By Tina Davies – In the just concluded 21st Gathering of Africa’s Best Awards 2019 (GAB Awards) in London, on December 15 at Hilton Canary Wharf, Nollywood veteran actress Clara Nneka Oluwatoyin Folashade Chukwurah was honoured with Special Recognition in The Arts.
GAB Awards was founded by Femi Okutubo, who is also the CEO of Trumpet Media Group UK, in 1999 to recognise, celebrate and reward excellence among Africans and friends of Africa to combat the many negative stereotype projection of the continent and its people. “I felt the dire need for us to tell our own stories and blow our own trumpet” he enthused.
Clarion, who is a multi-award winner was very delighted to add yet another feather to her cap, which she started wearing over forty years ago. She celebrated her award by dedicating it to all awards pioneers, who has deemed it fit to encourage and celebrate other industry practitioners by recognising their works, with special mention of African Film Awards, aka Afro Hollywood Awards (founded by Prince Mike Abiola in 1996) of which she was a recipient in 1997.
Chief Clarion Chukwurah, born Clara Nneka Oluwatoyin Folashade Chukwurah is an Actress, TV Personality, Entrepreneur and Humanitarian.
She studied Acting and Speech at the Department of Dramatic Arts of Obafemi Awolowo University. She began her career in acting in 1979 but became popular when she featured in a soap opera title “Mirror in the Sun.” She rose to stardom at 18 years old when she acted in her first movie: Ola Balogun’s Money Power which was released in 1982.
She was the first Nigerian to win the Best Actress category at the 1982 FESPACO Film Festival in Burkina Faso.
Her TV appearances include: Bello’s Way (1984), Mirror in the Sun (1984), Ripples (1989), Super Story (2001) and Delilah (2016 onwards).
She has acted in more than 200 movies which include: Fiery Force (1986), Money Power (1982), Farewell to Babylon (1979), Yemoja, Apaye, Remarkable Night, Igbotic Love, Forbidden Choice, and Caught In The Act.
She has bagged numerous awards including: Legends of Nollywood Award at the Nollywood at 20 celebration; Afro-Hollywood Best Actress Award for Glamour Girls (1997); THEMA Best Supporting Actress (Yoruba) Award (2001); Lebatino Film Festival, Mexico Award for Best Actress (2001); Africa Cinema Award (2003); Reel Award for Best Actress (2004); Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2014).
She was recognized as a United Nations Peace Ambassador for her charity work across Africa.
Clarion who is the mother of music video director – Clarence Peters, also holds the traditional title of Ada Eji Eje Mba I of Onitsha.
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