John Boyega: Hollywood is now ready to tell African stories

Stephanie Busari and Munachim Amah, CNN

Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT) April 12, 2018

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 />His documentary "Nollywood in Focus" and an accompanying <a href="http://www.nollywoodportraits.com/" target="_blank">Coffee table book</a>, sees him lend his visual eye to Nigeria's movie industry -- Nollywood.<br />Pictured, Eku Edewor.<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.

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.

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Udé 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 />Pictured: Sadiq Daba<br />

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

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

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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. <br />Pictured: Beverly Naya

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.
Pictured: Beverly Naya

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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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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."

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

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."

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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.<br />Pictured: Joke Silva

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

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

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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.

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

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.

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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."

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

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."

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