Turn back the hand of the clock if you can, then you’ll see a young promising and stout figure taking cue from co-artistes under the tutelage of an offshoot of a Yoruba drama legend, Ayinla Olumegbon, in the midst of 1987. The group was “Miliki Theatre Group”; the boy is Olufemi Omokaefe Ogedengbe.
Twenty Four years after, the name Femi Ogedengbe has metamorphosed into a reference point as far as Nigerian Entertainment industry is concern, cutting so many edges in the Nigerian film industry otherwise known as Nollywood. Not many of his contemporaries of today’s movie industry paid that due of stage performance, where there was no chance of retake or editing coupled with the confusing glaring eye contact of the audience. Femi later appeared in the rested children weekly Television series, “Ogbon Ewe” in 1987 before he took a rather seemingly long bow from the industry to face other challenging human endeavours.
In 1996, the Dangbala Akoko-Edo born artiste re-appeared on scene when he featured in the 1996 hit, Back To Africa, a production of a US based Nigerian producers, ‘Prospect & Co’. Since then, Femi has never looked back in doing what he knows and trained to do best featuring, producing and directing classical and contemporary flicks parallel to what obtains in the western world in terms of quality and presentation. His acting effort in ‘Ogidan’ and ‘Isakaba part 3&4’ succinctly described his competence in acting.
As a movie director, Femi believes strongly in adherence to script and translation of script to reality. His understanding of camera movements and shots is unassuming. He took the Nigeria movie by storm in 2006/2007 when he directed an East African (Tanzania) romance; ‘The Director & PENINA’ - a SWAHILI movie along with others like ‘Dar to Lagos’, Cross My Sin’, and ‘She is My Sister’. Along with him on the epoch making Tanzania voyage were some dazzling Nollywood stars like Mercy Johnson, Nkiru Silvanus and Emmanuel. He bravely repeated the exploit in 2008/2009. This time around, he effectively directed other SWAHILI movies which include “Heroes of The Church’, “Shauku’ and ‘Unfortunate Love’. To be candid, Femi’s crossover ability in Yoruba, English and Non Nigerian Language movies actually puts him ahead of his contemporaries and a force to be reckoned with.
Without being immodest, it’ll take a special repertoire of Nollywood movies to count the numbers of movies Femi has featured and directed. On a mild count however he has featured in over a hundred movies which are not limited to ; LOVE AND HATE,ENDLESS LOVE, DESPERADOS 2, ORACLE 2&3, ISSAKABA 3&4,PSYCHO, BEYOND PARDON,STREET KID, FINAL SOLUTION, DECEMBER 25TH, GSM CONNECTIONS, THE CAT, READY TO DIE, BACK DROP1&2, IN THE LINE OF DUTY, MY CROSS ,HOME BREAKER, NOT MY DESTINY, TEARS OF THE GHETTO (all English speaking movies); OMO BRITIKO, IYAWO IGBEYIN, OGIDAN, MAPARIWO, OKUTA ELA , ASOKO PA EYE APARO, OSO GBEKUDE, TEMI KO,OLORI,ETC (Yoruba Language Movies)
Twenty Four years after, the name Femi Ogedengbe has metamorphosed into a reference point as far as Nigerian Entertainment industry is concern, cutting so many edges in the Nigerian film industry otherwise known as Nollywood. Not many of his contemporaries of today’s movie industry paid that due of stage performance, where there was no chance of retake or editing coupled with the confusing glaring eye contact of the audience. Femi later appeared in the rested children weekly Television series, “Ogbon Ewe” in 1987 before he took a rather seemingly long bow from the industry to face other challenging human endeavours.
In 1996, the Dangbala Akoko-Edo born artiste re-appeared on scene when he featured in the 1996 hit, Back To Africa, a production of a US based Nigerian producers, ‘Prospect & Co’. Since then, Femi has never looked back in doing what he knows and trained to do best featuring, producing and directing classical and contemporary flicks parallel to what obtains in the western world in terms of quality and presentation. His acting effort in ‘Ogidan’ and ‘Isakaba part 3&4’ succinctly described his competence in acting.
As a movie director, Femi believes strongly in adherence to script and translation of script to reality. His understanding of camera movements and shots is unassuming. He took the Nigeria movie by storm in 2006/2007 when he directed an East African (Tanzania) romance; ‘The Director & PENINA’ - a SWAHILI movie along with others like ‘Dar to Lagos’, Cross My Sin’, and ‘She is My Sister’. Along with him on the epoch making Tanzania voyage were some dazzling Nollywood stars like Mercy Johnson, Nkiru Silvanus and Emmanuel. He bravely repeated the exploit in 2008/2009. This time around, he effectively directed other SWAHILI movies which include “Heroes of The Church’, “Shauku’ and ‘Unfortunate Love’. To be candid, Femi’s crossover ability in Yoruba, English and Non Nigerian Language movies actually puts him ahead of his contemporaries and a force to be reckoned with.
Without being immodest, it’ll take a special repertoire of Nollywood movies to count the numbers of movies Femi has featured and directed. On a mild count however he has featured in over a hundred movies which are not limited to ; LOVE AND HATE,ENDLESS LOVE, DESPERADOS 2, ORACLE 2&3, ISSAKABA 3&4,PSYCHO, BEYOND PARDON,STREET KID, FINAL SOLUTION, DECEMBER 25TH, GSM CONNECTIONS, THE CAT, READY TO DIE, BACK DROP1&2, IN THE LINE OF DUTY, MY CROSS ,HOME BREAKER, NOT MY DESTINY, TEARS OF THE GHETTO (all English speaking movies); OMO BRITIKO, IYAWO IGBEYIN, OGIDAN, MAPARIWO, OKUTA ELA , ASOKO PA EYE APARO, OSO GBEKUDE, TEMI KO,OLORI,ETC (Yoruba Language Movies)
While it may be difficult to evaluate Femi Ogedenge’s exceptional lead role is the Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya Igwe) much awaited multi-million Naira movie – ADITU; it may be much more difficult to x-ray his acting and directing prowess in his latest flick – ORUNGBEJA technically shot in Nigeria. Then the icing on the cake will be his yet to be released effort, woven around a well orchestrated theme of love and its malady with locations in US, UK and Nigeria which Femi may choose to title ‘Aisan Ife’
On the other side, Femi’s real life is as intriguing and challenging as his movie life and involvement. His name represents so many things to different people in the industry. Some consider him stubborn, arrogant and confrontational especially among the movie marketers; whereas, he is in the real sense a diehard hater of cheating, oppression and annihilation. Hi is an advocate of justice and fairness and he fervently believes that artistes should not be subjects of the marketers but partners with definite and judicious revenue sharing formula.
The happily married actor believes in hard work and resilience. His social abilities transcend partying and exchange of pleasantries. A romantic husband and lover of children, Femi is resistant to illness and could be a jealous type once in a while.
An accomplished actor, producer and seasoned director, Femi Ogedengbe was the former National Chairman Task Force, Actors Guild of Nigeria under the chairmanship of Ejike Asiegbu between 2005 and 2009. Presently he is the National Provost of the Association of Movie Producers in Nigeria, a post he contested and won in 2009.
An accomplished actor, producer and seasoned director, Femi Ogedengbe was the former National Chairman Task Force, Actors Guild of Nigeria under the chairmanship of Ejike Asiegbu between 2005 and 2009. Presently he is the National Provost of the Association of Movie Producers in Nigeria, a post he contested and won in 2009.
