Where I’ve Been for the Past 5 Years - Bob-Manuel Udokwu

Nigerian actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu is one of Nollywood's veteran actors who graced our screens in the early 2000s and are one of the pioneers of the industry. These days, the beloved actor hasn't been in our faces the way he used to be back in the day, and now, during a new interview with Channels Television, Bob Manuel is speaking about where he has been these past 5 years, and also speaking about what he thinks Nollywood can do better. Here's what Bob-Manuel Udokwu had to say.

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During his interview, Bob-Manuel Udokwu was was asked "What have you been up to for like the past 5 years?" to which he answered:

BOB-MANUEL UDOKWU: I have been in Anambra State, my state. Political appointment. Currently, I'm the special adviser to the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, on Entertainment, Leisure, and Tourism. That's where I've been. I'm still also very big part of Nollywood. I have a new movie coming out on Netflix so I'm very much around.

Then he was asked "What do you think is missing from Nollywood because we have the stories, we have the people, we have the minds. So, what else is missing?" He responded:

BOB-MANUEL UDOKWU: Collaboration. I said this years ago that Nollywood has come of age. We don't have to do anything more to prove to the world that we have world class talents here. There is this conversation about Idris Elba being cast to play Okonkwo in Hollywood's make of "Things Fall Apart". I don't have anything against that as an actor, but I feel like we have people, top class actors in Nigeria who can play that role even better knowing where that story is coming from. But that's a story for another day.

What Nollywood needs now, which I said years ago, is collaboration. And it is beginning to happen. I happen to be part of another production that involved two major actors from India and another Hollywood-based actress. We need to have more and more collaborations with our counterparts in Europe and North America. That is the path to follow now and I believe that it is beginning to happen gradually, and we will eventually get there. The talent we have in Nigeria is awesome. I mean, I recently travelled to France and Germany, and I know the kind of reception I got across board. Total strangers would see you at airports or train stations and surround you to take pictures and you wonder how they know you. We're great ambassadors of this country out there. And I think we're also respected here.

What do you think about what Bob-Manuel Udokwu had to say, and what do you think about his return to Nollywood? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment either below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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