stroke.
Adebayo Faleti
Renowned broadcaster, poet and actor, Adebayo Faleti, passed away on July 23, 2017, at the age of 86.
Obi Madubuogwu
Popular for his role in ‘Conspiracy’, Obi Madubuogwu announced in 2016 that he was in need of public support for his health. Unfortunately, the actor died on August 28, 2017 and was laid to rest on November 10, 2017.
Alhaji Kasimu Yero
The ‘Cock Crow At Dawn’ actor passed away at the age of 70.
He died at his house on Sunday, September 3, 2017, in Kaduna State after a protracted illness.
Okwy Chukwujekwu
Comic actor, Okwy Chukwujekwu popularly known as Main Bossman, passed away in September. The ‘Men of Wisdom’ actor died in Anambra State following an asthma attack.
Friday Ugwu
Actor and movie producer, Friday Ugwu was reported to have been involved in a fatal accident along Lagos-Badagry Express Road in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Funke Abisogun
Yoruba Nollywood actress, Funke Abisogun-Alhassan passed away in October. The actress died a few days after being delivered of a baby.
David Nwajei
Nollywood actor, David Nwajei also known as Davo died during the year after a brief illness.
Tunde Oloyede
Producer and director of the defunct television drama series, Village Headmaster, a few weeks ago died in his sleep at his residence in Festac Town, Lagos.