Maami Cast and Crew
Funke Akindele
as Maami
Funke Akindele was born on the 24th of August 1977, As a young girl, Funke had a dream to become a big Actress, writer, and producer. Her mum discovered her talent and she supported and inspired her. Staying true to her dreams, she started writing scripts in her secondary school days. On the sideline, she also cultivates another passion- a love for debating.
With an OND in mass communication from Ogun state Polythecnic at the age of 19, Funke’s journey into the world of entertainment was challenging, and filled with auditions. At the end of each session she was considered not fit for the role
For a long time the conveted lead role weren’t forthcoming; not even a ‘silent blink’ otherwise called ‘waka pass’ – As an upcoming actress craving for a break she never gave up. Finally she got a minor role in ‘Naked wire’, a movie produced by Opa Williams. In1997,turning 20, Funke attended an audition at Swift Studios for a TV series on teenage reproductive health,titled ‘I Need to Know’ . She got the leading role of ‘Bisi’ where she had to talk like a teenager. By this time she was a law student at Unilag. For her ‘I need to Know’, sponsored by UNFPA was a project that she missed a lot having worked on the set for four years.After graduation she got a few roles- Egg of life,Break Up and final Whistle. Soon she joined the Yoruba movie industry,pitching a tent with the Odunfa caucus – led by the trio of Yinka Quadri , Taiwo Hassan ( Ogogo) and Abbey Lanre.In 2004 she produced her first movie titled Ojo Ketala (on the 13th) to launch herself into the market.She has 8 movies to her credits they include, Eta’nu( grudge)), Agbefo( catch in the air),Ekuro( till death), Maku, Jenifa, Taiwo Taiwo, & Apaadi( a multi million naira movie with over 200 casts.) To Funke, acting is a talent and gift from God. She plans on taking a course in movie directing to improve her art. Jesus Christ remains her role model, while the likes of Liz Benson, Joke Jacobs, Tunde kelani, Kate Henshaw& Bukky Wright influence her career. Apart from writing and producing, she likes to express herself through fashion and dancing. Funke owes her success in the make believe world to God, her parents (especially her mum),Lloyd Weaver,Kunle Coker, Opa Williams, Andy Amanechi, Yinka Quadri,Taiwo Hassan, Abbey Lanre, Biola Olatunde,& Alhaji Akeem Balogun &her fans.For her immense contribution to the Nigerian film industry, Funke has been presented with numerous awards some of which are,Best Actress in a leading role 2009 – ( AMAA )
Best Actress 2008&2009 - (City People Awards)
Hottest movie personality2009 (City People Awards)
Best Actress/Scriptwriter 2008 – (Naija community in Canada)
Best Supporting Actress 2007 – (Afro Hollywood Awards)
Movie act of the year 2008 – Dynamix Award
Actor of the year 2009 - The future Awards
Wole Ojo
as Kashimawo
Adewole Ojo is graduate of the Creative Arts Dept, in the University of Lagos.
his love for the arts blossomed at a tender age. His career as a professional
actor started at age nine. In the 90′s he featured in children’s series;
“Kidivision 101″ and hit family sitcom “One Big Family” both aired on NTA. This
two engagements spanned across a period of six years. He has also featured in a
few television series which include; The Maze, Everyday People, One Love, This
Life,Dear Mother, Havilla and Haven. his debut stage performance (at 11) was in commemoration of a children’s day celebration at the NIIA (Nigerian Institute of International Affairs), sponsored by UNICEF.
He has since moved on to perform in works likes Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and The Jewel, Femi Osofisan’s Red is the freedom Road, Ahmed Yerima’s Ade Ire, Lekan Balogun’s Moremi Ajasoro, and many more. He also has a number of plays to his credit has Director, and they include Wale Ogunyemi’s Langbodo, Bode Osanyin’s Beer Parlour Philosophy, Moliere’s A Doctor in Spite of Himself and excerpts from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. He has worked with the likes of Sadiq Daba, Tajudeen Adepetu, Wale adenuga, IzuOjukwu, Charles Novia, Wasiu Onatilo, Antar Laniyan, Pat Oghere, Kingsley Omoefe, Micheal Udoh, Tunji Shotimirin, Joke silva, Bukky Ajayi, Alex Usifor, Denrele Edun, Lekan Balogun, Femi Oke and many more. he emerged winner of the fourth edition of the Amstel Malta Box Office Reality T.V Show (2008/2009), and stared in the movie “The Child”, a movie that received nine AMAA nominations (including his nomination for the category; most promising actor), as well as representing the brand; Amstel Malta as brand Ambassador. He recently won an award for Best Student Actor at The Peak Awards (2010) and currently features on MNET series “Tinsel”.
AyomideAdebolaAbatti, ten year old attends High Gate Nursery and Primary School and he is admitted to the Apostolic Grammar School, Ketu, Lagos to further his education.Ayomide is a lively smart and intelligent boy and also very friendly. He loves football with passion, while his best food is Indomie with fried egg and plantain (dodo). Ayomide is a talented and promising child.
Tamilore Kuboye
as Dolapo
Tunde Kelani
Producer / Director
Tunde Kelani holds a Diploma in the Art and Technique of Filmmaking from the London International Film School, London. After many years in the Nigerian Film Industry as a Cinematographer, he now manages Mainframe Film & Television Productions, an outfit formed to document Nigeria’s rich culture. Tunde Kelani has worked on most feature films produced in the country in his capacity as a Cinematographer. Some of 16mm feature films include: ANIKURA; OGUN AJAYE; IYA NI WURA;TAXI DRIVER; IWA and FOPOMOYO. In the area of video productions, he has to his credit award-winning feature videos: TI OLUWA NILE; AYO NI MO FE; KOSEEGBE and OLEKU. An advocate of ‘Alternative Technology’ in motion picture production in Africa, Tunde Kelani has successfully produced and directed two digital features,SAWOROIDE and THUNDERBOLT. He has also completed work on his latest digital film ‘AGOGO-EEWO’ shot on widescreen digitally on DVCAM.
In addition to the M-net short features films, ‘TWINS OF THE RAIN FOREST’,‘A PLACE CALLED HOME’and ‘BARBER’S WISDOM (35MM) , he also photographed, produced and directed a short feature in 16mm ‘THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF’ in the same series. He has since added THE CAMPUS QUEEN’ ABENI and THE NARROW PATH, the first set of works to probe further the possibilities of advanced digital filmmaking.
He recently added a new film ARUGBA which has just concluded free, open-air community screenings in 57 local government and development council areas of Lagos State in Nigeria.
Tunde Kelani uses the Mobile Cinema Project, designed to take information and entertainment to the grassroot.
In addition to the M-net short features films, ‘TWINS OF THE RAIN FOREST’,‘A PLACE CALLED HOME’and ‘BARBER’S WISDOM (35MM) , he also photographed, produced and directed a short feature in 16mm ‘THE WHITE HANDKERCHIEF’ in the same series. He has since added THE CAMPUS QUEEN’ ABENI and THE NARROW PATH, the first set of works to probe further the possibilities of advanced digital filmmaking.
He recently added a new film ARUGBA which has just concluded free, open-air community screenings in 57 local government and development council areas of Lagos State in Nigeria.
Tunde Kelani uses the Mobile Cinema Project, designed to take information and entertainment to the grassroot.
FILMOGRAPHY
- Ti Oluwa Nile (feature) -1993
- Ayo Ni Mo Fe (feature) – 1994
- Koseegbe (feature) – 1995
- O Le Ku (feature) – 1997
- A Place Called Home (short) cinematographer – 1997
- The White Handkerchief (short) – 1998
- Twins of the Rain Forest (short) cinematographer – 1997
- Saworoide (feature) 1999
- Thunderbolt (feature) – 2001
- A Barber’s Wisdom (short) – cinematorapher – 2002
- Agogoeewo (feature) 2002
- The Campus Queen 2004
- The Narrow Path (2007)
- Life In Slow Motion (2008)
- Arugba (2008)
Hakeem Adenekan
Associate Producer
Hakeem Olarenwaju Adenekan an alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School (Pan-African University), Lagos; Alumnus of Cranfield University, United Kingdom; Alumnus of IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Spain. He also receives his Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication at the Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Master in Business Administration with specialization in Marketing, at the Lagos State University.
Mr. Adenekan is an expert in the field of Marketing Communication, Branding, Event Management, Printing, Radio and Television Productions to mention a few. He is a full member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a fellow of the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN).
Mr. Adenekan is an expert in the field of Marketing Communication, Branding, Event Management, Printing, Radio and Television Productions to mention a few. He is a full member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a fellow of the Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN).
Bola Bello
Production Designer
Bola Bello is a Production Designer and Art Director.He studied Film at School of Visual Arts in New York, has worked extensively in the U.S. on movies, TV shows, commercials, documentaries and art installations.Credits include: Making the Band II, Chappelle Show, Small Boy (Movie 2009), Relentless (Movie 2010)
Jamiu Soyode
Production Manager
Shoyode ‘TunjiJamiu is a graduate of mass communications from Lagos State Polytechnic and a professional certificate holder in NEW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS from the great PAN AFRICAN UNIVERSITY,LAGOS, after several years of tutelage under the veteran disciplinarian, Dr. Tai Solarin.His zeal and interest in the multimedia world has brought him to the biggest world of African creativity, MAINFRAME PRODUCTIONS.He has worked in different other works before now which includes both television commercials, short films and documentaries.
He is presently the training co-ordinator at Advanced Film and Television Training Africa.
Tai-Lo
Makeup
Titilola Ogundipe is the artist, stylist and designer behind Tai-Lo. Her interest in makeup and beauty started when she was a teenager, she was always particular about how sheI looked.
She grew up knowing she was going into something that had to do with fashion. Naturally education had to come first.Titilola has a BSc in economics and MSc in business information systems. During her masters program, she attended a couple of makeup workshops in London and also went to Modeling/finishing School in Manchester. She did training with Banke Meshida Lawal (BMPRO), and then went further to London School of Makeup and beauty for a diploma in Foundation +creative +media+ photographic and special effects makeup.She also furthered in beauty therapy at the same school, (London school of Beauty and Makeup). Titilola has different certificates in Manicure, pedicure, waxing, facials and massage and she is now a certified member of the international makeup association (IMA). She is at her happiest when she creates flawless, picture perfect look.
Tai-Lo’s mission is to redefine the “Face” of makeup in Nigeria and ultimately across Africa by introducing edgy and high fashion looks cutting across every corner of the entertainment industry.
She grew up knowing she was going into something that had to do with fashion. Naturally education had to come first.Titilola has a BSc in economics and MSc in business information systems. During her masters program, she attended a couple of makeup workshops in London and also went to Modeling/finishing School in Manchester. She did training with Banke Meshida Lawal (BMPRO), and then went further to London School of Makeup and beauty for a diploma in Foundation +creative +media+ photographic and special effects makeup.She also furthered in beauty therapy at the same school, (London school of Beauty and Makeup). Titilola has different certificates in Manicure, pedicure, waxing, facials and massage and she is now a certified member of the international makeup association (IMA). She is at her happiest when she creates flawless, picture perfect look.
Tai-Lo’s mission is to redefine the “Face” of makeup in Nigeria and ultimately across Africa by introducing edgy and high fashion looks cutting across every corner of the entertainment industry.
Tolu Abiodun
TolulopeAbiodun is a 2006 graduate of Computer Science from the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State. His passion for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Creativity led him to the Nigerian Film Industry where he has had a brief and most memorable career as a Digital Imaging Technician. He’s worked with award-winning Nigerian ace Cinematographer (TundeKelani) for the last 3 years and undoubtedly has been nurtured.He has worked on numerous TV commercials and a few feature films which include the following:PouquoiMoi (Benin / Nigeria 2008)
Life In Slow Motion (Ghana / Nigeria 2008)
Arugba (Votary Maiden) (Nigeria 2008)
Life In Slow Motion (Ghana / Nigeria 2008)
Arugba (Votary Maiden) (Nigeria 2008)
Biodun Kupoluyi
Publicist
Biodun KUPOLUYI brings experience of more than a decade and a half to start ENTERTAINMENT TWENTY FOUR SEVEN MAGAZINE (E24-7), the latest entrant into the Nigeria’s entertainment media publishing industry.
E24-7 brings incisive interviews and the most controversial stories about the lifestyles of music and Nollywood’s biggest stars and reports the nooks of the entertainment business, thoroughly steeped in the thick, redolent aspects of the industry.
His experience in PUNCH helped to sharpen his editorial skill and served as a springboard towards a long-lasting career in publishing and management. During his career as a reporter many of Biodun’s assignments have included exclusive interviews with some of Nigeria’s most influential artistes, icons in Africa and the Diaspora such as President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Youssou Ndour, His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Executive Governor of Ogun State, business mogul, Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya, HRH Erelu Dosumu, Rita, wife of late reggae legend, Bob Marley, Her Excellency, Mayor of Wandsworth Borough, London, Erelu Lola Ayonrinde, computer genius, Phillip Emegwali, and former World Footballer of the Year, George Opong Weah.
E24-7 brings incisive interviews and the most controversial stories about the lifestyles of music and Nollywood’s biggest stars and reports the nooks of the entertainment business, thoroughly steeped in the thick, redolent aspects of the industry.
His experience in PUNCH helped to sharpen his editorial skill and served as a springboard towards a long-lasting career in publishing and management. During his career as a reporter many of Biodun’s assignments have included exclusive interviews with some of Nigeria’s most influential artistes, icons in Africa and the Diaspora such as President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia, Youssou Ndour, His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Executive Governor of Ogun State, business mogul, Chief Rasak Akanni Okoya, HRH Erelu Dosumu, Rita, wife of late reggae legend, Bob Marley, Her Excellency, Mayor of Wandsworth Borough, London, Erelu Lola Ayonrinde, computer genius, Phillip Emegwali, and former World Footballer of the Year, George Opong Weah.
Bem-Vindo A Nollywood Film Festival Celebrates Tunde Kelani in Brazil
Posted on Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Advanced Film and Television Training in Africa – a masterclass workshop series
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2011
