Nollywood star actor, James Ikechukwu Esomugha popularly known as Jim Iyke has put the image of versatile Ghanaian actor Majid Michel on the line.
The Nigerian actor who was the Master of Ceremonies (MC) at the just ended African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria over the weekend, made very suggestive and revealing comments about Majid, while he was on stage.
When Jim walked on stage after the winner of the “Best Actor in Leading Role” was announced, where Majid lost to South African actor Themba Ndaba, he said something to the effect that Majid deserved to win the award because he thinks Majid has been around for a long time, and they have both suffered for the movie industry in Nigeria and Ghana. Jim said he has faced gun-shots together with Majid, all in the course of their duty as actors.
“If there is anybody who is a true brother in the movie industry, it is Majid Michel. He is my brother, we got shot together, we did a few dangerous things together in Ghana, we have been through thick and thin together, but believe me Majid is an awesome actor on any day. Whether he won the award or not, he is a great actor,” Jim Iyke revealed.
Majid was nominated in the “Best Actor In Leading Role” category with the movie “Pool Party”, alongside his colleague Ghanaian actor Ekow Blankson in the movie “Checkmate”, Haitian Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis in the Ghanaian movie “Sinking Sands”, Themba Ndaba in the movie “Hopeville”, Antar Laniyan in the movie “Yemoja” and Congolese actor, Patsha Bay in the movie “Viva Riva”
He went ahead to ask Majid to wave his hand in the audience for everybody to see he is around, and for the cameras to capture him. As if that was not enough Jim went ahead to put his colleague actor on the spot. According to him, despite Majid being a big star and a nominee for an award, he saw Majid being transported in and around Bayelsa State, in a rickety mini bus that looked like a ‘danfo bus’ (commercial bus) instead of being chauffeured around in a luxurious limousine.
Majid Michel in audience at AMAA 2011. Behind on the right are actresses, Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw and Chioma busy on their Black Berry. He appealed to the Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency, Timipre Silva, sole sponsor of the AMAA and Guest of Honour on the night, to give nominees and stars who attend the event from different countries something better in the future.
There was however mixed reaction to Jim Iyke’s comment after the event, from both the public and fellow movie stars.
A Ghanaian actor who spoke to peacefmonline.com on condition of anonymity, said Jim Iyke’s comments about Majid were absolutely unnecessary and in bad taste, because people might easily think Majid pre-arranged with him (Jim Iyke) to make those comment should he (Majid) fail to win and also use the opportunity as an MC to express Majid’s sentiments since they are close friends.
The Ghanaian actor further added that Jim's humourless prank somehow questioned the decision and integrity of the AMAA jury who selected the winners, adding that this may affect Majid's chances at future awards' event.
But a patron of the event who mentioned his name as Uche, rather thought it was very good of Jim Iyke to have made those remarks. To him, all what the MC said might be true and it was also the best avenue since the media and the whole African movie industry were present in the auditorium.
Uche said, it takes a brave person to make all those controversial remarks on such a big platform.
Jim Iyke was MC with Nollywood actress Nse lkpe Etim, known for her role in the Ghana/Nigerian movie “Guilty Pleasure”. The two were able host the programme throughout duration of the function though Jim Iyke didn’t really have his groove on, and kept getting the names of very some very important personalities wrong.
