"I met Amaka Igwe in 1989, when as an undergraduate and the
National President of the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students
Association, (NUTASA) I travelled from my school, University of Port Harcourt
in Rivers State to University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State to check their
level of preparation for the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Festival, which
the school was billed to host the following year,(NUTAF '90).
"After my visit to UNN, I stopped over in Enugu to see my
parents. I met the then Amaka Isaac-Eneh, who had come to Enugu to conduct
audition for her upcoming television soap opera Checkmate. I attended the
audition and passed. I was cast as Richard Haatrope in the pilot episode which
was shot in Enugu and Udi, her home town in December of 1989.
"Towards the last quarter of 1990 they invited me for another
audition at PEC Repertory Theatre in Onikan, Lagos. Thousands attended the
audition including the late Francis Agu, who eventually played my elder brother
Benibo in the drama series. I was again successful at the Lagos audition and
retained the role of Richard Haatrope. I also met some other members of cast
there. They included, Mildred Iweka(Ada), Bimbo O. Manuel, (Nduka)Edith Jane
Azu, Tunde Euba(Akpan), and many others.
"Checkmate was mainly shot in Moving Movies camp in Ikorodu, Lagos
State.
"It hit the airwaves in April of 1991 and was an instant huge
success! It ran from 1991 to 1995 and has not been rivalled ever since!
"While still on the set of Checkmate, I was spotted by
Kenneth Nnebue, Chairman of Nek Video Links, who invited me to be part of a
movie titled Living In Bondage. It was shot and released in 1992.
"The success of Living In Bondage led directly to what is now
known as Nigerian film industry (Nollywood.)
"Amaka later married Mr Charlse Igwe thus becoming Amaka Igwe.
As home video making picked up, she wrote, produced and directed the movie,
Rattlesnake which was a huge success. Other movies and TV series soon followed.
"By God's grace, I credit Amaka Igwe.
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