Azuka Ogujiuba is back again! This time she brings you all the gist from the premiere of Desperate Housewives… Those who impressed, those who didn’t… all the juicy gossip you need to know.
Honestly, I thought the shoes l wore were not appropriate for my dress, but l couldn’t drive all the way back home to change. Besides, l was already running late and didn’t want to miss the red carpet- especially the colourful guests lined up for the event. I needed to see the red carpet ‘misses’ and ‘best dressed’, according to the omnipresent lens of fairground. Come on guys, let’s enjoy this ride together.
Pomp and Pageantry as Desperate Housewives Africa Premieres
EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle network held the much awaited premiere and private screening of Desperate Housewives Africa, a local adaptation of the multiple award-winning ABC television drama hit series, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, recently.
Following its premiere, Desperate Housewives Africa began to air exclusively on EbonyLife TV, DStv Channel 165, on Thursday April 30, 2015, at 10pm CAT. It was an enchanting evening of beautiful people, exquisite appearances and altogether remarkable moments with power-dressers and hostesses, bespoke décor, colouful branding, red carpet interviews, cameras, lights, music, cocktail, light refreshments and cut-to-the-chase addresses and remarks.
The Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu; Managing Director of Airtel; Marketing Directors of Diageo, Procter and Gamble and Airtel took turn to deliver their riveting addresses. The remarks were followed by the showing of behind-the-scenes of the drama series, which was equally accompanied by an address from EbonyLife TV’s Director of Scripted Programming, Ms. Quinty Pillay. In all, one would submit that it was an eventful outing, one that was worth the while.
The Moment
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for – the screening of the pilot. The guests were expectant and the ‘sneak peek’ did not fall short of expectation as everyone cheered and clapped at what was only a foretaste of an enthralling and spell-binding homegrown remake of the multiple award winning TV series, one which has promised to take drama to a scandalously new dimension.
Who Did What?
Airtel, leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, is the headline sponsor of the series. Other sponsors include Snapp, Diageo’s unique apple-flavored alcohol drink for independent female consumers; Oral-B, worldwide leader in the brushing market; and Ariel, the marketing line of flagship laundry detergents made by Procter & Gamble.
Desperate Housewives Africa is supported by CMB Property Developers, a leading and award winning all-encompassing real estate development organisation with an objective to revolutionising the sector for the purpose of engendering participation from every segment of the populace;
Universal Furniture, dedicated to helping people express their unique sense of style by developing fashionable, customised and innovative home, office and industry furnishing at great value; MAC Cosmetics, globally acclaimed professional and quality makeup artist quality cosmetics, offering more than 100 shades for eyes, lips and face, indeed, everything a makeup addict can’t live without.
Others include Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure, a natural island, luxurious, elegant and first of its kind resort developed by Gran Imperio Resorts Ltd, a subsidiary of Gran Imperio Group and a formidable real estate development consortium; Designers Foundry, the first fashion focused business support programme for emerging designers from Nigeria and Africa; VP Grasse, Nigeria’s number one artificial grass company that installs premium quality synthetic grass in homes, gardens, commercial buildings, play grounds and schools and for sporting activities; and SilverPitch Sounds, a leading sound and music composition company based in Lagos.
All You Need to Know about Desperate Housewives
Since 2006, five different versions of Desperate Housewives have been produced for EMEA and Latin American audiences. These are “Umutsuz Ev Kadinlari”, a Turkish production which launched 2011; Amas de Casa Desesperadas,” the Argentinean version (in Spanish, for broadcast in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay); the Colombian/Ecuadorian version (in Spanish, broadcast in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, and also sold to Japan); the U.S. Hispanic version (for broadcast in U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic); “Donas de Casa Desesperadas,” the Brazilian version (in Portuguese, for broadcast in Brazil).
The original Desperate Housewives won both the 2005 and 2006 Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. It was created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios. The series is broadcast in more than 200 territories around the world, where it has been one of the most popular U.S. TV shows in recent history with its eighth and final series concluding in 2012.
The Campaign Picture
But one thing that is not going down well with me is the campaign shots. It somewhat bothered me, maybe I was just expecting too much and maybe because Desperate Housewives is one of the most successful TV series in the recent past, one expected its franchised production anywhere in the world to have the best production and not something really distant from the actual work- especially when it comes to production, cast, styling, make-over and all that there is.
It was not as striking as one would expect, considering the fact that we have been seeing these stars, who looked better on other outings. Their hair-dos didn’t look close to being glamorous, the make-up didn’t do justice and the dresses, yes, the dresses didn’t work on all angles. It’s not just enough that a dress accentuates well on the right places, but the colour and style didn’t literally sync. I know it is Nigeria’s rendition, but it is a franchise production, so one would expect the campaign shots to be as irresistible as the real one. But I doubt if anyone would look at this picture and see anything other than the title “Desperate Housewives” and this is because we all watched it.
My little advice for the Desperate Housewives Africa (DHWA) hair stylist and stylist is that there are upcoming designers who would do anything and be delighted to be part of your crew. They can design nice, trendy outfits in Ankara for the cast; biko, (please) your cast doesn’t have to keep wearing English attires that project their personality cheaply. I’m just saying this, in case the budget is lower, when compared to Celine, Balmain, Gucci, Ralph Lauren outfits. Stylists, I admonish you to scout around well and be very smart and, you will find. And the hairstyles gave me another concern, especially Kehinde Bankole’s curls, something can be done. Also, the guys need to look extremely sharp- Ozzy Agu and Jason Nwoga will look so cool in a Mai Atafo’s outfit. Well, maybe Mai might be a bit expensive, but l’m aware the designer is very accessible and reasonable. He can render assistance if the style team approaches him. We need that zeal, sophistication and gasp-inducing touch in this series if we’re truly adapting it to our style- the proud African way.
The Cast
The night ended with the cast and crew being introduced to the excited audience.
I love the cast. I’m absolutely excited at the cast, as the Ebony production clearly went for “talents” over popularity, which I think, is a good thing. I thought they picked real talents with fresh faces and it was very appealing to my soul- we may share divergent opinions here though. I was happy not to see faces like Alex Ekubo, Bryan Okwara, IK Ogbonna and my very good friend, Uti Nwachukwu- absolutely not because l don’t want to ever see their faces in any flick, but because l think we need a break. I told him so, on a lighter mood, when l saw him at the Enugu airport on our way back from the launch of the Igbo channel on DStv. And, for the women, no Genevive Nnaji, Ini Edo, Rita Dominic and Omotola Jolade Ekeinde and co. l still like these ladies but don’t you also feel we need a breath of fresh air? I like a situation where other people are allowed to showcase the stuffs they are made of- level playing ground for all.
Mo Abudu
She is, to say the least, a go-getter. This woman is damn too aggressive; sometimes l wish l had her drive. She is positively daring, and has a brave heart like Mel Gibson’s in his movies, “The Brave Heart” So, taking big risks and fighting to win comes very natural to her. I’m not trying to help anyone blow their trumpet here; it’s no time for innuendos just because she is behind this massive project. I like what she wore even though some people think she should have dressed her age- some people frowned at it. I’m a sucker for strapless tops and dresses, if that is the only crime l will ever commit in my life so be it! I will not stop wearing them even when l get so old, by the grace of God. I love anything strapless or tank signs. l don’t know who designed her outfit, but l ‘kinda’ liked it.
Mo Abudu is the CEO of EbonyLife TV, Africa’s first Global Black entertainment and lifestyle network, showcasing the best of the continent to a passionate black viewership around the world. Since it commenced broadcast on July 1, 2013, the channel has continued to produce and broadcast over 1000 hours of exclusive, premium and homegrown content with world-class production values to over 15 million viewers in 49 African countries in the West, East, Central, South and Southern Africa regions via the DStv platform. EbonyLife TV is also available in the UK on TalkTalk TV (EPG 478 on the African TV Boost package), and will soon be available in Canada, having recently signed a carriage agreement for distribution with Ethnic Channels Group Limited. EbonyLifeTV is where every programme – from reality to talk; drama and entertainment; magazine to comedy – leaves the audience with that cool, glossy, polished and sophisticated experience.
Ozzy Agu
I heard he has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Mercer University, Georgia. Though, l have never seen any of his movies or TV series, but watching his wife land him a hot slap when he attempted to make love to her without condoms set the ball rolling for me in the series. I loved that punch, abi na slap. He portrays a selfish husband who made his wife give up her life and career, so she can stay at home and take care of the kids and the home. Agu plays the role seamlessly- he is natural and spontaneous. Good looking and extremely polite, Agu smiles and laughs a lot. l saw him a week after the premiere in Enugu at the aforementioned DStv launch of Igbo channel with the slogan, ‘Ebe o Na kpotu’. But who can tell what becomes of him when he finally becomes a big star or when he ‘hammers’ as they say? He also was part of a stage play directed by Wole Oguntokun titled REDD, which was presented at the Muson Center, Lagos. He played a major role in another play, ‘The Preacher’. I’m so positive he is one of the new big things happening soon not only in Nigeria but also in Africa. Movie buffs should watch out for Ozzy Agu, remember l said it first on fairground.
Deola Sagoe
For me, she is one of Nigeria’s best dressed women. In every sense of the word, this lady earns what we call ‘Respect’. I have known her all the years of my career. l followed the growth of her brand, as a fashion writer, right from M-Net Face of Africa and during Oluchi Onweagba Olandi victory in South Africa. She is so talented and, most of all, not an attention seeker. She is classy, sophisticated and amiable. Sagoe carries herself with so much panache that it is so difficult to fault her outfits whenever she steps out. She knows what suits her frame and over time has subtly stole the show. At this premiere, she dressed her age and wore the look just appropriate for the occasion.
Vivian Chiologi
She loves labels and l like to say she’s another label freak with a difference. She is classy and has such poise with her designer ensembles. This is another woman who truly knows how to rock labels without looking vulgar or cheap. She makes you love the labels instead of seeing them as tacky in the eyes. She was one of my best dressed at the premiere. She looked so graceful in her apparel, I don’t know who designed what she wore- the lovely cream or is it white dress, shoes and bag played the role sweetly. And she shares a similar striking feature- she dresses her age all the time.
Nneka and Isaac Moses of Goje Africa
This sweet couple graced the occasion and, Nneka was in her happy spirits as always. They are true ambassadors of Nigeria and Africa. You can never catch them wearing any kind of English outfits whether casual or glam. Nneka’s hair style was very African, l mean it was her choice, though l believe she wants to sell Africa wherever she goes. Their programme, Goje Africa has taken them to many shores of the world to cover different cultural festivals and events.
Michelle Dede
She plays the role of Tari Gambadia (Susan Mayer) in Desperate Housewives Wives Africa (DHWA). She is natural too and a good compere. Ayo Animashaun of the HEADIES award should try her out sometime, I am positive she will not disappoint. I like her style; she’s got class and charisma. She is polite and does not go over the board with her dress sense, but l didn’t understand what her elder sister wore to the premiere, but from afar she looks good but when you get close, her style is hazy. She is bohemian, but is she really one? Most times, l think she is very confused about what to wear, but l guess Michelle should be able to assist her sister, at least, some little sisterly tips to keep the family circle glowing with pleasant attires especially when they slide to the public eyes.
Kehinde Bankole
She played Kiki Obi (Gabrielle Solis) in the series. I have a big issue with her hair styles and costume, especially the way she looked in the campaign pictures. The fact that Desperate Housewives is a very glamorous series should encourage her to bring some class and style to her personality. I do like her realness and, l’m not saying she should fake anything, but she needs to work on her style and carriage, l still have not gotten over her horrid cock colored hair style and badly cut ball gown at the AMVCA 2015. She won the best actress in Drama and, sincerely, she is a wonderful actress, very connected to her roles from Super Story to one of my favorite Nigerian movies, October 1st produced and directed by my paddy from way back, Kunle Afolayan.
Nkiru Anumudu
The last time l saw socialite Nkiru Anumudu was at UBA CEO Awards. She looked so calm in her lace dress, and so sweet that l pondered, ‘why can’t she look like this all the time?’ Though, some traits of her wild jungle looks hovered around, sometimes she reminds me of ‘Jana of the jungle’, so much that, I keep wondering, ‘what’s Nkiru Anumudu’s definition of being stylish or fashionable? She is just simply too fashion overzealous, too much of a label freak. People like her feel that when you wear designer outfits all the time and from head-to-toe, it means you are the best dressed and most stylish at any occasion. I’m sorry, madam you are not in tune with today’s direction of fashion. It is high time you knew the truth away from what sycophantic friends tell you. That you look good? No ma, you don’t lately. Those compliments are all ‘wash’ as they say.
Women like Betty Irabor and Deola Sagoe don’t come out wearing labels to functions. Don’t get me wrong, l’m not saying you should stop wearing labels, but please at your age and level, you should downplay whatever doesn’t accentuate well your body type.
Sometimes her attitudes depict ‘a money miss road’ kind of fashion. Is there a trophy she is hoping to win in Nigeria as the most popular off the run way outfit buyer? It is very cool to buy and wear label if you can afford it, but she is not making it appealing to the eyes anymore, it is becoming an attack on ones sense of appreciating fashion. I see scary, too-much-into –your- face kind of fashion. And you were even pleasantly astounded by your looks and l keep wondering why you had such a horde of butterflies in you at a premiere that had no presence of original cast- neither Beyonce nor Kim Kardashian were there at the red carpet to surprise you or any other person who loves surprises.
At the red carpet l could not help staring at Anumudu who reminded me today of an ‘Igbe’ priestess with her red and polka dot Dolce and Gabbana dress and the same red polka dot Dolce and Gabbana shoes. Then, she had colored beaded anklets, her purse was by Moschino, a bird, but made in form of a barbed wire and her eyes fierce in a surprise mood as always.
Her case reminded me so much of my friend, Derenle Edun who would never change no matter what anybody wants to say, but you can excuse him because he is into showbiz. He is a red carpet host, a TV presenter and an actor. So, where does she fall into here, or maybe she passes for a showbiz wife, l guess. It was so bad that l had to make sure l asked someone to help me search for the model wearing the dress and shoes at the Dolce and Gabbana ready to wear 2014 collection.
I think it gives her so much joy and fulfillment when BellaNaija, OnoBello.com and other fashion blogs put her pictures side by side with the runway models wearing the outfit, and when the exotic price of the outfit was published. I am placing the pictures of the simple cute model wearing the outfit and Anumudu’s, there is too much game of ludo or is it snake/ladder game around Nkiru Anumudu’s outfit.
l know who Nkiru Anumudu is trying to be like fashion-wise. She appears to be copying the fashion style of Anna Della Russo and, who knows, perhaps, she wants to be remembered or seen in the fashion industry as the Anna Della Russo of Nigeria, and of Africa too. Her style is not really her invention, and not many are aware of this home truth. What she does not realise is that Anna Della Russo is very slim with a flexible personality and a girly mien. She seamlessly passes for a diva too.
Her dramatic style doesn’t appear vulgar or clumsy to the eyes, yet you still want to stare at her, wondering how she takes her time to put the pieces together. She looks crazy most times with labels rioting all over her. On the contrary, Nkiru comes to a public event with an air, her personality is stiff and bland, and this makes it so easy to find conspicuous flaws in her composition.
Nkiru has practically worn all Anna Dello Russo’s dramatic fascinators by carrying pineapple, apple, houses, bananas and all sorts of creations on her head; even purses and handbags are not left out. And to probably want to be described as a fashion maniac like Anna Dello Russo is all good. At least, everyone knows where to glue their styles. For instance, if l were consistent and could afford it, l would like to be dressing up like my classy and sophisticated fashion idols, the late Jackie Kennedy-Onasis, the late Lady Diana, and presently Victoria Beckham but l honestly can’t. I love Nigerian designers, so I might look for one of them who can make these pieces for me, so l can mix and match both local and foreign designers- this is my wishful thought, right? I’m laughing too. It will be foolhardy of me to even attempt it, so l am stuck in my bohemian style and sometimes affordable classic styles, thank God for Real Colours boutique and Yaba market o. Sometimes, l do my affordable shopping when l go abroad. Now, l repeat, l’m not saying you shouldn’t wear labels if you can afford them, but how you wear them is the final style statement.
This is a brief history of Dello Russo
Dello Russo was born in 1962 in Bari, a city in the south of Italy. She has an M.A. degree in Italian Literature and Art History taken at the University of Bari and attended the Domus Academy in Milan. Before assuming her current position of Fashion Director and Editor-at-large at Vogue Nippon. Dello Russo spent 18 years at Condé Nast Italia, as fashion editor at Vogue Italia and as editor of L’Uomo Vogue from 2000-2006.
She is self-described as a “passionate fashionista” and has been described by Helmut Newton as a “fashion maniac. On October 4, 2012, Dello Russo released a line of accessories through her collaboration with Swedish fashion giant, H&M. The highly anticipated collection comprises jewelry, luggage, sunglasses and even an ornate feather hat.
I also wonder why Nkiru does not spend such amount of money on Nigerian designers. Okay, let me assume her excuse will be that their finishing is poor. But if a client like Nkiru approaches a Deola Sagoe, Lanre Da-Silver, Tiffany Amber, Ade Bakare and the endless list, won’t they give her a special time and make sure her pieces come out right and that it sits perfectly well on her? And if she wants to be kind and be supportive of the Nigerian fashion industry, she could pick or look for an upcoming designer, encourage her and her business by patronising her. She will not understand what joy she will bring to someone’s life, livelihood and career. Michelle Obama has done it several times. She has brought a lot of unknown designers to the media spotlight and the world by patronising and supporting their designs. Even Beyonce did so recently when she wore Tope Abiola’s Frock It and Rock It outfits. It is possible Nkiru wears Nigerian designers once in a while, but I’m yet to meet her at an event where she wore any.
The big international designers she patronises by now should have her names inscribed boldly on their guests’ lists; they should be sending her first class tickets and front row invitation cards where she sits next to her fashion idol like Anna Dello Russo or mama Anna of Vogue magazine. I hope it will happen so soon because every now and again, I keep watching out to see when BellaNaija and OnoBello.com will post it on their fashion websites or Instagram pages showing us Nkiru flanked by fashion aficionados, maybe at New York, Paris, Milan or London fashion week- perhaps at their private viewing or even attending the MET ball, among all the big fashion events abroad. My candid position is that nothing is absolutely wrong in buying foreign labels, but think about investing more on your local designers who will respect and cherish you more than a Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci or YSL. These do not care if you exist even when they obviously smile to the bank with your money.
I also think Omoyemi Akerele should be inviting you to her annual Guarantee Trust Bank and Lagos fashion and design week. And here you deserve a front row seat, so you can look around well and see the designers whose service you can afford for your ‘weird’ styles. The truth is that we have to start supporting our own now, and I mean our own designers. They are not doing badly. I might be wrong though- it is all my opinion from which you may well share a divergent position.
Fade Ogunro
I like her. She’s always happy, so much fun, and fabulous with her energetic life. All l can say is that l’m still trying to connect the outfit she wore to her personality, she should have left that outfit for our sweet pregnent divas – Omawunmi and Tiwa Savage. I think Nigerian popular faces should start checking out what their stylists bring to them in the name of fashion. When you start getting adventurous without adequate attention to your style, you start getting in the list of fashion ‘MISSES’- that dress could have been cool on someone else’s body frame, maybe on the big/bold side or probably a pregnant woman.
Bank of Industry Introduces NollyFund for Film Makers, Producers
In continuation of Bank of Industry’s (BOI) support for the Nigeria Creative Industry, BOI has developed a special product programme called “BOI NollyFund” under which Nigeria’s leading movie producers will receive financial support to produce films of international quality and screen them through various platforms of movie distribution available both in Nigeria and internationally.
To support this process and ensure that only commercially viable scripts with good storylines benefit from the scheme, the Bank has set up a NollyFund Implementation Advisory Group made up of two cinema management experts, one national film distributor, two production and post-production experts, two film critics/reviewers, and two film producers. The Group’s mandate is to critically review all the film scripts and associated budgets submitted to BOI by movie producers and make technical recommendations to BOI management for final credit appraisal and subsequent approval in line with the Bank’s Credit Policy.
NollyFund has an initial Programme Limit of N1.0 billion and a single obligor limit of N50 million for individual loans.
The Fund can be accessed by companies engaged in film production. Applicants are expected to provide commercially viable scripts and demonstrate a track record of successful movie production.
The producer is expected to sign up a reputable distributor who will issue a Minimum Guarantee and provide cash deposit of five per cent of the loan amount. A Minimum Guarantee is a cash advance payable to the Producer by the Distributor in exchange of exclusive rights to distribute a film in contractually stipulated media in agreed Sales Territory. This is similar to the internationally accepted loan structures for movie production and will definitely provide a great boost to Nigeria’s Nollywood.
The Bank has already accredited some reputable Distributors, namely: G-Media, Filmone Distribution Company, Silverbird Distribution Company and Genesis Deluxe Distribution Company and Studio Operators, namely: Fans Connect Online Nigeria Limited (i.e. Afrinolly), Kingsley Ogoro Productions Limited and 4Screams International Nigeria Limited to support this initiative.
It would be recalled that the Bank of Industry had, in the recent past, financed the following creative-industry projects: Half of A Yellow Sun, Flower Girl, Digitization of Silverbird Cinemas, The Filmhouse, Viva Cinemas, Ozone Cinemas, G-media, among others.
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