Why Nollywood star is in love with Kenya

By George Orido

Nollywood silver screen star Desmond Elliot is so much in love with Kenya and its people that his two new movies will premier in Nairobi later next month.

After acting in over 250 movies the baby face Behind Closed Doors star has embarked on producing new movies working with new and a mix of established stars.

One of the premiers slated for the ‘City in the Sun’ is In the Cupboard that is starring ever-charming Ini Edo and Big Brother Africa sensation Uti.

Kenyans best remember Uti when he proposed to fellow housemate Kenyan Sheila Kwamboka in Big Brother 3. In The Cupboard is about a multi-billionaire man who dies and leaves his offspring with so much in estate to fight for.

Uti, who acts as the first born of this patriarch, reads the will and is shocked to learn his second brother is not his father’s biological son.

The family lawyer also reveals Uti’s screen sister is Ini Edo from another man. But the suspense is deepened when all other siblings realise that none of them is biologically related to their late father.

What happens to the multi-billion dollar estate? Elliot, who came to Kenya last week on invitation by the Nigerian Ambassador to Kenya, says Nollywood is keen to work with local filmmakers.

"There is a huge potential to work together and I am ready to bring my expertise to Kenya," says Elliot, who is full praise for local infrastructural film potential.

He identifies the beautiful landscape and wildlife as unparalleled film destination that can make Kenya as competitive in churning films just as Hollywood and Nollywood.

"My major beef with Kenya is rampant piracy that would scare potential investors," warned Elliot, who made a passionate appeal to the Kenyan Government to stem the vice.

While Nollywood films are popular in Kenya and have pushed TV stations to put them in their daily menu to get a pie of the home audience, most of the films are pirated.

The Economics graduate of Lagos State University says he wants to put his money where returns to investment in guaranteed.

Elliot estimates the cost of producing his two movies at a whooping Sh8.4 million. The other movie is Kidnap. It is a story of unlikely love.

When a worker is unjustifiably fired by his boss, he becomes bitter and plans revenge – kidnapping the only daughter of his former boss.

But in a turn of events the girl falls in love with one of the accomplices in the kidnap. Another accomplice feels jealous and lets the cat out of the bag.

The 150-minute movie stars talents Eneobeli Elebowa and Omwuni Oboli.

Other Nollywood stars, Uche Jumbo, Monalisa Chinda and Francis Duru accompanied Elliot and they had a feel of local nature wonders when they visited the world’s renowned Hell’s Gate National park in Naivasha. "I am so impressed by the abundance of beauty that is Kenya including her people who are friendly and happy," shares Elliot who says this is contrary to what he reads in the media.

The 36-year-old is married and has four children. Four-year-old set of twins Desmond Jnr and Denzel, and yet another set of twins 10-month-old Donald and Dawn.

Elliot, whose middle name is Shola meaning ‘God has created wealth’, says his family is the most important source of inspiration.

"My career has exposed me to many women, but my wife means the whole world to me. I married her for love and nothing else. She is understanding and caring. These are the two vital attributes I find lacking in most women," says Elliot of his wife Victoria, who works as a banker in Lagos.

Stardom by chance

On Tuesday, Elliot made a surprise appearance at the recording of Churchill Live comedy show at Simba Salon, the Carnivore, to a wild reception.

But why did he choose to become an actor?

He moved to Lagos to look for a job. However, his dream was to go abroad to seek greener pastures, but failed to get a visa.

While in Lagos, Elliot was jobless.

"A friend talked me into taking part in movies and I decided to give it a try. It started as a hobby, but today it is my career," recalls Elliot, who first started with TV soap operas such as Everyday People, One Too Much, Wale Adenuga’s Super Stories and Saints and Sinners.

He says Kenya’s Changes on DSTVs MNET Channel and also showing on KTN is the best picture today from Africa especially its technical superiority.

But he has a word of advice: "Kenyans should explore low budget movies and allow more players to be involved. This will create jobs and also showcase Kenya’s beauty."