Niji Akanni is a Nigerian dramatist,

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, director, producer and

filmmaker Filmmaking (film production) is the process by which a motion picture is produced. Filmmaking involves a number of complex and discrete stages, starting with an initial story, idea, or commission. It then continues through screenwriting, castin ...

Education

Akanni received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic Arts from

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

and a master's degree in

Film Studies Film studies is an academic discipline that deals with various theoretical, historical, and critical approaches to cinema as an art form and a medium. It is sometimes subsumed within media studies and is often compared to television studies. ...

from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

as well as a professional master's degree (MFA) in Screenplay Writing and Film Directing from the

Film and Television Institute of India The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is a film institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India and aided by the Central Government of India. It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile ...

Career

He has scripted, co-scripted and directed several notable Nigerian films and reality shows. As one of Nigeria's official three theatrical presentations at the

2012 Cultural Olympiad The 2012 Cultural Olympiad was a programme of cultural events across the United Kingdom that accompanied the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics. The Olympic Charter, the set of rules and guidelines for the organization of the Olympi ...

in London, he directed ''

The Lion and the Jewel ''The Lion and the Jewel'' is a play by Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka that was first performed in 1959 in Ibadan. In 1966, it was staged in London at the Royal Court Theatre. The play chronicles how Baroka, the lion, fights with the modern Lakunle ...

'', a play by Nigerian writer, Professor

Wole Soyinka Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...

that was first performed in 1959. In 2005, he was Assistant Director of the first season of

Amstel Malta Box Office Amstel Malta Box Office, also known as AMBO is a Nigerian television reality show launched in 2005. The TV reality show is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries, the largest brewing company in Nigeria. The show centered on the cinema of Nigeria, often re ...

, a Nigerian Reality Television Show. In 2006, he was Content Director on

Big Brother Nigeria ''Big Brother Naija'', formerly known as ''Big Brother Nigeria'', is a Nigerian reality competition television series, based on the Big Brother television franchise, in which, contestants live in an isolated house and compete for a large cash pr ...

, the same year he co-scripted, '' The Narrow Path'', a 95 minutes film produced by

Mainframe Films and Television Productions Mainframe Films and Television Productions (usually known as Mainframe Studios or Mainframe Films) was a film production company founded in 1991 by Nigerian cinematographer and film producer Tunde Kelani. Since its establishment in 1991, the produ ...

and directed by

Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born 26 February 1948), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage and have a root in documentation ...

. The film, which featured

Sola Asedeko Sola Asedeko is a Nigerian film actress, film-maker and director. She is popularly known as ''Abeni'' for her lead role in Abeni, a 2006 Nigerian film, produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. Early life Asedeko was born in Lagos State, southwest ...

and

Khabirat Kafidipe Kabirah Kafidipe is a Nigerian film actress, director and producer. She is popularly known as “Araparegangan” for her role in '' Saworoide'', a 1999 Nigerian film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. Early life Kafidipe was born on July ...

was adapted from '' The Virgin'', a debut novel of

Bayo Adebowale Bayo Adebowale (born 6 June 1944) is a Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, critic, librarian and founder of the African Heritage Library and Cultural Centre, Adeyipo, Ibadan Oyo State Early life and education He was born on 6 June 1944 in Ibada ...

. In 2008, he directed ''

Abobaku Abobaku is a 2010 short film written and produced by Femi Odugbemi and directed by Niji Akanni. Synopsis Aremu who must die with the king (Abobaku) was caught between pleasing his lover and following the tradition. He later got to know the k ...

'', a short film in Super-16mm gauge, produced by

Femi Odugbemi Femi Odugbemi (born 1963) is a writer, filmmaker, television producer, and the founder/executive producer of Zuri24 Media, a content production company in Lagos. Early life and career Odugbemi was born in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria in ...

on the MNET's New Directions project. ''

'' won several awards, including the Most Outstanding Short Film award at the 2010 ZUMA Film Festival in Abuja, Nigeria; Best Costume at the 6th Africa Movie Academy Awards held on 10 April 2010 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria; and was also judged Best Short Film at the 2010 TERRACOTA Awards in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2010, he wrote and directed

Aramotu ''Aramotu'' is a 2010 Nigerian drama film directed by Niji Akanni. It stars Idiat Sobande, Kayode Odumosu and Gabriel Afolayan. It received 7 nominations at the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards and won the awards for Best Nigerian Film and Best ...

, a Nigerian drama digital film that stars

Gabriel Afolayan Gabriel Afolayan, (born 1 March 1985) also known by his musical stage name G-Fresh, is a Nigerian actor and singer. Education He studied theatre arts at the University of Ibadan. Career He is part of the renowned Afolayan entertainment fa ...

. The film received 7 nominations at the

7th Africa Movie Academy Awards The 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony was held on 27 March 2011 at the Gloryland Cultural Center in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to honor the best African films of 2010. The nomination ceremony was held at the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairob ...

and won the awards for Best Nigerian Film and Best Costume Design. It also emerged as the Best Feature Film at

Africa International Film Festival The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Nigeria. It was founded in 2010 with its Inaugural edition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. AFRIFF was founded by Chioma Ude a passionate fil ...

, held in

Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and cre ...

in May 2013.

screened at various film festivals across the world, including the 2012 Samsung Women's International Film Festival (SWIFF) in Chennai, India; 2012 Africa In The Picture (AITP)film festival, Amsterdam; 2013 Arusha African International Film Festival (AIFF), Tanzania; and 2013 International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), India. He scripted and directed ''

Heroes and Zeros Heroes & Zeros is a rock band from Lillesand, Norway. The group was formed by Hans Jørgen Undelstvedt, Lars Løberg Tofte, and Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen in 2003. Tofte quit the band in 2010 and was replaced by Simen Krogstie Lagesen. They have ...

'', a Nigerian drama film that stars

Nadia Buari Nadia Buari (born November 21, 1982) is a Ghanaian actress. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009. Early life Buari was born in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, to a Lebanese father a ...

Bimbo Manuel Bimbo Manuel (born 30 October 1958) is a Nigerian actor. He was nominated for Best actor in a supporting role at the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards. Career Bimbo hails from Lagos State. After graduating from the University of Port Harcourt with ...

Linda Ejiofor Linda Ejiofor (born Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor; 17 July 1986) is a Nigerian actress and model from Abia state known for her role as Bimpe Adekoya in M-Net's TV series ''Tinsel''. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 9th Af ...

and

Olu Jacobs Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, (born 11 July 1942), known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a Nigerian actor and film executive. He has starred in several British television series and international films. Olu Jacobs has been hailed by many as one ...

. The film was released on September 7, 2012 and premiered in the UK on March 15, 2013 at

Odeon Cinema Odeon, stylised as ODEON, is a cinema brand name operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway, which along with UCI Cinemas and Nordic Cinema Group is part of the Odeon Cinemas Group subsidiary of AMC Theatres. It uses the famous name of ...

. The film won the Most Outstanding Film and Audience Choice awards at the 2013 EKO International Film Festival and competed in the digital film category of the 2013 Pan African Film and Television Festival, FESPACO, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It was invited to the 2013 International Film Festival of Kerala, IFFK, in India, and was also screened at the 2014 Afrikamera Film Festival in Warsaw, Poland. It received 6 nominations at the

9th Africa Movie Academy Awards The 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards ceremony honouring movies of 2012 was held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 20 April 2013. The event was hosted by actress and former AMAA winner Ama K. Abebrese and Ayo Makun with many celebrities in attendance. T ...

and won the awards for Best Editing,

Best Screenplay Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

and

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...

Filmography

Accolades

The table below highlight the awards and nominations received by Niji Akanji and his films.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akanni, Niji Nigerian film directors Nigerian film producers Nigerian screenwriters Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Yoruba-language film directors Yoruba filmmakers Yoruba dramatists and playwrights University of Ibadan alumni 1962 births Living people People from Ogun State

Education

Career

Filmography

Accolades

See also

References