John Boyega: Hollywood is now ready to tell African stories | CNN

Eku Edewor —

Nigerian born, New York based Iké Udé has been described as a master of portraiture, having created portraits of the world's most internationally recognized celebrities including actress and filmmaker Isabella Rossellini, shoe designer Manolo Blahnik and singer Rihanna.

His documentary "Nollywood in Focus" and an accompanying Coffee table book, sees him lend his visual eye to Nigeria's movie industry -- Nollywood.
Pictured, Eku Edewor.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Sadiq Daba —

Udé interviewed 64 of Nollywood's biggest stars including actress Genevieve Nnaji, actress turned director Stephanie Okereke Linus and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan.
"Nollywood is the new face of Africa," said Udé, "it is modern, postmodern, bold, sexy, wicked and shrewd, with a contagious attitude worth catching." Its appeal has spread far beyond Nigeria with movies sold and produced almost globally.
Pictured: Sadiq Daba

Courtesy Iké Udé

Beverly Naya —

The industry has come leaps and bounds from the low tech productions it was once associated with, to producing big budget high quality features tackling a plethora of subjects from sexuality to government politics and identity.
It's thought to contribute around $600 million annually to the Nigerian economy.
Pictured: Beverly Naya

Courtesy Iké Udé

The School of Nollywood —

This grand portrait of all 64 celebrities titled "The School of Nollywood" is inspired by Raphael's 1509 painting 'The School of Athens', which adorns the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

"It was a daunting undertaking," Udé told CNN, "but worth every effort and breath that I spent on it."

Courtesy Iké Udé

Stephanie Okereke Linus —

Stephanie Okereke Linus "has an imposing physicality," explained Udé, "yet sweet and a positively sunny personality." He added; "since she has this incredibly powerful persona, I wanted to explore the possibility of a dramatic tension" hence the "unexpected stretch of a leg."

Courtesy Iké Udé

Joke Silva —

Born in Nigeria in 1964, the photographer's previous works have been exhibited in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as well as the Smithsonian Museum of Art.
Pictured: Joke Silva

Courtesy Iké Udé

Enyinna Nwigwe —

Pictured, Enyinna Nwigwe. "I recall that after our photo session, he sat for a long while, engaged with Nollywood elders who were almost double his age trading ideas and civilized arguments with them and confessing how much he enjoyed doing so, how important it was to listen to experienced folks and learn wisely from them," Udé recapped on Nwigwe's photo shoot.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Genevieve Nnaji —

In composing Genevieve Nnaji's portrait, "I was drawing from the grand, iconic African antique cultures of the Nile Valley civilization" says the photographer. "There is a Janus-like moment whereby she motions forward while looking back, as it were, engaging both the past and the future."

Courtesy Iké Udé

Alexx Ekubo —

"Nollywood talents have this artistic, creative and imaginative autonomy and independence very rare, even impossible for Africans in the diaspora to own," said Udé.
Pictured, Alexx Ekubo.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Omoni Oboli —

Born in the ancient city of Benin, Omoni Oboli trained as a digital filmmaker at New York's Film Academy. 'The Rivals,' a film she co-produced won Best International Drama at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival in 2007.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Chioma Ude —

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Chioma Ude is the founder of the Africa International Film Festival.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Osas Ighodaro Ajibade —

Born in the Bronx, New York, Osas Ighodaro Ajibade moved to Nigeria in 2012 and has starred in over 20 movies since relocating.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Jim Iyke Esomugha —

Gabon-born actor Jim Iyke Esomugha has starred in over 100 movies.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Kiki Omeili —

Lagos-born Kiki Omeili has been in 32 Nollywood movie productions.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Kunle Afolayan —

Born in Lagos, Kunle Afolayan has produced and directed five Nollywood movies to date.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Kehinde Bankole —

Lagos-born actress Kehinde Bankole.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett —

Born in Lagos, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett is a fellow of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Uti Nwachukwu —

Actor Uti Nwachukwu.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Monalisa Chinda —

Port-Harcourt born Monalisa Chinda has starred in over 150 movies since her first major film in 1996.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor —

Actor Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Desmond Elliot —

Lagos -born actor Desmond Elliot has been in more than 200 movies.

Courtesy Iké Udé

Lagos, Nigeria CNN —

British-Nigerian actor John Boyega has said the success of the “Black Panther” movie means Hollywood wants to produce more African stories.

“Because of the success of ‘Black Panther,’ now Hollywood wants African stories and I think Nigeria is at the forefront of that,” he said during a recent Lagos visit.

“They are ready to see all these epic stories that we have in Nigeria,” Boyega added.

“Black Panther” has been a global hit, making nearly $1.3 billion in the box office since opening in mid-February. Since its release, a series of high profile African film and TV shows have been announced.

Sony TV pictures recently announced a collaboration with Nigeria’s EbonyLifeTV. They will work together to produce three TV projects – including a series on a 19th century all-female African force, the “Dahomey Warriors.”

Lupita Nyong’o will also produce and star in the movie version of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bestseller “Americanah,” as well as the the Trevor Noah biopic “Born a Crime,” where she will play the mother of “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” host.

But not everyone in Hollywood is optimistic that the success of “Black Panther” will translate to more black stories being told.

Marvel star Samuel L. Jackson has said he doesn’t think it will change Hollywood’s thinking. “I’m not positive that Black Panther is going to change the dynamic of black stories being told in Hollywood and being accepted all over the world,” he said in an interview with Vogue Arabia.

Nonetheless, Boyega is positioning himself to be a bridge between Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry and Hollywood.

The 26-year-old actor said he founded his production company Upper Room Entertainment in 2015 to tell stories from the continent.

“My goal was to create original stories and I wanted to be a part of the development of stories,” he said.

The Star Wars star was recently on a whirlwind tour, visiting Lagos and the capital Abuja, and talking to key people in the entertainment industry on how to position the local industry for global success.

Boyega spoke at a Q&A session with Nigerian filmmaker Kemi Adetiba after the Accelerate TV screening of his new movie “Pacific Rim Uprising,” which he also co-produced.

He emphasized that training local Nigerian talent in all aspects of film making is part of his future ambitions to grow the industry to a world class standard.

“We will have Nigerian people, young people present on set, shadowing those professionals so that they’re constantly learning and knowing what skills they need to learn,” he said.

“And its not just acting, it’s cinematography, it’s all the basics of the crew that matter…those are the fundamental big plans.”