Popular skit maker Taaooma and her husband Abula have welcomed their first child, Amani Greene.

Taaooma shared the exciting news on Instagram on Thursday, December 5, 2024, with a heartwarming video post, stating that she was born November 7, 2024.

Taaooma, whose real name is Mariam Apaokagi, gained fame through her comedy skits that humorously depict the unique parenting style of Nigerian mothers.

The news of her baby’s arrival has been met with an outpouring of love and congratulatory messages from fans and fellow celebrities.

Nigerian comedian and filmmaker, Basketmouth has accused Nollywood producers of mismanaging funds allocated by global streaming platforms, claiming that their actions have negatively impacted the quality of Nigerian films.

Speaking in a recent interview on Arise TV, the entertainer alleged that many producers misuse substantial portions of the budgets provided for movie production, diverting the funds for personal gain.

According to him, only a small fraction of the funds is utilized for actual filmmaking.

“When the streaming platforms came in, they gave money to these producers, and I’ll tell you point blank: these producers would take the money—$1.5 million or whatever they give them—and use about 10% of that money to make the movie,” he said.

Basketmouth further claimed that streaming platforms, upon discovering these alleged malpractices, decided to pay actors directly to ensure transparency.

However, producers reportedly devised a way to continue the fraudulent activity by coercing actors into returning part of their pay.

“Even to the point where the streaming platforms stepped in and said, ‘You know what? We are going to be paying the actors directly,’ these guys would still go behind and tell the actors to pay half of that money back to them. You can verify the information anywhere,” he added.

The filmmaker argued that the mismanagement of funds has significantly affected the quality of Nollywood films, with some epic productions appearing substandard.

“So, when you do that and expect your movie to be 100%, it can’t. It’s impossible. But these guys? They’ll cut, buy houses, buy cars. And that’s why when you see our movies, some of our epic movies look like stage plays,” Basketmouth lamented.

Nollywood has been dealt another significant blow as it’s reported that Netflix has cancelled its Nigerian Originals, a move that is set to have far-reaching implications for the country’s film industry.

The cancellation of Nigerian Originals is a devastating setback for Nollywood, which has been working tirelessly to gain global recognition. The move is also a significant blow to the many Nigerian filmmakers who had pinned their hopes on Netflix to showcase their stories and talents to a global audience.

Listen to filmmaker Kunle Afolayan talk about his Netflix deals, their approach to content and their shocking move to cancel all Nigerian originals in development.

Netflix Executive David Karanja Exits, Citing Bright Future for African Storytelling..

David Karanja, Netflix’s Executive in Charge of Licensing Originals, has announced his departure from the streaming giant. In a heartfelt goodbye post on LinkedIn, Karanja expressed his optimism for the future of African cinema and television.

“While the world is beginning to recognize the power of African voices and stories told by Africans, I believe we are on the brink of a watershed moment for African cinema and television, similar to the leaps we’ve seen in music,” Karanja wrote.

Karanja’s exit comes at a time when Netflix is reassessing its content strategy in Africa. The departure of a key executive overseeing original content licensing in Africa may indicate a shift in the company’s priorities. However, Karanja’s positive outlook on the future of African storytelling suggests that the continent’s creative industry is poised for growth and increased global recognition.

David led Netflix Africa’s original content team from September 2021, overseeing the development and launch of over 35 series and films, including notable titles such as Ludik, Country Queen, Shanty Town, and Anikulapo.

He also secured key licensing agreements, bringing premium content such as Yizo Yizo and Shaka Zulu to the platform. As a key member of the team that pioneered Netflix’s African Originals strategy, David played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s content offerings for the continent before departing the role close to 2 years later.

In Summary

With the streaming giant’s withdrawal from the Nigerian market, many are left wondering what the future holds for the country’s film industry.