Funsho Arogundade/Enugu

M-Net Africa launches Africa Magic Igbo with pomp

The tagline screams Ebe O Na Kpotu! This is an Igbo slogan meaning ‘This is where it’s happening’. Unarguably, this catch-phrase best suits the new dedicated channel, AfricaMagic Igbo, launched by M-Net Africa at a star-studded event on 30 April in Enugu, Enugu State. The glamorous event which held at De Dome Event Place, in New Haven, had in attendance leading players from the Nigerian film and television industry including many who were part of the founding with their early Igbo language content. These include Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Eucharia Anunobi, Clem Ohameze, John ‘Mr Ibu; Okafor, Oge Okoye, Nkiru Sylvanus and Francis Duru.

The numerous guests resplendent in various hues and designs of Igbo attires, mingled and networked on a lush black carpet fenced with yam barn; they were entertained with Igbo folklores and songs, while waiters provided them with various local snacks washed down with fresh palm wine served with the traditional calabash mug. The ambience depicted the culture and lifestyle of the people of that extraction. And as they all moved into the main auditorium for the proper celebration, veteran actor, Pete Edochie, was saddled with the task of opening the launch with the traditional breaking of kolanut. However, the seasoned thespian, an Igbo chief from Anambra State, deferred the task to an Enugu citizen and fellow actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, as tradition demands.

•Pete Edochie & Kenneth Okonkwo

Edochie, who spoke entirely in Igbo, hailed the M-Net Africa team for their tenacity in making sure the AfricaMagic Igbo dream came to reality. He later prayed for the success of the channel.

Speaking at the event, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net (West), said the coming of the AfricaMagic Igbo channel was a testimony of the company’s commitment to providing content made for Africa by Africans.

•Flavour & Chidinma

She noted that AfricaMagic is renowned for providing the platform for telling the African story and helping African entertainers to show the world what they can do.

“We have demonstrated this with our channels, including the indigenous language channels which continue to promote the richness of Nigeria’s different cultures beyond the nation’s borders and we are continuing this trend with the AfricaMagic Igbo channel,” Mba-Uzoukwu said.

She explained that the new channel transcends language as it but has been designed to showcase the rich culture and lifestyle of the Igbo nation.

“Igbo language entertainment content has always played a prominent role in the Nigerian film and television industry and we are glad to offer a platform where this rich content can be showcased to the rest of Africa and the world. Popular Igbo language content like Living in Bondage and many others set the trend for the modern Nigerian film and television industry, or Nollywood as it’s called; it is thus only fitting that such content should be given a platform where it is easily accessible by audiences around the continent,” she said.

•John Ugbe, Genevieve Nnaji & Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu

To John Ugbe, managing director, Multichoice Nigeria, the coming of the channel was a big relief. The leading PayTV company boss told the gathering how he always had to contend with the persistent questions from the media on when the company would give the Igbo people their own dedicated channel. And he felt delighted that the channel finally debuted.

“At MultiChoice, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of the development of the Nigerian film and television industry. For over 20 years, we have consistently invested in Nigeria’s creative industry. Furthermore, the Africa Magic channels which sit on our DStv and GOtv platforms provide Nigerian talent with the opportunity to showcase their works to the rest of the continent and indeed the world. With the launch of Africa Magic Igbo, we have once again provided a platform for African talent to shine and our viewers can definitely expect to see the best of Igbo culture and talent on display,” Ugbe stated.

•Jessica Nwoba and Bob Manuel Udokwu

Following the success of the AfricaMagic Hausa and Yoruba channels, and the 2014 redefinition of the AfricaMagic channels as well as the recent refreshing of the Africa Magic Urban channel, the company unveiled AfricaMagic Igbo, which debuted on 2 April. This brings to eight the total number of AfricaMagic channels on its entire bouquet.

The new channel is a 24-hour general entertainment channel featuring the best of Igbo language content including magazine shows, movies, drama series and sitcoms.

TheNEWS learnt that the channel is designed to appeal to audiences in and outside Nigeria, as the Igbo language is also spoken in a number of other African countries like Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon.

The channel is also expected to be popular with audiences across the continent as shown by the widespread success of the popular Igbo language movies of the 1990s.

•Nonye Ben-Nwankwo, Azuka Ogujioba & Mary Ekah

Already, with the coming of the channel, many have been expressing optimism that this could cause a tectonic shift to the production of more language films by the Nollywood practitioners of Igbo extraction, and by extension, catalysed the production of more classics like the Living In Bondage, Rattlesnake and Nneka The Pretty Serpent.

Already, Edochie had led the call for Igbo filmmakers to take advantage of the new channel to produce more of rich and enduring Igbo content. He was also supported by the famed Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, who told TheNEWS how excited she was that her people now have a dedicated channel that would promote their culture and lifestyle.

“I am so grateful to AfricaMagic and happy as an Ibo woman that we finally have a channel that identified with Igbo indigenes. We now have a platform through which we can showcase our culture and our tradition and tell our own story in our own way. I am actually happy,” Genevieve told TheNEWS.

•Mama G & Mr Ibu on stage

According to the celebrated actress, she is now looking forward to featuring in her full Igbo language film. “I can assure you that you will definitely see me featuring in Igbo films. In fact, I am already working on one now and you will hear more about it soon,” she said.

Hosted by ace comedian and Nollywood actor, Okey Bakassi, who was supported by two of his colleagues in the comedy business, Basketmouth and Chigul, the glamorous event witnesseed a stellar musical performance by an Igbo traditional troupe, Onyeka Onwenu, Tony One Week, Chidinma, Phyno, and Flavour, who closed the event with a medley of his hit songs.