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Movie Review: Wives On Strike 2: The Revolution

Movie Title: Wives On Strike 2: The Revolution
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Omoni Oboli, Toyin Abraham, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Uche Jombo, Sola Sobowale, Ufuoma McDermott, Kenneth Okonkwo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Hafiz “Saka” Oyetoro, Julius Agwu, Chioma “Chigul” Omeruah, Odunlade Adekola
Director: Omoni Oboli
“Wives On Strike 2: The Revolution” begins with a different set of circumstances from where the previous instalment left off. After Mama Beatrice is murdered and her body hidden, a group of friends consisting of Ejiro/Mama Ngozi (Oboli), Jemima/Madam 12:30 (Jombo), Mama Bola (Abraham) and Mama Amina (McDermott) decide to enlist the help of a vigilante friend to uncover the cause of death. After being kidnapped and tortured, Mama Beatrice’s husband confesses to the murder, and is handed over to the police.
Elsewhere, Joy (Chigul) is at the receiving end of constant battering at the hands of her husband (Adekola), while Vera (Akpotha) is trying to get over the discovery of her husband’s cheating. The association of women, led by Iya Dami (Sobowale), gives the Lagos state government an ultimatum to look into their needs, or risk another “strike action”. The government calls their bluff, and the women nationwide “close up shop”, leaving their husbands with blue balls.
Also Read: Movie Review: My Wife And I
The movies explores various societal issues, including domestic violence, marital infidelity and abuse. The 95-minute clip also makes room to discuss leadership opportunities for women, girl child education, patriarchy and spousal support.
Toyin Abraham dazzles in her role as the less educated of the quartet, with her brand of unforced humour making for a lovable watch. Omoni Oboli has always attracted divided opinion about her acting prowess, but she does surprisingly well here, with her particularly ear-catching use of pidgin English. Uche Jombo does not have much to do but barely puts a foot wrong, Sola Sobowale takes on a more serious and less dramatic role but performs nonetheless, while Ufuoma McDermott gets lost in the scenes as she fails to own her space.
Also Read: 17 movies that caught our eyes at the Nigerian cinemas in 2017
The men in this movie bear little significance to the plot, and consequently, are treated as such. They offer virtually no bearing to the audience’s journey, and except for a few slapsticks moment from Saka, they could have as taken up non-speaking roles. Kenneth Okonkwo seems out of place as a mechanic husband, and it is unclear whether Julius Agwu is trying so hard to be serious.

The film itself generates genuine giggles and chuckles, but stumbles in trying to execute the plot. It feels a tad disjointed, and for a moment it feels that the director is so caught up in the story of Mama Ngozi and her friends, then suddenly remembers that the fate of Joy’s abuse and Mama Beatrice’s killer has not been resolved, and goes on to patch up the missing scenes. There is also undue emphasis on sponsors and brands, and somewhere in the middle, everything fades into drab speeches about worthy causes and social messages, before slowly picking up again.
“Wives On Strike 2: The Revolution” is bedeviled by clichés, but that does not make it any less watchable. It is a good, if not great, vehicle for conveying an all-important message on women’s rights, and while you don’t have to rush to the cinemas for it, you won’t necessarily be brooding and asking for a refund if you do.
Rating: 6/10

Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book Here 
You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com

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Opinion

Opinion: Benue Killings And The Other Issues | By: Wole Aguda

The episodes of killings that Nigeria has witnessed in recent times are not new. While conceding that, I must however immediately submit, that they bear the trappings of an expansionist agenda that works against the spirit of unity that the Nigerian spirit actively espouses and passionately promotes.
The Herdsmen killing problem of Nigeria is partially caused by the trap of conspicuous consumption in which we find ourselves. We must eat meat regardless of the price or the circumstances of its availability. The average Nigerian family has a cultural affinity to meat and its consumption. Despite recurring warnings from Nutritionists about the hazards of red meat, we have continued to consume meat as status symbol. The man whose morsels of Fufu and Eba are accompanied with sizeable chunks of obstructive meat in soups is seen as living well regardless of his heart condition and so by extension, whether agreeable or not, we are slaves to the average Herdsman. His meat is a god on dining sets and at eateries across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The need to eat meat is therefore a remotely connected, yet powerful but unmoderated driver of the killings at Benue.
How many of you will survive without meat in your soups? We copy the White man per opportunity but not in their prescriptions for diet. Our consumption at Ipetumodu and Mbiase forms the fundamentals of the industry. Nothing will change till that also changes. Shake the demand side a bit and see a calming down.
But what do the killings say about the profiles of the Herds and their owners. If I were a Herdsman, I wouldn’t kill my market. I would be concerned about corporate social responsibility. I would be drawing up plans for increased wallet and market share. While I will have security as a concern, I will more than any other thing conceptualize how cows can be supplied via electronic orders placed on my website. I’d be having sleepless nights on how I can even do more than I am currently doing in huge sales per day. I would be concentrating on the mechanics for a Cows-on-Demand Business Model.
See, I believe that technology can redefine daily living and so will be guided by the need to consider 21st century thinking for an Ottoman Empire trade. It is what is going on in developed countries so why not here? So the run of herdsmen, reflects the ownership, and the entire value chain. Who are the faces behind them? Owners of these businesses must be exposed, not for shaming, but for needful update on how to manage consumers, regulate markets, retain external relations and social responsibility. Our herdsmen should consider CSR, for starters. Their owners should attend business school. If they can’t, why are we one country where basic thinking on a simple subject as mutual exchange of value between Herdsmen and communities is so polarized. Or do we have a consensus?
We cannot blame President Buhari any longer. He boldly declared already in 2015, 3 good years ago that there is a limit to his performance due to old age. We are nonetheless the fools at fault for building gallant expectations against expressed inability.
May the blessed departed souls of the people of Benue (whom I love so much), Adamawa, Taraba and Plateau rest in peace. Amen.
 
 

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Sports

Wilson Oruma suffers mental breakdown after losing N1.2b

Former Super Eagles midfielder Wilson Oruma has suffered a mental breakdown after losing N1.2bn in a phony oil business. Oruma, who played alongside JJ Okocha and Kanu suffered a mental disorder six years after the incident and is currently a shadow of himself. More sad is the fact that, his ex wife introduced him to the fraudster clergyman who defrauded him of the hefty amount and also misled him into working with him. She later divorced him.
His close friend, Emakpor Dibofun told Complete Sports that: “Wilson Oruma hasn’t really recovered from the emotional disorder which he suffered after he was duped. He has been to several places in search of a lasting solution, but it gets worse after a bit of improvement,” he said.

In the wake of the report, Super Eagles legends, Augustine Eguavoen, Samson Siasia and Nwankwo Kanu, have reportedly agreed to organise a fun-raising match to aid the recovery of their former teammate.The game has been proposed to hold in Lagos in February.

Ex Nigerian International and former Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Waidi Akanni, also revealed that a delegation will be sent to meet with Oruma’s family to know how they can help him fully recover.

“Since the news broke that he (Oruma) had a relapse of an emotional disorder, his former teammates having been trying to reach out to people around him to show love to him, Taribo, Kanu and some of the Atlanta 96 set are keen to turn out for their former teammate.They have all agreed to reach out to his family to see how they can help him out and also use the opportunity to educate the current players on how to plan their future after retirement. I’m sure other players who will be contacted later will be willing to take part just as the Lagos State government and the Delta State government, where Oruma hails from.”

41 year-old Oruma laced his boots for RC Lens, Nancy, Samsunspor, Nimes, Servette, Sochaux, Marseille and Guingamp, and Kavala FC of Greece before he retired at the age of 33 on November 26, 2010. The midfielder also featured for Nigeria’s U-17, U-23 and the senior national team winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1993, the Olympic gold in 1996 and two bronze medals at the African Cup of Nations in 2002 and 2006.

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Entertainment

Stephanie Linus Arrives Italy To Advocate Against Human Trafficking

In the wake of the increased rate of human trafficking being experienced by Nigerians trying to migrate to Europe via Libya, Actress and Producer Stephanie Linus has recently arrived in Italy to give support to rescued people and raise her voice against such human rights violations.

This timely intervention is in partnership with the world-renowned international medical humanitarian organisation “Doctors Without Borders” (MSF). Over the next few days, Mrs Linus will visit the rescue ship “Aquarius” to witness their activities and operations. Later she will have meetings with some of these vulnerable women;  participate in rehabilitation exercises for the rescued women, media parleys and stakeholder meetings with the aim of alleviating their sufferings and preventing more girls and women from falling prey.

 

Doctors Without Borders is one of the most impactful humanitarian organisation that rescues thousands of people who faced hazardous conditions trying to enter Europe through the sea yearly. In 2017, the Aquarius (a rescue ship)  has rescued 15,078 people.

Mrs Linus has been at the forefront of advocacy over sensitive issues that affect the rights of women and girls. She has done this through several channels such as her advocacy movie – DRY, her role as UNFPA Ambassador; her charity organisation Extended Hands Foundation and many more. 

 

An increasing number of women, mainly from Nigeria, are being trafficked to Europe for sexual exploitation. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), there has been an almost 600% increase in the number of potential sex trafficking victims arriving in Italy by Sea since 2014. Many of these women were kidnapped against their will or lured with the promise of greener pastures.

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Opinion, Sports

Opinion: Why Africa’s young people are the real winners at the CAF Awards | By: Benedict Peters

Almost nowhere on earth is football followed as passionately as in Africa. It is loved by Africans from all walks of life across the continent. This week, I am giving the opening address at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Accra, Ghana. This has afforded me a good opportunity to reflect on Africa’s relationship with football and how it can help deliver a brighter future for our young people.
I believe we need only look to the Liberian presidential election for a fine example of the transformative power of football. Against the odds, football legend and opposition candidate, George Weah was victorious and today, is President-elect of Liberia, one of Africa’s most popular countries. Weah’s perseverance in the face of an initial unsuccessful attempt is a testament to the endurance football teaches.
Before he was a Presidential candidate, of course, Mr. Weah was an outstanding footballer whose career spanned great clubs like Paris Saint Germain, Marseille, Monaco and even English Premiership giants like Chelsea and Manchester City.

George Weah

A striker of fearsome reputation, Weah has been described as the greatest footballer to emerge from Africa, confirmed in 1995 when he won both FIFA Footballer of the Year and the highly valued Ballon d’Or. Over a three year period, in 1989, 1995 and 1996, he claimed the top prize of African Footballer of the year, crowning that in 1996 with the African Footballer of the Century award.
The power of a footballer entering frontline politics cannot be overstated, for two reasons. First, it shows that politics is accessible to all, to the ambitious individual who dares envisage a way he or she can contribute to their country’s future. Second, it makes politics interesting and relevant to young people. If our continent is ever to reach its full potential, then it is our young people who are going to deliver it.
Africa’s youth are already shaping today and redefining tomorrow with their creativity, passion and innovation. I believe that the greatest gift that our generation can give them is to continue to provide platforms for aspiration, recognition and inspiration. But the idea of ‘opportunity’ or of ‘potential’ can be an abstract enough concept to adults never mind the younger generation, many of whom have been overlooked by the decisions of governments not to allow funds raised from investment to trickle down into stronger education systems, apprenticeships and advancement.
In football, the notion of opportunity is far from abstract. Football has always been a unifying factor and a great tool for promoting integration and development. But more than that, it is a global currency, a language spoken in the United Kingdom as much as in Brazil, China and Nigeria. And in football we see, most tangibly, the bold young role models and ambassadors of Africa who are inspiring others and have set the pace in their pursuit of excellence.
Of course, we must be careful not to set false expectations. Football is affected by the same attrition rate that applies to other sports in that very many are called but few ultimately make the dizzy heights that many dream of.  President Barack Obama pointed out that youth in the United States may have good role models for economic empowerment and entrepreneurship in the music industry, but that it was unlikely that each child would grow up ‘to be the next Lil Wayne’, so children must also work hard in school. The same can be said of football: not all of our children will grow up to be the next George Weah, Abedi Pele,  Dider Drogba or Jay Jay Okocha, but these role models still offer young people a concrete example of the hard work that goes into the pursuit of excellence.

The example of football goes far beyond the 22 men or women who stand on the pitch for 90 minutes each week. I know this because I have seen the extraordinary depth of support services that go into creating the finished product of a football match, and the transformative role they play when properly looked after.
Over the last year, Aiteo has been supporting sports development in Nigeria, leading a partnership agreement with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to provide financial Support to the technical team of Nigeria’s national team for the next five years. In the months since, Nigeria has won more games than they have lost and has qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Aiteo has also made significant contributions towards developing the local football by underwriting the costs associated with organising the Federation Cup, Nigeria’s equivalent of the English FA Cup, helping smaller teams grow and improve on the national stage.
With coaching roles, training roles, marketing, advertising, commercial partnerships and merchandising roles all part of the infrastructure of a newly-global Nigerian football team, no child need only grow up to be the next Alex Iwobi if they are to benefit from the transformative power of football. If a footballer can become the head of a nation, they why not a football coach, a medic or a marketing executive?
So, when I stand on the stage this week to open the CAF Awards, the winners will be very clear to me before the awards have even been handed out: the true winners will be every young person who sees that event; sees that the eyes of the world are on Africa and that a future for each one of them exists in which they can go beyond their school, their hobbies, their parents, and truly embrace their potential. Because the way we conceive the future sculpts the present.

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Entertainment

LOLADEVILLE BLOG EXCLUSIVE: 17 MOVIES THAT CAUGHT OUR EYES AT NIGERIAN CINEMAS IN 2017

Hi guys, it’s that time of the year again. Our annual list is out and we really can’t keep calm at the moment. We took a break from football and did something different this year.  We focused on movies. Movies that had us scampering to the cinemas, that received critical acclaim and that won’t just leave our lips because everything about them; casting, cinematography, story-line are just too lit. This year’s exclusive list was compiled and written by my wonderful friend and blog contributor, Jerry Chiemeke. Jerry is a lawyer, movie critic and so much more. You can check some of his reviews here, here and here
This year’s article is titled: 17 Nigerian movies that caught our eyes at the Nigerian cinemas in 2017. Enjoy!


The past few years in this decade have witnessed a shift in the direction of movie-making and film distribution in Nigeria. The cinema culture witnessed a revival, locations became more diverse, and a marked difference in the quality of cameras was noticed. New actors came up too, and in time, a demarcation of sorts between the low budget, Asaba side of things (“old Nollywood”) and the glossy, elite side of town (“new Nollywood”) with fresh faces and new equipment.
However, while cinematography and sound went up a notch, the movies in general were still lacking in watchability. The scripts were watery, the transition in scenes left much to be desired, and the role interpretation by the “new” actors was cringeworthy, with few exceptions like “October 1st” and “Phone Swap”. Time and again, cinema goers asked for refunds of their ticket, and for a moment, the old guard hanging around Idumota and Alaba had cause to mock and sneer.
All that began to change two years ago, with a marked improvement in screenplay (“76”, “Surulere”, “A Soldier’s Story”), and the year 2017 saw many screenwriters and directors come with their A-game. Movie critics and cynics had less to complain about, and cinema tickets sold out on some occasions (a movie reviewer once had to show up on a later date to see “My Wife And I” as Silverbird Cinemas Ikeja had run out of tickets on the day). It is not yet Uhuru for Nollywood, and indeed there is still a long way to go, but progress cannot be ignored.
This year treated us to the awesome, the average and the downright forgettable when it comes to cinematic Nollywood. We took notes, and so, in ascending order, here is a compilation of the 17 movies that appealed to us the most, beginning with:
Honourable Mention:
Mentally (Frank Donga, Toyin Abraham. Chris Okagbue, Erick Didie): A young man ditches his village for the busy streets of Lagos on his friend’s invitation. He gets a peculiar welcome from pickpockets and motor park preachers, and when he caves in to peer pressure and smokes marijuana, gets transported to an alternate universe. Could have been better delivered, but the message was clear enough.

    And now, the countdown proper.
17. Okafor’s Law (Omoni Oboli, Blossom Chukwujekwu): A movie based on the unwritten law of “perennial access” to a lady once    shagged. Involved some pre-release controversy with screenwriter Jude Idada as to intellectual property rights, leading to a postponement of its premiere date. Full marks for attempt, but not much by way of inspiration.
    16. Ten Days In Sun City (AY Makun, Adesua Etomi, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Miguel Nunez Jr., Thenjiwe Moseley): The third      installment in the “Adventures Of Akpos” franchise. In this one, Akpos’ girlfriend wins the Queen of Nigeria beauty pageant and earns  a 10-day vacation in Sun City, South Africa. While there, he is approached by a business mogul to let go of her, with a tempting offer of an international passports and millions of dollars, ultimately putting his integrity to task. Better than its predecessor “A Trip To Jamaica”, but as usual, creating divided opinion as to AY’s comic credentials.
15. Banana Island Ghost (Chioma “Chigurl” Omeruah, Patrick Diabuah, Bimbo Manuel, Ali Nuhu): A plus-size lady is in danger of losing her house, no thanks to her late father’s default in mortgage payment. She has a few days to raise 18 million dollars, and has to form an unlikely partnership with a dead man whose ghost is given three days by God to find love before he can enter Heaven. Mildly funny, and a great soundtrack too, but fails to live up to the hype.

14. Hakkunde (Frank Donga, Toyin Abraham, Rahmat Sadau, Ali Nuhu): A movie about an educated man who sinks into frustration after a futile search for a white-collar job. He eventually finds himself teaching in a remote village, where he has to adapt to the culture and is intrigued by their way of life. Entertainment value is debatable, but highly educative nonetheless.
13. Alter Ego (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Wale Ojo): A film about a lawyer who fights to bring sex offenders to justice by all means possible, even if it involves becoming a sultry seductress after office hours. A tad sexually explicit, and while the movie teases,  whether it is ultimately pleasing is anyone’s guess.
12. Roti (Kunle Afolayan, Kate Henshaw): A woman finding it hard to come to terms with the death of her son runs into a boy who    bears a striking resemblance to the deceased. She becomes obsessed with the child, causing her husband to question her sanity. Not a perfect story by a long shot, but a reminder that the director of “The Figurine” has still got it.
11. The Women (Ufuoma McDermott, Katherine Obiang, Omoni Oboli, Kate Henshaw, Toni Monjaro, Kalu Ikeagwu): A movie    that would appeal to fans of the series “Lekki Wives”. A woman, in a bid to impress, borrows money to celebrate her “40th” birthday. She invites her three closest female friends and their husbands, all of whom have secrets to hide. Genuinely funny, relatable too, but missed the chance to highlight salient social issues.
10. The Tribunal (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Norbert Young, Funsho Adeolu, Damilola Odunsi): A young lawyer seeking justice after feeling hard done by with his dismissal from a top law firm drags his employers to a tribunal. Some real-life lawyers would feel that more research should have been done, but it is hard to fault the delivery of the actors.

9. My Wife And I (Ramsey Nouah, Omoni Oboli, Sambasa Nzeribe, Jemima Osunde): A constantly fighting couple on the verge of divorce take one last shot at salvaging their marriage by visiting a pastor. They wake up the following day, much to their horror, in each other’s bodies. They have to keep this strange development a secret and adapt to their new gender. Not an original plot if you watch Hollywood chick flicks, but lovable to watch.
8.  The Wedding Party 2 (Banky Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Enyinna Nwigwe, Daniella Down, Ireti Doyle, Richard Mofe-Damijo): Continues from where the first installment left off. Nonso “accidentally” proposes to Deardre, who agrees. They are both unsure, but go on with the wedding plans, involving each other’s families. Glossy, and by all means a commercial success, but falls short of the standards set by its predecessor.

7. Picture Perfect (Bisola Aiyeola, Bolanle Ninalowo, Mary Remmy Njoku): A fashion designer finds herself in a precarious situation when her car breaks down in an unsafe part of town. She is rescued from area boys by a man whom she subsequently keeps running into. Unpredictable, with top notch role interpretation too.
6. Catcher (OC Ukeje, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Tope Tedela, Alex Ekubo, Beverly Naya): A career woman is found murdered in cold blood on her wedding anniversary. The investigation widens and a number of people, including her husband and her colleagues, are roped in as suspects. Fluctuating in pace, but totally fun to watch, with the mystery being the real catch.5
5.  The Bridge (Zack Orji, Chidinma Ekile, Kunle Afolayan, Tina Mba, Ken Erics): A story based on tribal differences, diverse cultural backgrounds, love and determination. Looks cliché from the start, but blossoms into a powerful watch. Emotion is palpable in this one.

4. In Line (Uzo Arukwe, Adesua Etomi, Chris Attoh, Sika Osei): A man is sentenced to prison for murdering his father, but is freed after six years thanks to his mother’s influence. His wife still has reservations about the violent conduct which he exhibited prior to his imprisonment, and this causes friction between them. A plot involving lots of scheming, lies and power play. Non-cliché, and while it struggles for pace at the mid-point, it ends pretty well.
3. Body Language (Ramsey Nouah, Tana Adelana, Ken Erics): A serial killer who targets ladies puts the city on alert. A corporate executive who works as a stripper at night, is particularly anxious after her colleague in her “side job” is murdered. One of her favourite clients at the strip club is a man obsessed with watching birds, who turns out to be the CEO of a firm her daytime employers  had earlier pitched to. Great chemistry between the lead characters, and steamy too, with an unexpected twist at the end.
2. Isoken (Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, Mark Rhys, Tina Mba, Funke Akindele, Patrick Doyle): An artsy, successful lady in her thirties is continually hassled by her mother for being single. She soon runs into a man who seems to be Mr. Perfect, but she finds herself in a dilemma when she develops fondness for an Englishman on contract at her workplace. Strong feminist agenda here, and a somewhat improbable conclusion, but a stellar performance by the cast and crew.

  1. Potato Potahto (OC Ukeje, Jocelyn Dumas, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Lala Akindoju, Joke Silva, Chris Attoh): A couple fall apart, but neither of them is willing to move out of the apartment. They decide to devise an arrangement, each restricted to certain parts of the house, from the kitchen to the parking lot. They try to outdo each other in inflicting misery and stirring jealousy. The movie explores the depths of human pettiness, the imperfections that make us who we are, and the concept of compatibility. Laden with wit, humour and consistency in sequence of events, this film is worth the popcorn and drinks, even where it drags too long. Its conclusion is open-ended in an amazing way too.

There you have it, our top indigenous films of 2017! Here’s to more eye-catching movies in 2018, and here’s hoping that you promote local content by going to see Nollywood movies in cinemas. Not every time Star Wars and Justice League, sometimes Wives On Strike and Wedding Party.

Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book Here 
You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com

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Arts, Entertainment

Movie Review: Wedding Party 2 | By: Jerry Chiemeke

Movie Title: The Wedding Party 2
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Year Of Release: 2017
Cast: Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Enyinna Nwigwe, Daniella Down, Frank Donga, Ikechukwu Onunuka, Zainab Balogun, Richard Mofe Damijo, Ireti Doyle, Ali Baba, Sola Sobowale, Patience Ozokwor
Special Appearances: AY Makun, Funny Bone, Chigurl, Seyi Law, Wofai Fada
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

“The Wedding Party 2” continues from where the first installment left off; Dozie (Wellington) and Dunni (Etomi) are happily married, while Nonso Onwuka (Nwigwe) and Deardre Winston (Down) are now an item. On a date at a fancy restaurant in Dubai, Nonso sees a lady turning her partner down, even after an expensive ring and a “will you marry me?” banner in an aquarium. He bends to pick the ring, and Deardre, thinking that he is proposing, says yes in excitement. Nonso is confused, but unwilling to ruin Deardre’s moment, plays along.
Deardre’s parents, always quick to claim royal heritage, are not comfortable with the idea of having Nigerians as in-laws, but they relent and head off to Nigeria to visit Felix Onwuka (Mofe-Damijo) and his wife Uju (Doyle). What follows is a series of events which put the love between Deardre and Nonso to the test.

Also Read: Movie Review: Mentally
One thing which this movie has going for it is its glossy nature. The cinematography is top notch, the sound is of premium quality, and relevant brands are on display too. “The Wedding Party 2” comes with the aura of a film for which a lot of work was done with respect to production, and the inter-cut between Lagos and Dubai boasts of tourism potential. The movie itself sheds light on the concept of exorbitant bride price, tradition and gender roles, with not-so-subtle hints at racial tensions and national pride.
Also Read: Movie Review: My Wife And I
Daniella Down and Enyinna Nwigwe put up decent individual performances, and Down in particular is adorable, but both fail to replicate the chemistry that existed between Wellington and Etomi in the first film. Ireti Doyle nails the role of ice queen, Mofe-Damijo is not the most charismatic family head, and Sobowale’s role interpretation is of a more serious, “motherly” tone. Frank Donga weighs in with the facial expressions, and Zainab Balogun’s performance as Wonu is one of the bright spots in this film. Ikechukwu and Ali Baba do not find too much room to shine, and Patience Ozokwor, in trying to play the role of “mean village aunt”, appeared a tad rusty here.

Also Read:  Movie Review: The Women
“The Wedding Party 2”, for all the anticipation that preceded its release, is pretty much all over the place, with patchy performances and the good moments being few and far between. The humour seemed forced and of a try-too-hard variety at certain points, and taking into consideration the high standards set by its predecessor, the movie is significantly disappointing. If you laughed out loud last year, you would only manage a few giggles here. If you held your chest in admiration twelve months ago, you would find yourself barely shrugging here, and if “The Wedding Party” was an enjoyable ride, its sequel was a forgettable flight, only stopping short of crashing spectacularly…and oh, the “dramatic event pops up so the wedding drags until NIGHT” reared its head again. Sure enough, it is by no means the worst movie that made it to Nigerian cinemas this year, but those who loved Banky and Adesua last time out will feel hard done by with this one.
The final scenes of the movie are predictable, but beyond that, they hint at a third installment, with the sudden bond created between Shola (Ikechukwu) and Yemisi (Somtokelechi). The crew has had a good run, but if they intend to birth Wedding Party 3, they should not let that water break, they have to abort it. Good PR and glossy scenes cannot cancel out sub-par acting, and for the love of all things good and fair, the franchise has to stop here.
Rating: 5.8/10

Jerry Chiemeke is a lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Lagos. An amateur photographer and sports enthusiast as well, Jerry’s works have appeared on Blanck Digital, Elsieisy, Oshodi.tv, The Kalahari Review and Brittle Paper. He is the author of ‘The Colours In These Leaves’. Get the book here
You can follow him on Twitter @J_Chiemeke, and also check out his craft on his blog at pensofchi.com

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Entertainment

George Weah elected Liberia's 25th President

Former AC Milan talisman,George Weah has been elected as President-elect of Liberia, West Africa Liberia’s 25th President.  The 51-year-old replaces Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Weah won thirteen out of fifteen counties while his 73-year-old opponent and current vice president, Joseph Boakai got only two counties.

Weah who is the only African to win the Ballon d’Or award was the 1995 World Footballer of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year
“I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season,” Weah said on Twitter.
He laced his boots for Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City and Marseille.

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Sports

Manchester City's Yaya Toure comes out of international retirement

Cote d’Ivoire’s midfielder Yaya Toure has come out of international retirement.
The Manchester United midfielder who has not played for Ivory Coast since AFCON 2015 final has decided to return to Ivory Coast national team to win another trophy with the Elephants. The 34-year-old, who has over 100 caps for his country, announced his decision via Twitter on Tuesday.
Toure tweeted: “I love my country and I am free for the national selection. I want to help the next generation and use all my experience so that all Ivorians are proud!”
Toure who has made made three Premier League appearances and eight in total after signing a one-year contract extension in the summer will remain at Man City.“He will 100 per cent stay at City in January. He wants to be a three-time champion of the Premier League, but he is also enjoying using his experience to help the young players at the club.” His agent Dimitri Seluk told Sky Sports News.”
Ivory Coast failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, their next opportunity is  the 2019 African Nations Cup. The next round of qualifiers for that tournament is in March.

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Galatasaray offer embattled ex-Arsenal star, Eboue assistant coaching role.

Did you read the disheartening riches-to-rags tale of former Arsenal star, Emmanuel Eboue?
48 hours ago, Daily Mirror told the story of how he contemplated suicide after losing everything to divorce. The Ivorian who earned millions of pounds in wages during an illustrious seven-year career in the Premier League now hides from ­bailiffs, sometimes sleeps on the floor of a friend’s home, travels by bus and even cleans his clothes by hand because he has no washing machine.
“I want God to help me,” he says. “Only he can help take these thoughts from my mind. Only he can help take these thoughts from my mind,” Eboue added.
The Ivorian lost his grandfather, Amadou Bertin — who raised him before being diagnosed with cancer and his brother N’Dri Serge — who was killed in a motorbike accident all in 2016. He has also faced divorce from his wife Aurelie — who will be awarded all of their assets.
The defender who made 79 appearances for Ivory Coast said admitted he cannot afford a lawyer anymore and he stays scared and keeps himself away from meeting people.

 “I am in the house but I am scared. Because I don’t know what time the police will come. Sometimes I shut off the lights because I don’t want people to know that I am inside. I put everything behind the door. My own house. I suffered to buy my house but I am now scared.”

“I am not going to sell my clothes or sell what I have. I will fight until the end because it is not fair.”

Eboue would have returned to Premier League (Sunderland) last year, unfortunately he was hit with a 12 month FIFA ban after a dispute with his former agent and that shattered the dream. He said he didn’t receive guidance to manage his finances and he is paying dearly for being “naive” with money. And he now wants other young African footballers to learn from his mistakes.
He says: “I look back and say ­‘Emmanuel, you have been naive… why didn’t you think about that before?’ It is hard. Very, very hard. The money I earned, I sent it to my wife for our children. In Turkey I earned eight million euros. I sent seven million back home. Whatever she tells me to sign, I sign. She is my wife. The problems with FIFA were because of people advising me. People who are supposed to care. But it was because of them FIFA banned me.”

With his assets transferred to his ex wife, he now has an Oyster card and relies on London transport and trying hard to hide from the public. He spends his time between the Enfield house and the home of a ­confidante he calls his “sister” – Yasmin Razak. “I call her house The Bunker. I can hide there. She has children. I don’t want to disturb them, so I sleep on the floor.”
He said seeing friends like  former team-mate Thierry Henry, a football pundit on TV triggers negative thoughts makes him, “ashamed of my own situation. “When I see friends on TV that I played with or against I say to myself ‘I should still be there’. It’s hard to watch them.”

It hurts deeply that he will not be spending Christmas with his kids daughters Clara, 14, and Maeva, 12, and son Mathis, nine. “It hurts me a lot. They used to call me. But now, no contact. It pains me to be alone without them.”
“Every day I wash my jeans, my clothes, everything. My hands are hard. As though I have been working on a farm. I thank my grandmother because she taught me to wash, cook, clean, everything as a young man. I continue to thank God. I have my life. I didn’t want what has happened. I don’t wish it on anybody.”
Eboue  would relish the opportunity to work with former club Arsenal or players’ union the PFA.
He says: “I would accept help from anywhere but if my previous club wants to help me then I would be very, very happy. Maybe I could help the young players? The PFA helped me when I had my problems with my agent. If they gave me a job, even if it wasn’t a big, big job. Maybe I’d see some of the people I played with or against and I’d feel embarrassed. But I would cope.”
 
Update on his situation
Galatasaray boss Terim, who was moved after reading the shocking story of the former Ivory Coast full-back has been offered an assistant coaching role of their U-14 team at the Turkish club.  He will remain at the Florya facilities provided by the club and will be a salaried employee.
 

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