John Boyega: Hollywood is now ready to tell African stories

Stephanie Busari and Munachim Amah, CNN

Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT) April 12, 2018

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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.<br /><br />A new <a href="http://www.nollywoodportraits.com/" target="_blank">coffee table book</a> and documentary, 'Nollywood in Focus', sees him lend his visual eye to Nigeria's second largest employer -- Nollywood. <br />

Photos: Iké Udé's 'Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty'

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.

A new coffee table book and documentary, 'Nollywood in Focus', sees him lend his visual eye to Nigeria's second largest employer -- Nollywood.

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Udé has interviewed 64 of Nollywood's biggest stars including actress Genevieve Nnaji, actress turned director Stephanie Okereke Linus and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. <br />"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.<br />

Photos: Iké Udé's 'Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty'

Sadiq Daba – Udé has 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.

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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. <br />It's thought to contribute around $600 million annually to the Nigerian economy.

Photos: Iké Udé's 'Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty'

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.

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

Photos: Iké Udé's 'Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty'

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."

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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."

Photos: Iké Udé's 'Nollywood Portraits: A Radical Beauty'

Stephanie Okereke Linus – 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."

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