Genevieve Nnaji tells Encomium columnist Stella Dimoko-Korkus all about the ‘Oprah Experience’
Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pmBy Bella
_________________________________________________________________________
Hello Genny
Stella how now?
How are you?
Good. You?
Fine. You must know why I am calling you?
Surprise me (Laughs)
Did you know you were profiled on Oprah.
Yes .
How did that come about?
It’s a long story my dear
I have enough credit
(Laughs) Well, I was away on holiday and got a call from Iconola that Oprahs people wanted to speak with me. I thought it was a joke but I told her to go ahead and give them my number in the UK. Then my P.A also called to tell me, the blogger, Bella Naija had also called about the same issue and that she had given her my email and number. Then I got interested and started paying attention to my inbox which I hardly do. (Laughs).
Then what happened?
Well the mail came soon after, but before I could respond I got a call from the Supervising producer of the Oprah show and an interview was carried out immediately over the phone. She explained to me first of all that they were doing a show on the most famous talents around the world and in their research I was the famous talent for Africa. I can’t tell you how shocked I was.
So, what were the steps, give us details?
I am not good with details (laughs) but basically, I had about 3 telephone interviews with them. I gave them one or two numbers in Nigeria that they could deal with to send them all the stuff they need for the segment and that was it really.
Was there any chance of you physically going on the show?
I don’t know. They asked me if I had a valid visa and I said yes but straight off the bat they said they were not sure when it was going to air and logistics might be a problem so they would let me know. It was cool with me because I was holidaying different parts of Europe with non-refundable reservations (laughs) so I was hoping they would not want me to come over immediately because the exchange rate of the Euro these days is not for children. Then I had a charity show in Nigeria on my return so, it actually was fine by me either way.
Would you have loved to go on the show and sit on Oprah’s famous couch?
Sure. Why not, who wouldn’t?!(Laughs) But I didn’t and I have no issues with that whatsoever. I feel humbled that the big O and her people sought out little me in my little Nollywood box to do a profile on me on the most popular talk show in America. The fact that I was discussed at all is a great honour as far as I am concerned and can only be a good thing for me and I represent Nollywood. So, it’s good all around. Maybe one day. You never know.
What did you think about Oprah’s comment that the average Nigerian earns 400 dollars a year?
Well, unfortunately she was wrong. That works out at about 60k a year. The average Nigerian doesn’t earn that. Who is the average Nigerian? Civil servants. They do not earn 60k a year. Maybe they got their exchange rate wrong. I don’t know but that’s inaccurate I’m afraid.
She also said you earn the 6,500 dollars a movie.
Also a result of maybe the wrong exchange rate (laughs) I humbly submit that the figure is also inaccurate.
So what do you earn?
Stella, you know the regions of how much I earn. You and your paper have speculated on it several times and even when your speculations were not so accurate, it was not 6,500 dollars. The reality is, the average AMERICAN does not earn in a month what Oprah earns or even what I earn or even what most actresses in Nigeria earn every 2 weeks. We shoot movies in 2 weeks so these earnings should be viewed like that.
Did you call them to make these corrections?
I haven’t watched the show to be fair but I did see a little clip on Youtube where they showed some market women selling, not the beautiful part of Lagos. Western media never do really. This has been going on for years. Besides, those women are part of what makes Nigeria Nigeria. It’s part of our culture. So, if the western world prefers that as the picture of Nigeria, that is a problem for the ministry of foreign affairs. I think Nollywood has done a lot to show that there are other parts of Nigeria that are beautiful and I am interested in Nollywood because no one in Government is interested in us even though they should be as we are clearly the most popular export out of this country right now and should be funded adequately enough so as to represent the Country better but enough of that. I am tired of saying the same thing year in year out.
Do you think this will open doors in Hollywood for you?
(Laughs) I don’t know. I did not look at it as an avenue to break into Hollywood. I didn’t go looking for it , so it wasn’t premeditated. My view on Hollywood remains the same. I am an actress. I can work anywhere. I am passionate about a good story, particularly character driven stories. If your story is good and the character appeals, I will play the role. Although it would be nice to work with acclaimed Hollywood directors and actors, I have always maintained that when they are ready for a young African woman to take part in a project that they will come looking for us.
Finally, what is your overriding feeling on this?
Humility, Joy, Different feelings. Pride. I am just grateful to Oprah and her crew. I am honoured and humbled. It’s a great privilege and I am sure I will replay a million times over, Oprah saying Genevieve Nnaji . I am also proud of myself because I believe I have sacrificed a lot and worked hard and so, to be identified alongside all those other leading lights in their respective continents on a show as globally recognised as the Oprah Winfrey show I see as a little reward from God and the good will of my loyal fans. To be identified for work that I have done in my own little Nigerian box is truly gratifying to me.
Click to visit Stella D-K’s Blog
Tags: genevieve nnaji, Stella Dimoko-Korkus
Pages: [6] 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All
Genieve has been great form day 1, i remember her from Ijele, i knew she was a bundle of talent immediately, and her personal issues/relationship, crisis, competitors,and even Alaba boys cannot take that from her.
Congrats!dearie, keep your head up and u will go farther….Love
She spoke so well, I’m proud of her!
I have my own issues with Oprah, but I think a lot of you guys are missing the point. First, I think one of the reasons she mentioned Genevieve Nnaji is because the most famous celebrity in the world was on her show, Aishwarya rai, and abhishek Bachchan, so I guess she also wanted to do the most famous celebrity in Africa, and Genevieve Nnaji is.
The truth is, an average person makes $400 or even less a year in a country like Nigeria. Only in developed countries, does the average person have full access to basic necessities. There’s a big gap between the rich and poor, in somewhere like Nigeria.
The only problem is that, Americans forget that dollar is higher, so by the time $400 is exchanged, it wil be enough for an average person to survive, in a country like Nigeria. It said an average person, that doesn’t mean some Nigerians don’t make more than that. Oprah didn’t make Nigeria or Nigerians look bad, that’s exactly what’s happening, so she’s pretty accurate. Don’t blame her, blame the leaders!!!
Hello riri, u have to do a proper arithmetic before arguing the fact that Oprah was wrong. No average Nigerian citizen makes 60 thousand naira a year in Nigeria. That was an insult. When we talk of average, we mean citizens in between the rich and poor. Anyone who earns 5,000 naira or there about per month spontaneously belongs to the poor class, cos that amount cannot even sustain you for one month feeding wise, let alone see to ur house rent and all what none.
I agree. I didn’t know $400 is equivalent to 60,000 naira. If that’s the case, it was definitely a wrong calculation, so I guess an average Nigerian person can’t sustain on $400 a yr, especially if they are working class right!!!
Africa is a poor continent, and sometimes, it’s hard to see beyond the stereotypes, even though, there are some truth to the stereotypes. I noticed Africans get angry when something negative is said about their country, and my point is, people are saying what they see, so who do you blame? The westerners, or the leaders who are just embezzling all the money , and do nothing for their people.Thanks for pointing it out nicely!
Well Taiwo Ekeinde, if Omotola deseved it she would have gotten it. She didn’t and that says a lot. You might be more of an Omotola fan than a Genny’s but at least be honest and give honour to whom honour is due. Omotola will always trail behind Genevieve because that’s how God wants it. So deal with it. If not, Take it up with Oprah.
u guys jus dey display ur ignorance for here!theres a formula for calculating these things and dats wat the oprah pple used.and yes like someone above rightly pointed out,those cars u see on lagos roads and those fancy suits u see on lagos bankers dont mean the majority of nigerians are having it good o!men pple dey suffer o,wella pass wetin u fit imagine,jus bcos u fit afford to recharge ur fone no mean say pple dey lounge o,go to the rural areas and see suffer firsthand,how many pple fit even afford to feed not to talk of owning a fone?and dont forget despite how jampacked oshodi and all our urban areas look,65 percent of nigerians still reside in the rural areas,so dont be deceived!stop attacking oprah for saying the gospel truth,do ur own research before calling her names,no be say i gbadun the woman anyway cos her mouth too big and she dey always do like say shes the final authority on tins wey no concern am sef….nonsense
u guys just babble on the net foolishly. I bet ur problem is that u don’t understand the word ‘average.’ It’s just like saying that an average American earns 100 dollars a month. I maintain that that was a wrong calculation. No citizen who considers his or herself average lives on 5000 naira a month, because that is what u get when u convert 400 dollars to naira and then divide it by 12. She should have said that poor people live on 400 dollar and not an average nigierian. If u earn 400 dollars a year, that means u are indigent. So, oprah i would clearly say, exaggerated at this point, rather than making a proper calculation and stating the fact. This is a world wide show. People should be candid and careful projecting certain things. Ofcourse, that’s the western style when it comes to Africa. Good job for recognising Genevieve my babe as the most famous african icon. She deserves it. Genevieve is indeed a bunch of real talent, representing Nollywood for real. I cant still forget the crowd the pulled in Liberia when she visited; Angelina Jolie of Africa, Oprah called her. That was cute. From Face of Lux to one of the most famous talents in the world. An honour from Almighty Oprah.wow, what a great achievement. I can’t believe it. Am so happy for genny
anyway,na oprah know,i am waiting for her to come to naija so me and her go yarn. dis mite hurt but dat is nt my intention,i think OMOTOLA EKEINDE deserve dis attention dan Genevieve,period.
Oprah likes looking for my trouble o! WTF is $400 a year? Is she mad? O ma si ayi nwere osisi na mi ego na naija? Ka o kpachakpu anya o!
let us do our own calculation and know how much average nigerian is collecting. if we are doing bad or good we will know. Cheer!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont think the reason Gene was metioned by oprah has anything to do with her physical appearance as some people seem to insinuate.I think its because she’s a very talented actress.Gene interpretes her role with so much passion that sometimes you actually forgets she’ just acting.I beg the sky na her limit !!!
i agree with you
GENNY BABY U TOO MUCH, U DESERVE ALL DAT COMES UR WAY!
U’VE PAID 4 IT WIT UR PERFORMANCES, WUD CONTINUE 2 REMBA D HILITES OF UR CAREER. CHEERS 2 D IRON LADY