Like a colossus, the late Amaka Igwe was clearly in a class of her own. Fearless, daring and ambitious, the late filmmaker was several notches ahead of the average Nigerian producer. Unlike the latter, she was not one to churn out movies in quick succession. This was because she had a clear confidence in her audience.
Little wonder, some of her greatest works – Rattle Snake,Barber’s Wisdom and Violated – have all endured the test of time.
The movie Rattle Snake, for instance, was delivered in Igbo language and subtitled in English language. It was captivating from start to finish despite what would otherwise have constituted a barrier to non-Igbo viewers.
The movie was astonishingly successful. About 22 years after it was released.
A thoroughbred professional, Igwe’s professionalism was clearly evident in almost all her works.
Up until the cold hands of death snatched her on Tuesday night, she was still busy conceptualising how to produce another work-of- art.
Not only did she pave the way for female directors and producers to find their footing in the Nigerian movie industry, Igwe also contributed to the growth of Nollywood by giving a large number of actors and actresses their debut roles and also by teaching classes at the School of Excellence in Media Studies which she owned.
A titan in her own right, the late producer was a ‘big aunty’ to many who were inspired by her works or cut their teeth under her supervision.
The situational Comedy, Fuji House of Commotion, evokes some of the most poignant memories for many Nigerians, as it has continued to fill many hearts with joy and many homes with laughter.
Igwe’s appeal went beyond the walls of filmmaking, even to music. That is why hip hop artistes, Rugged Man and ILLBliss admit that she was a part of everyone’s childhood on account of her greatest classic, series, Checkmate. It was the longest running TV series on Nigeria Television Authority.
Indeed, fellow Filmmaker, Don Pedro Obaseki notes in his eulogy to her that, “With her Fuji House of Commotion, Amaka redefined the landscape of Situation Comedy on national TV.”
Igwe may not have started shooting movies in 1992 when Nollywood was just kicking off, but her efforts as a motion picture practitioner has clearly drawn international recognition for the burgeoning Nigerian motion picture industry. She foisted Nollywood superstar, Richard Mofe Damijo upon Nigerians and gave him a solid platform to kick off his movie career after she starred him in the leading role in Violated. Even though Ego Boyo has since quit acting, her performance in the movie ensured that she remains fresh in the minds of fans.
Her movies came at the time when Nollywood was yet to attain some level of technological-know how or facilities, yet, her movie posters and production quality remain top notch.
The late producer once disclosed that she conceived Checkmate by watching Mirror in the Sun. She was quoted as saying in an interview, “I had written a script about an all-conquering female hero like Queen Amina and had conceived it like a traditional stage play. When I saw Mirror in the Sun, I decided to make it a modern all-conquering female hero story.”
Beyond the glitz and glamour of filmmaking, Igwe still maintained the home-front and kept her marriage of 21 years to her business partner, Charles Igwe, far from the prying eyes of the media.