Here are 10 heartwarming facts to know about Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the Nollywood icon that passed yesterday, 9 January, in Lagos.

WORTH READING: Industry players and regulators pour heartfelt tributes on the fallen Nollywood icon. READ THE TOUCHING TRIBUTES HERE

  1. A BIT OF A TOMBOY. She was a bit of a tomboy growing up. That’s because she was the only girl in a family of eight children. Her mother sent her to an all-girl boarding school in London to learn how to be a lady.
  2. INHERITED FATHER’S PROPERTY IN VILLAGE. Her father made a statement on girl-child inheritance by building a separate house for her in her village. Although people queried what will become of the house if she married, her Dad felt she should not look for where to sleep whenever she visited. “He made me believe in myself and I think it is one of the best things I had growing up, not being told I couldn’t do something because I am a girl.”
  3. A DARLING OF GOVERNMENT REGULATORS. She was an incredible ally of industry players and regulators, as can be seen from the quick expressions of shock at her death from the chief executives of NFC and NFVCB.
  4. HATED AWARDS BASED ON PUBLIC VOTING. She was firmly opposed to public voting to determine movie award winners, arguing that such system throws up the popular which may not necessarily be the best. She preferred the jury based system where experts use defined standard to vote for best film awards in various categories. This method shows “professionalism,” she said.
  5. WAS P-SQUARE’S ARTISTE MANAGER FOR A WHILE. She tried her hands at artiste management and guided the incredible duo, P-Square in the early stages of their career. She directed the duo’s first music video.
  6. TV DIRECTOR AND TALK SHOW HOST. She was also a TV producer and anchor at some point. Her talk show, “Peace of Mind” explored sociocultural issues not often promoted in mainstream media. Issues she canvassed included gender equality, caste system, and child trafficking.
  7. ESTABLISHED FOUNDATION TO TRAIN AND MENTOR ARTISTES. In 2005, she founded the Africa Film Academy (AFA), a foundation that manages the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). The AMAA has entered the African hospitality calendar as an important annual event for arts and culture practitioners and enthusiasts from around the world.
  8. RECOGNISED AS AN AFRICAN PIONEER. The continent of Africa recognized her contributions as a pioneer. In 2019, she was given the African Film Pioneer Award at the African Film Festival (TAFF).
  9. A NATIONAL AWARD WINNER. In 2012, the Goodluck Jonathan administration recognized her pioneering role in the filmic industry and gave her a national award as Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
  10. WAS A WRITER AND PUBLISHER. Ms. Anyiam-Osigwe published three books of poems. She once told an interviewer that poetry was one of the avenues for expressing her perception and understanding of things around her. Additionally, she published a magazine, Clicks, aimed at the black population in England.
With Mom: 10 heartwarming facts about Peace Anyiam-Osigwe

Author

  • Ogbuagu Bob Anikwe is the publisher of Enugu Metro. He writes a well-received column for Enugu Metro (on Sundays) and the (Nigerian) Sun Newspaper every Thursday. Contact Bob through any of the channels below or send an SMS to +234 803 622-0298.

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