Jennifer Okere
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Jennifer Okere | |
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| Born | October 30, 1968 Okolochi, Owerri West, Imo State, Nigeria |
| Died | June 28, 1999 |
| Alma mater | University of Nigeria, Nsukka |
| Occupation | Nollywood actress |
| Years active | 1990—1999 |
| Spouse | Emeka Ossai |
Jennifer Okere (August 30, 1968 - June 28, 1999) was a Nigerian veteran and Nollywood actress. She was one of the pioneers of Nollywood industry, dating back to 90's.[1] Her two ground-breaking Nollywood blockbuster movies, Living in Bondage[2] and Glamour Girls[3][4] have been remake. She was the recipient of the 2016 Afro Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards (AHBEA), in Houston, Texas, which was received by her husband, Emeka Ossai on her behalf.[5]
Early life
Jennifer Okere was born into the family of Chief Raymond Okere and late Lolo Janet Okere in Okolochi, Owerri West, Imo State, Nigeria. She started her life as a teenager in her hometown, Okolochi. Okere, after completing her education, moved to Lagos State with her family where she joined the movie industry.[citation needed]
Career
After studying Theater Art from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Okere joined Nollywood in the early 90s. She made remarkable impacts in the industry with her ground-breaking movies Living in Bondage, Glamour Girls.[citation needed]
Movies
Okere played tremendous roles in her movies especially her first movie Living in Bondage. The movie was a resounding Igbo movies of 90's, starred by Kenneth Okonkwo, Nnenna Nwabueze, Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, Francis Agu and Bob-Manuel Udokwu, released in 1992 (Part 1) and 1993 (Part 2). Her styles of acting as were seen in Glamour Girls. She could not participate in the subsequent movies until her death.
The first movie she was featured, Living in Bondage was cast by:
- Kenneth Okonkwo as Andy Okeke[6]
- Nnenna Nwabueze as Merit, Andy's wife
- Kanayo O. Kanayo as Chief Omego, cult member
- Felicia Mayford as Obidia
- Francis Agu as Ichie Million, cult member and Merit's boss
- Okechukwu Ogunjiofor as Paul, Andy's friend and cult member[7]
- Ngozi Nwaneto as Caro, Merit's friend and Paul's girlfriend
- Ngozi Nwosu as Ego, Andy's mistress
- Chizoba Bosah as Merit's aunt
- Bob-Manuel Udokwu as Mike, cult member
- Sydney Diala as cult member/initiator
- Daniel Oluigbo as cult chief priest
- Obiageli Molugbe as cult mother
- Rita Nzelu as Tina, local prostitute
- Jennifer Okere as Chinyere, Caro's friend
- Ruth Osu as Andy and Merit's neighbour
- Grace Ayozie as Andy's mother
- Benjamin Nwosu as Andy's father
The makers of the movie first sold its right to Charles Okpaleke in 2015 for a possible remake. In 2015, Ramsey Nouah acquired the rights to Living In Bondage from Kenneth Nnebue and remake the filmed in Europe and America, also in Nigeria. Both Charles Okpaleke and Nouah's rights resulted to becoming a sequel titled Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.[8]
Her second movie, Glamour Girls was starred by Liz Benson, Ngozi Ezeonu, Eucharia Anuobi, Pat Attah, Ernest Obi, Zack Orji, and others. On 12 December 2019, a Nigerian filmmaker Charles Okpaleke,[9][10] acquired it for the lifetime copyrights of the 1994 for a modern remake.[11]
Okere also featured in Ikuku and True Confession.[12] She also acted The Oath, The Ripples, Strange Woman, Calabash. The Oath was Okere's final movie.
Awards
In 1996, Okere received The Movie Award as the Best Igbo Actress after acting Ikuku (part 2). At her demise, she was awarded The Afro Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards (AHBEA) in 2016, in Houston, Texas. The award was received by her husband, Emeka Ossai at the 2nd edition of the prestigious award. Been made popular by Living in Bondage, and Glamour Girls, brought about the recognition and celebration of her talents at The Afro Heritage Broadcasting and Entertainment Awards (AHBEA).[13]
Death
Okere reportedly died in 1999 of mistreatment from her husband, Emeka Ossai and in-laws due to her delay in childbearing.[14][15] She was buried in her hometown, Okolochi and were mourned by her colleagues in the Nollywood industry as majority of them where present at her funeral. Her death was the first to shake Nollywood.[16][17]
References
- ^ Haynes, Jonathan (October 4, 2016). Nollywood: Creation of Nigerian Film Genres. ISBN 978-0226387956.
- ^ "Living in Bondage: Between the old and new". Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "Throwback: Glamour Girls". Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "The Remake of Glamour Girls". Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "AHBEA Awards Presents Posthumous Award To Nollywood Actor Emeka Ossai". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Andy has overtaken my real name, Kenneth Okonkwo cries out - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Okechukwu Ogunjiofor". IMDb. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (October 28, 2019). "We Had an Exclusive Chat with Charles Okpaleke, Executive Producer of "Living In Bondage: Breaking Free"". BellaNaija. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Film producer, Charles Okpaleke plots a sequel to 1994 classic, 'Glamour Girls'". Pulse Nigeria. December 13, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Ajao, Kunle (December 13, 2019). "Glamour Girls: Charles Okpaleke gets rights for sequel". Sodas 'N' Popcorn Blog. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Falade, Tomi. "Glamour Girls Set To Reignite Nigerian Screens | Independent Newspapers Nigeria". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "15 Nollywood Stars You May Not Know Have Died". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "AHBEA Awards Presents Posthumous Award To Nollywood Actor Emeka Ossai". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Kamsiwrites (July 1, 2020). "21 Years After: Remembering Nollywood Actress Jennifer Okere Who Died At Age 28 in the Year 1999". OperaNews. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Motherhood In-style Magazine". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "15 Nollywood Stars You May Not Know Have Died". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Some 18 dead Nollywood actors and how they died, Nigerians will ever miss". Retrieved October 14, 2020.
