By Damiete Braide
The publisher of a leading online newspaper DAYLIGHT, Azuh Amatus will present his two new books, Famous Faces: Interactions with Nollywood Stars and Stakeholders, to the public on Sunday, October 9, 2022.
According to organisers, the next evening of glamour, glitz, relaxation and networking will be held elaborately at the upmarket Colonades Hotels, 21 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, with the red carpet starting at 4pm.
The 713-page books, which are in Volumes One and Two respectively, feature 101 exclusive, incisive and gripping one-on-one interviews and interactions with leading Nollywood stars and stakeholders captured in 101 gripping chapters.
The first volume of the literary work features a galaxy of 51 female Nollywood stars, covering 51 chapters of the 364-page book; while volume two is a star-studded combination of Nollywood’s leading male and female stars and stakeholders spread across 50 chapters of the 349-page book.
Some of the Nollywood heavyweights and stars interviewed in the two books, which are a collection of some of Azuh’s great works as a multi-award winning journalist with over two decades of experience, include: Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde , Genevieve Nnaji, Monalisa Chinda, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Clarion Chukwura, Bimbo Akintola, Uche Jombo, Ini Edo, Lilian Bach, Chioma Chukwuka, Grace Ama, Tricia Eseigbe, Lilian Amah, Yvonne Jegede, Jennifer Eliogu , Nneka Moses, Helen Ukpabio and Nse Ikpe Etim.
Others include: Chinedu Ikedieze, Osita Iheme, Segun Arinze, Emeka Ike, KOK, Ejike Asiegbu, Chidi Mokeme, Bob Manuel Udokwu, Saint Obi, Victor Osuagwu, Ayo Makun, Zik Zulu Okafor, Julius Agwu, Fidelis Duker, Femi Adesina , Teco Benson, Emeka Mba, Opa Williams, Kingsley Ogoro, Chidi Nwokeabia, Emeka Ossai, Dickson Iroegbu, Tajudeen Adepetu and Sam Kargbo.
A foreword by Presidential Spokesperson and former Chairman of the Nigerian Publishers Guild, Mr. Femi Adesina, states: “Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world, and I doubt there is another journalist who knows this territory better than Azuh Amatus… So, when he talks about the industry, you have to listen to him, because he knows his business. This book will be worth everyone who reads it. Amatus did an impressive job.
Speaking on why he wrote the two books, Azuh revealed that as a multi-award-winning journalist who has covered Nollywood extensively for over two decades and more, “I thought he was very important to document and share my experience of Nollywood and my interactions with our super stars. and key stakeholders with Nigerians and indeed the rest of the world. This burning desire and urge gave birth to Famous Faces after almost a decade of extensive and thorough research.
Azuh, a former company editor and head of the Showbiz desk at The Sun Newspapers, which also edited the Entertainment Express and Sunday Express newspapers respectively, hinted that the two books would go on sale nationally and internationally immediately. after the unveiling.