Mike Orihedịmma— The First Man to Start Igbo Movies in the whole world
Pioneer Igbo movie whose real name is Solomon Eze but widely known Mike Orihedịmma.
Popular Nollywood stars such as John Okafọ—Mr Ibu, Ngọzi Ezeọnụ, Stephen Alajemba (Ụwaezuoke), etc came into movie life through him.
Mike Orihedịmma started in the 70s, he was a friend to late Afro-highlife musician of Igbo origin, Oliver De Coque. According to him in an interview with Ugwumba TV, while Oliver was playing guitar and ekpiri, he was playing mouth organ.
Oliver would finally get sponsored in 1975 to release his album: expo 76. He also went in search of sponsor and couldn’t get any even though he had recorded songs and produced them in cassettes.
He noticed that it would make sense if films were produced in Igbo. He had watched Indian movies, French movies and decided to replicate Igbo films.
Then, there was nothing like Nollywood. A few television series like Zeburudaya, Ichoku, Ifesinachi were showing on NTA and were popular in the 70s. Things Fall Apart would later show up in 1980s where Pete Edochie acted as Okonkwọ.
Mike Orihedịmma gathered a lot of people. He looked for sponsors but couldn’t get any. He started a program called “Ka Ụwa Si Aga”
“Ka Uwa Si ga” started as a radio drama. He was eager for the visual aspect of drama so that his face would show and he would be known. NTA and ABS both promised him slot but he was never given the platform. Because of the NTA and ABS elusive platforms, he resorted to producing films in cassette tapes
From “Ka Ụwa Si Aga”, he started “Okpuru Anyanwụ.”Ngọzi Ezeọnụ was into makeup then. Mike Orihedịmma brought her into her first ever film. Mr. Ibu started through Mike Orihedịmma.
Ụwaezuoke was taken to Mike Orihedịmma by a man he often changed his clothes in his shop who saw him as a talented man.
Mike Orihedịmma made many actors and actresses. He produced Nwaude Nwakpụda.
The Igbo films we know today started through him.
The first film he produced is called “Ọtaakị.”
Maazị Mpịrịmpị was popular TV series in the 80s as well.
His name was very popular in the 70s and 80s as well as 90s.
Mike Orihedịmma became a popular name. He hailed from Ihitenansa, Imo State.
