NCAC STAFF WINS 2017 AMVCA AWARDS.....

By Eva Okechukwu

Photo Credit: Chizoba Edwin

Lagos based Bayelsa state born creative and talented filmmaker, Perekeme Odon. alongside Hakeem Ajibola Onoligbo win the Best Make Up Artist award for movie/TV series at the 2017 Africa Magic Viewers Choice #AMVCA held on March 4, 2017 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos with the movie 'Oloibiri', produced by Rogers Ofime.

'Oloibiri', a movie starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Olu Jacobs, Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, Apel Orduen, DKD, Ivie Okujaye, Chucks Chyke, Dennis Oglafa, Ebi Willies, Ifeanyi Williams, Wale Adebayo outshines movies like '76, Umililo, 93 Days, and Happiness is a Four Letter Word' to emerge winner in the best make up category.

Perekeme is a trained Nollywood filmmaker, theatre practitioner & broadcast journalist. A graduate of Theatre Arts & Media Studies from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2000; and in 2002 proceeded for his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) orientation in Paiko, Niger State, and later redeployed to the Bayelsa state Council for Arts and Culture where he met Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, his intellectual mentor.

He joined movie production as a music producer/dance-hall reggae artiste under the watchful eyes of his music guru/teacher/advisor, Jon John Duke Dureke in 1995 & later got recruited into the Dagogo Diminas' 13 Fatman & Associates as a Make Up Assistant, where he met other make up artists & designers like Gabriel Okorie (GabaZzini), Ifeanyi Uzoka (Bandana Creation), Soibifaa Diminas (Just-So Designs) & John Okeh aka 'Old Prof. 

The former and ex student of Government Sea School, Isaka, Port Harcourt and Federal School of Arts & Science, Aba, Abia state has been making up actors in the Nigerian movie/entertainment industry & special events for over 20 years with lots of awards & nominations to his credit. Perewinkle,  as he is popularly called was nominated at the 2007 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) with the movie 'Covenant Church', directed by Charles Novia. He was also nominated at the 2012 Nollywood Movies Awards with 'Tango With Me', a movie produced & directed by Mahmood Ali-Balogun starring Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin, Tina Mba, Ahmed Yerima, Joke Sylva, Kevin Ushi, Kate Henshaw, Francis Onwuchie and a host of other great actors. 

Making up Olu Jacob
Photo Credit: Emma Edu

Perekeme was furthermore nominated at the fifth edition of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA), which took place at The Orpheum Theatre, Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA with 'Oloibiri', produced by Rogers Ofime and directed by 2015 NAFCA best director of the year, Curtis Graham.

With Director Tarila Thonpson on the set of 'In The Creek'
Photo Credit: OnyiOkechukwu

Perekeme has done make up designs and special effects in more than 150 movies in Nigeria and Africa; and also doubling as assistant director in Tarila Thompson's yet to be released big screen movie, 'In The Creek' and Mozzyva's Picture's 'Love Triangle'. However, since the challenges for great special effect movies were not forthcoming years back, he decided to explore a navigation into full time production in 2010. According to him,"  I am very glad and amazed to win this award to crown all effort in my specialization. I thought after all these while, it was not going to come, but thank God it finally came from the AMVCA stable. I am very grateful to God and everyone that have stood by me". He further went on to advise those in their chosen professions;" Everyone should be consistently consistent and positively focused in their chosen endeavour. It all has to do with one day like it has happened to me".

Making up IK Ogbonna.  Photo Credit: Eshilo Visual

Besides make up and special effects, Pere is a movie producer, director, editor & videographer that shoots and edits musical videos, commercials, feature films, events & documentaries. His documentary 'Nigeria & Crude Oil: A Blessing or A Curse' was screened at the 2016 Abuja International Film Festival. He said "At a point I felt bored with no much challenges in the game of make up/special effect. Producers can't pay for your creativity. I was totally fed up with the everyday straight make up affair of powder and brush on location. So I embarked on a full scale production techniques and theory on technical film-making. It was not easy, but I am very thankful today writers and producers that want to take risk, and the knowledge and practice of the  craft". Perekeme is a member of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN), & Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU).

With Kunle Coker on set of 'Tinsel'.

In addition, Perekeme is a trained professional journalist, and an alumnus of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Broadcast Journalism. He is currently the Head of Performing Arts Department, National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Lagos Zonal Office, National Theatre, Iganmu,Lagos state. 

Perekeme is also an alumnus of the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) where

With Beverly Naya
Photo Credit: Onyi Okechukwu

he attended the Democratic Leadership Training Programme in 2006. His hobbies are reading, writing, dancing, swimming, meeting people, traveling, etc... He is married with children.