The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Nollywood

  • Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57

    Nollywood Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has died at the age of 57 after a brief illness, his family has announced.

    The family disclosed his death in a statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, thanking fans and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

    “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness.

    “We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement read.

    His death comes months after the actor dismissed speculation about his health following the circulation of a video showing him looking frail on social media in June.

    Duru had described the footage as “fabricated and malicious” in a video he shared on Instagram, rejecting reports that he was battling a life-threatening illness.

    Born on July 27, 1969, in Cameroon to Nigerian parents from Imo State, Duru completed his early education there before moving to Nigeria for his university studies.

    He attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he studied Theatre Arts and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1996.

    Duru began his acting career in 1989, featuring in *Missing Mark*, a film directed by the late Ndubuisi Oko.

    He rose to wider prominence in 1995 after playing Ahanna in *Rattlesnake*, an action-comedy produced by the late filmmaker Amaka Igwe.

    Over the years, Duru earned recognition for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry and his influence on younger people. He was also named a United Nations ambassador of peace.

    In 2020, he won the Best Actor in a Leading Role (Igbo) award at the Best of Nollywood Awards for his performance in *Mboputa*.

    The actor married his wife, Adokiye, in 2003, and they had four children. The family suffered the loss of one of their children, Ifeanyi, in August 2024.

    Duru’s death marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career spanned several decades in Nollywood.

  • Nollywood’s Black Market Sets Guinness World Record With 51,000 Viewers

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nollywood crime thriller Black Market has set a Guinness World Record after 51,000 people watched the film at a single-location screening at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

    The record-breaking screening was held on Saturday, September 26, as thousands of movie lovers gathered at the Lagos venue for the film’s premiere.

    Guinness World Records recognised 51,000 viewers as the qualifying attendance, surpassing the previous record of 43,624 people who watched the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena in the Philippines in 2015.

    The figure recognised by the record body was lower than the total crowd at the venue. Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat had put the attendance at about 64,000, but the Guinness count was based on viewers who remained for the required duration of the screening.

    The achievement sparked celebrations at TBS, with cheers and fireworks following the announcement.

    Organisers had targeted at least 50,000 simultaneous viewers for the screening, which was designed to break the 43,624 benchmark. The official event programme stated that the gates opened at 2pm, while the film was scheduled to run from 7pm to 8:30pm.

    Long queues formed around the venue before the screening as movie lovers arrived for the event, which also featured music, games, food and other entertainment activities.

    The event attracted government officials and several Nollywood personalities, including Hamzat, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Gabriel Afolayan, Kunle Afolayan, Stan Nze and other members of the Nigerian film industry.

    Black Market was directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and co-written by Gimsay and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed.

    The film centres on five women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation whose activities are disrupted after the daughter of one of them is kidnapped. The cast includes Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe.

    The project was produced through Rixel Studios, in collaboration with Signet Ring Studios, Switch Visuals Production and FilmOne Studios. Plans for the record attempt had been announced months before the premiere, with the filmmakers targeting 50,000 people at TBS.

    The previous Guinness World Record of 43,624 people was established on October 4, 2015, when Felix Manalo was screened at the Philippine Arena. Guinness World Records lists the same attendance as the record for both the largest attendance at a film screening and the largest audience at a film premiere.

    With the latest achievement, *lBlack Market has moved the record to Nigeria, giving Nollywood another international milestone.

  • Veteran Nollywood Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Veteran Nigerian actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.

    His death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, in an Instagram post on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

    The family, while announcing his death, described the veteran actor as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect its privacy during the mourning period.

    Jacobs was born on July 11, 1942, and built a career spanning theatre, television and film. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before working with repertory theatres in Britain and appearing in several British television productions and international films.

    He later returned to Nigeria, where he became one of the prominent figures in the country’s growing film industry and contributed significantly to the development of Nollywood.

    Over the course of his career, Jacobs appeared in numerous stage productions, television programmes and films, working both in Nigeria and internationally. His credits included productions such as *The Dogs of War*, *Pirates*, *Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend* and several Nigerian films.

    His contribution to African cinema earned him several recognitions. In 2007, he won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. He later received the Industry Merit Award at the 2013 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards and the Africa Movie Academy Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

    Jacobs was also honoured by the Nigerian government in 2011 when he was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, for his contributions to the film industry.

    Beyond acting, Jacobs was involved in developing talents within Nigeria’s entertainment industry. He co-founded the Lufodo Group with his wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, with interests including film production, distribution and the Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts.

    His death marks the end of the career of one of Nigeria’s most recognisable veteran actors, whose work spanned several decades and connected Nigeria’s theatre tradition with its modern film industry.

    The family has appealed for privacy as it mourns the actor and film executive.

  • Toyin Abraham Unveils Pete Edochie as First Major Cast in ‘Bestie’

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nollywood actress and filmmaker Toyin Abraham has announced veteran actor Pete Edochie as the first major cast member of her upcoming movie, Bestie.

    Abraham made the announcement on Monday, September 14, revealing that Edochie will portray a character named Papa Ngozi in the highly anticipated production.

    The filmmaker unveiled the veteran actor on social media, celebrating his decades-long contribution to the Nigerian film industry and describing him as a “legend” and “GOAT.”

    She also confirmed that Bestie will hit cinemas on December 16.

    Although Abraham has yet to reveal details of the film’s storyline, Edochie’s involvement has generated interest among movie lovers, given his status as one of Nollywood’s most respected veteran actors.

    Further details about the remaining cast members and the plot of the movie are expected to be announced as the release date approaches.

    For Edochie, the role adds to a career spanning several decades, during which he has featured in numerous Nigerian films and television productions and become widely recognised for his diverse portrayals.

    Bestie continues Abraham’s tradition of releasing films during the busy December cinema season.

    Her previous festive-season projects include Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper in 2022, Malaika in 2023 and Alakada: Bad and Boujee in 2024.

    The filmmaker also recorded major commercial success with her 2025 movie, Oversabi Aunty, which surpassed N1bn at the Nigerian box office.

    The achievement earned Abraham a Box Office Champion Award from the National Film and Video Censors Board in March 2026.

    The December release of Bestie will put the movie in competition with several other major Nigerian productions.

    Funke Akindele’s The Four: No One Fights Alone is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 11, five days before Abraham’s film.

    With additional cast announcements expected, Abraham has continued to keep much of Bestie ’s storyline under wraps, while the casting of Edochie as Papa Ngozi has provided fans with an early glimpse of what to expect from the production.

  • 50 Shades of Kate: Kate Henshaw @ 50

    Nigerian stars have taken to their social media pages to celebrate popular Nigerian actress, filmmaker and fitness enthusiast, Kate Henshaw, as she clocks 50 years old today.

    Hailing the screen diva, her colleague, Rita Dominic, took to her verified Instagram account to post several pictures of Henshaw, describing her as an ‘all-around amazing woman’.

     

    Dominic wrote, “Wishing my hot beautiful friend a very happy birthday! You are such a bubbly bunny and an all-around amazing woman and I pray that the rest of your years be filled with every good thing on this earth. May the happiness you find today stay with you forever and a day! Love you lots @k8henshaw. P:S – This is what 50 look.”

     

    Also eulogising the delectable actress, ace actress and filmmaker, Uche Jombo, took to her verified Instagram page to post a video of Kate Henshaw.

     

    She wrote, “I can write a book on the institution called KATE! I have loved her since my first day on a Nollywood set! That’s over two decades of knowing, learning, working and believing in her brand! Timekeeper of sets. A talented queen. Fit4life at 50. WHAT!!!!!

     

    “Happy golden jubilee superstar! I celebrate you like always but most importantly I pray God continues to bless, keep, provide and lead you!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY K8 @k8henshaw.” (sic).

     

    Furthermore, actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, who fondly describes Henshaw as ‘Kate The Great’, wrote, “Happiest of birthdays to my beautiful, talented and real big sis @k8henshaw on her 50th birthday. #k8dgr8 (as I fondly call her) fitness queen, advocate, leader of the vampire geng!!! Love you loads and wish I was there to celebrate with you but this birthday na all year celebration.”

     

     

     

    Praising the actress, Empress Njamah wrote, “To know you is to love you, Katie you are an amazing soul, wonderful personality, never a dull moment with you. You carry people matter for head, my backbone, teacher, sister, and friend of twenty-something years.

     

    “You have been a sweet soul, @k8henshaw. You already know I love u loads, happy birthday my sweet 16 (like I always call her) 5th floor yet your looks have refused to leave 2nd-floor vampire…Ufanmi of life.” (sic)

    In 1993, Kate Henshaw auditioned for the lead role in the movie ‘When the Sun Sets’ and was chosen for the role. This was her first appearance in a major Nollywood movie. The multiple award-winning actress has starred in over 45 Nollywood movies.

     

    More so, in July 2014, Henshaw officially unveiled her campaign website as she was aspiring to represent the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal constituency under the platform of the People Democratic Party PDP.

     

    Although she lost the primary election to Rt. Hon Essien Ayi, Henshaw was later appointed as a special adviser by the Governor of Cross River State,  Ben Ayade, in December 2015.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com