Row After Gambian Leader Gives Land To Film Stars

Nigeria's Nollywood films are popular in many African countries (AFP)

A row is brewing between a Gambian filmmaker and some Nollywood and Ghallywood actors following President Yahya Jammeh's allocation of plots of land to some Nigerian stars and Ghanaian actress, Nigeria's Leadership newspaper reports (EMBEDDED).

Prominent Gambian filmmaker Prince Bubacarr is reported to have described the recipients as scavengers, who are out to milk The Gambia's government dry, the paper said.

He questioned why The Gambian president gave land to the stars, saying that many people in the country are living in abject poverty and will not benefit from such generosity.

Nollywood refers to Nigeria's film industry and Ghallywood to Ghana's.

Nollywood, Gambian Filmmaker At War Over President Jammeh’s Land Gifts

The land gifts which some Nollywood stars recently received from the Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, have continued to generate a lot of reactions in Nigeria and Gambia. PATIENCE IVIE IHEJIRIKA writes on the crisis.

The last has not been heard of President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia’s recent allocation of plots of land to some Nollywood stars and Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah as the gesture has continued to generate reactions. Indeed, the development has pitched a Gambian filmmaker against some Nollywood stars.

A prominent Gambian filmmaker, Prince Bubacarr, according to an online report, is so irked by the gifts that he was said to have called Nollywood and Ghollywood actors scavengers, who are out to milk the Gambian government dry. He voiced his opposition to it, insisting Gambia does not have the wherewithal to dish out such generosity to foreigners when so many of its citizens are wallowing in abject poverty and cannot benefit from such largesse.

As stakeholders in Nollywood describe the gesture as a welcome development, Bubacarr has warned the beneficiaries not to be fast in developing the plots of land, advising them to have a rethink. He said President Jammeh erred in giving out what belongs to the Gambian people to foreigners, calling attention to the fact that he (the president) would not remain in his position forever. He described the gesture as a waste of Gambia’s scarce resources.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ejike Asiegbu, was forced to respond to Bubaccar’s claim, describing him as a monster and one speaking out of frustration.

He said: “I am compelled to respond to a certain Prince Bubaccar. After reading his rather lengthy and winding attack on Nigerian and Ghanaian actors entitled “Nollywood Actors, Others Must Stop Scavenging On Our Meagre Gambian Resources”, published online last week, one would have allowed him to enjoy the satisfaction of pandering to his perverted sadistic frustrations, but then, that would be watching a monster go untamed at its infancy.

“Despite his self-glorification and bragging that he had not collected a ‘dime’ from the president of his country, Gambia, Alhagie Yahya AJJ Jammeh, Bubaccar appears to be seething with hate and malice. Listen to him: “Personally, I see it as a blessing in disguise that President Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh has so far not given me a dime for my Gambian film industry projects,” Prince Bubaccar’s piece clearly shows a man pained that his president has not satisfied his selfish desires which he had tried albeit unsuccessfully to hide. He has therefore resorted to cheap emotional blackmail that has put him in a bad light further.

“Bubaccar’s hate filled attack on Nigerian and Ghanaian actors stemmed from the recent news that President Jammeh gifted 15 movie stars piece of land in the Gambia, in the president’s latest move to open up his country’s emerging film and video culture not only to Africa but the world in general.

“However, Bubaccar, a Gambian who felt sidelined by his president despite his claim of having been making films for two decades, like the proverbial woman that was scorned, decided to vent his hate filled fury against Nollywood and Ghanaian film stars calling them offensive names such as ‘scavengers’ and ‘hustlers’.

“While Bubaccar’s infantile and attention seeking rage only succeeded in putting him in a bad light, he needs to be reminded that Nollywood practitioners have been involved in collaborative initiatives with the good people of the Gambia, geared towards growing the Gambian movie industry inspired by Nigerians and Gambian citizens. These collaborations began as far back as 2007, a move encouraged by President Jammeh.

“Some of the initiatives led to capacity workshops undertaken by Nollywood actor Francis Duru and other notable practitioners on pro-bono basis out of the interest zeal and passion of the Gambians towards Nollywood and the Nigerian people.

“It should be noted that President Jammeh’s respect and love for African contents especially Nollywood goes a long way to express the intensity of his Pan African drive towards restoring and protecting the heritage of Africa. It was President Jammeh’s request to come up with collaborative initiatives to help build the Gambian movie industry to satisfy the hunger and interest of the good and peaceful people of the Gambia.

“One will forever remain grateful for the value President Jammeh has placed on our industry and for his magnanimity towards our colleagues especially the choice piece of land, so we are not threatened by Prince Babuccar’s infantile threats.”

LEADERSHIP recalled that President Jammeh had on Saturday, October 11 honoured some top Nollwood stars and Ghanaian actress Jackie Appiah with plots of land in the capital city of Banjul.

The stars who benefited from the land gifts are Francis Duru, Patience Ozokwor, Segun Arinze, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Monalisa Chinda, Eucharia Anunobi, Ejike Asiegbu and Tony Umez.

Others include Ngozi Ezeonu, Chika Okpala, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, Harry B. Anyanwu, Rukiat Masud and Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah.

The president who spoke through the vice president, Dr (Mrs) Isatou Njie-Saidy, at the presentation in Banjul, Gambia, said the gesture was in recognition of the efforts of Nollywood in showcasing Africa’s cultural heritage and values to the whole world.

The Gambian president also used the medium to solicit support from the stars towards making Gambia’s actors and actresses part of the success stories of Nollywood and Ghollywood.

He was quoted as saying “Nollywood and Ghollywood have been able to capture and tell our stories better than any outsider can do. Africans relate to your stories and same with those in the diaspora and the Caribbean and around the world. You are great African ambassadors and you must continue to achieve and surpass what you have today as you have made us proud.”

In his response, one of the actors, Francis Duru, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues thanked the Gambia government for the gifts and promised they would create opportunities for rising Gambian stars to make their mark.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have reacted to the Gambian president’s gesture, describing it as an uncommon feat that should be emulated by other African leaders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the president, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), FCT chapter, Onwura Agility as saying “This shows that Nollywood is doing well and our efforts are being appreciated even outside Nigeria. Other African leaders and Nigeria government should encourage and do everything possible to provide enabling environment for Nollywood. Let us develop what we have to avoid brain drain.”

Also, the president, Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Frankwhite Nzeh said “there is no doubt that Nollywood is colonizing Africa with its rich experience and talents. What the Gambian president did is commendable and good for his country and Nigeria as it will create a better relationship between them, especially in entertainment business. Within the next few years, you will see how fast the Gambian movie industry will grow, just because of this goodwill by its president.”