Vanessa Obioha writes that award-winning Nollywood filmmaker Willis Ikedum has built his career around asking questions, challenging conventions and refusing
to accept that things cannot be done differently.
It’s been a busy period for Nollywood filmmaker Willis Ikedum following the release of his musical film ‘Sweet 16.’ It is one of the few feature-length film musicals to emerge from Nollywood. But Ikedum, who started as an actor, has never been one to stay within familiar territory. Although, the film has already enjoyed a strong opening weekend, and much of that success can be attributed to Ikedum’s relentless promotional drive.
On the day we met, he had just flown to Lagos from Port Harcourt, where the movie was shot. Two days later, he was already back in Abuja, where he is based. In between his movements, he was making calls, checking emails, going on media tours and even streaming church services. Ikedum, it turned out, does not play with his faith, something he traces to his upbringing.
But his restlessness goes beyond promoting a film. It is part of a larger desire to improve things around him.
