Sex, Nudity and Half of a Yellow Sun | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

LI_Leaderboard_4

LI_Leaderboard_1

LI_Leaderboard_2

LI_Leaderboard_3

Thursday 17 April 2014

Sex, Nudity and Half of a Yellow Sun

Article written by Samuel Olatunji. Read and share your thoughts on the points he raised
Over the weekend in Lagos, Oscar nominee and BAFTA award winner, Chiwetel Ejiofor laid claim to the fact that Half of a Yellow Sun is not just a Nigerian story but an international story which has its implications and relevance across the world. The movie which was centered on love could not have left the original plot out which talks about the Biafran war. 
By now you probably have heard of Half of a Yellow Sun, but no one has told you about the nudity and sex scenes, by the way it was artistically done. Thandie Newton came out of the bath tub naked with her two boobs standing at alert, Chiwetel and Thandie Newton had sex and there was another sex scene in the movie, again all were artistically done. The question is, can Nigerian actors ever go all the way in movies like these people did (remember Chiwetel and Lupita in 12 Years a Slave)?


Toni Kan, a film critic and author said the sex scene was well done, ‘you can’t be in the bath tub and be fully dressed or start covering your body when your husband enters the room like we do in our movies, Nigerians would love it and after all Ghanaians have done more than that.’ He added that it justified the description in the book. Besides this is collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood and certain things have to be made as real as possible.



A renowned journalist, Steve Ayorinde, said nothing is offensive, ‘part of the reason we don’t do well in our movies is because we don’t speak cinema language, and nudity in movies is given unnecessary attention, you can’t be in your bath tub and be clothed. Movies that win the Oscar are doing it professionally and the actors and actresses see it as their job and the press doesn’t make a big deal out of it. Also, our acts put restriction on themselves and film makers too and that would not have allowed them go that far. In addition, our movies are not professionally and maturely shot, we need to be lightened up about that and start being professional.’ 



Shaibu Husseini, a journalist and movie critic went on to say that the movie sure has to do with arts and it contributes and advances the story, he doubts if we could do it. ‘Thandie is a professional and convinced it would help the film, we are from a society where normal parts like that are daring and misinterpreted. It’s just an actress portraying her character. Biyi Bandele even played down on some of the descriptions.’

Written by Samuel Olatunji





TWITTER:
@bigsammedia @filmoneng @HOAYSMovie
Trailer..

79 comments:

♥ ȊƦȋƺȟ ƘƦȋϻ ♥ said...

Hmmmmmmm

Unknown said...

Movies have to reflect reality. Nudity just for nudity sake is gross. But if a move shows a loving couple making love in the nude, then that's fine because it reflects reality. If you can't show a nude scene properly, then cut it out altogether!

Amarachukwu. said...

Linda n this your boo.

Anonymous said...

Bias.

If it was a 'Nigerian' movie, we'd be screaming about it.

The sex was "artistically done". Bullshit.

Inferiority complex.

Anonymous said...

K

last baby said...

Acting rubbish and children will also watch it

ary said...

We and not that open minded yet, even at that I don't think there is any director who can be trusted to make a nude scene in a movie tasteful. Even the Ghanaian movies were it is rampant, it is done with so much rashness it is irritating!

last baby said...

Acting rubbish and children will also watch it

Unknown said...

Next linda





naija lady sends her naked pictures to fake model agent [18+ only]

last baby said...

Acting rubbish, and children will also watch it

Unknown said...

Thats why i will always love hollywood more than nollywood, they make their movies so real to their audience and by so doing draw consumers to their product....lol.... Na only God knw hw genevieve and other nigerian acts go react when they see hw it takes to be an hollywood act...
.
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

T-john said...

Because it is not Genny or Omosexy that went nude, its accepted. if it had been any know Nigerian actress, all these so called Nigerian movie critics will eat them raw.....

Alloy Chikezie said...

A million dollar question, Nigerians are too culture oriented and too conservative and it has affected our professionalism in acting


Your comment will be visible after approval

Tovia babe said...

And so ђã†̥? Hw does this contribute to solving Nigerian boko haram problem? Mtcheeeew

Purity said...

Anyone who need my nude picture hit mai name

Bonita Bislam said...

Hmm interesting.I already see this movie in a lot of controversy.

FUNMINISTA said...

We are in troble o,hope mercy johnson,tonto dike etc are not reading this.

Anonymous said...

They did not have sex, they shot a sex scene, the idea is that they make you believe they had sex. That is what is called acting Mr. Samuel Olatunji. I also don't believe shooting a sex scene will make our actors win awards

Anonymous said...

Ka m nukwa!...this brain and hormones are two powerful internal "creatures" in the human body. Whether we like it or not, our powerful sense of imagination and recall(BRAIN) with the help of our sensual river(HORMONES) will always leave an "indelible" mark and feelings after the shooting the movie. Therefore it will still remain a controversial issue in the Nollywood for some morally and godly inclined people to go totally nude in our movies. #IndispensableSTAR#

Anonymous said...

their way of 'sensitizing' the 'ignorant' public yeah? shior. giving excuses for the many nigerian cinemas y'all are about to spoil.

Unknown said...

I just wish genevieve will be naked in this movie, mehn na rush nigerians go rush the film......
.
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

Unknown said...

Being nude in a movie is all bout professionalism, in a country lyk ours whr pple critic any tin sexual its practically impossible, we need to b more liberal in Nigeria, jst imagin d scandal dat will happen if omotola acts a nude or sex scene

Anonymous said...

So de actually fucked on screen?omg

Anonymous said...

Bullshit. indian Bollywood movies are rated second best in the world and you cant so much as see them KISS in the movies! The problem with Nigeria is we are still mental slaves constantly trying to emulate anything from the west considering it better than ours. OSCARS are AMERICAN AWARDS. What does it take to win an AFRICAN AWARD? Certainly not nudity or sex scenes. kmt

Anonymous said...

Chai!! I go lyk watch dis movie ooooh
#MzEmerald

Nelly Nwandu's Blog said...

Is nudity an art form or must high art have nudity? Don't get it twisted.

Anonymous said...

We can potray our movies intelligently w'out bearing all. Its not until u show all body parts that it is professional biko.

The white man has brainwashed us 2 think this is d "professional" way 2 go but cant u leave sth 2 imagination?

Nelly said...

Is nudity and art form? Movies have won accolades and won $millions in sales without a single nude scene. Don't get it twisted.

Unknown said...

Linda they can oooo, all they need do is to cast me and its done...

……………..
.
.
.
¤GROWN MAN IN A YOUNG BODY¤

MARKET MONITOR said...

Yeah yeah yeah
i love this!
I really can't wait to watch the movie!
badt: see unilag students boyfriend&girlfriend Sex Video leakes online!

aproko said...

Movies that win the Oscar are doing it professionally and the actors and actresses see it as their job "AND THE PRESS DOESN'T MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT"... Linda the above statement is for people like u! I actually look forward to sex scenes in hollywood movies... Cuz it makes the interpretation of the evryday life real! Buh nollywood own dey different, dahz y i no dey ever wan watch dia movie! Fake ass acting!

Anonymous said...

oh wel......

Blackberry said...

The book has many sex plots n well written, it can make u wet.

Anonymous said...

Chiwetel and Thandi don't live in Nigeria/Africa and they weren't raised here. They can afford to simply think of their art without societal mores restricting them. Society in return gives them a pass, they get the stranger pass.

Anonymous said...

that why I like foreign movies, they give the real tin.

Efemena Sowho said...

Hmmmm...Lool,it is well ooo...#smh

Anonymous said...

Linda what do u mean by artistically done? Was it real or fake? If Thandie was naked, she was naked, with or without art. Much as I don't subscribe to nudity in movies, I don't think d problem is whether or not our actors can go nude in a movie, hut d society's perception on them and such. We r not ready for such. And truth b told, d only reason why lupita won an Oscar is because she was nude in d movie, especially given dat she is african. There was nothing fantastic about her role or her acting and though 12 years a slave was a good film, but it was over hyped!

Anonymous said...

That's what geneve likes #bright bravo#

Unknown said...

Cant wait to watch it o..

Anonymous said...

Nigeria is still a very conservative country and a little bit of backward thinking. i guess when the realize that everything is not about religion and culture then those type movie nudity will be accepted. my guess maybe in 20 years from now.

Unknown said...

It's easy to thumbs up for the foreign acts now bt wen Nigerians starts posing nude in movie senes, we start clan dem al sorts of names. Another blame goes to our nigerian actors, the hardly act sensibly. Dey can base de whole move on d sex scene only nd title d movie 'ashawo girls' lol. Meaning..........

ikeji said...

Pickin issues with d nudity aspect...We dn't need our actresses to go nude b4 we knw they cn act, dey cn also act their roles decently in a professional way, indian n southkoreans av been doin it, n deir movies r mkin waves..if thandie wnts to go nude..good 4 her buh plz dnt try inculcating nwood actresses in2 d trend abeg

diamondblinqZ said...

Artistically, dramatically na their toro. E no concern me

Debbie Chelsea said...

Cnt wait 2 see dis movie

Mr_SouL Get Naija Twitter/IG followers/7AB109CB said...

Nollywood dey will b making love and next thing d guy will jump Outa d bed with his baggy jeans still on.. Am tired

@Aniejayz said...

Am yet 2 see d movie dou.... Buh wot eva is best 4 any1 i tink it shud be ok by us d viewers. Linda my coment no d always dey visible why?

Anonymous said...

They are right. It looks false when a husband or regular/live in boyfriend walks into the bathroom and the woman covers up. They would have seen all of each other, had baths together. Infact, they would be a bit bored with each other's naked bodies. Nudity and sex in movies should not be gratuitous or just self-indulgent, but any reader of Half of Yellow Sun knows that Odenigbo and Olanna had a very sexual relationship. For me, Odenigbo (Chiwetel) with that beard and chest of luxuriant hair was great to look at and fantasize over. Olanna (Thandie) is too slim abeg, for us Africans to appreciate. It would be more exciting if she had more curves!

Anonymous said...

Then it's a good thing Genevieve didnt get the lead female role because she wouldn't have been comfortable acting stark naked.

@MEETD®EALEVANS™ said...

Why didn't gene tk dat part...

Anonymous said...

Pleasse don't decieve us wif big big oyibo,am an African child,in Africa we hv a culture,we hv our stand so by nudity in public,in d presence of teenager we 4bid it.bt I hv realize dat our culture nd our image can neva b repect in our western word cos we they speak profesionalism,we get excited,4gt our own way nd clap 4 evil bcos we won't to win oscar.pls go wif oscar nd leave our Africa us,our culture is our heritage nd nudity is nt there,Africans makes us to look inferior b4 d white cos we they tell us stand we stand,pls American we will love to c u dress lyk yorubas or Hausa den we can accept watching our parents doing it in movies

Anonymous said...

this is what I perceive when talking about this movie too bad ehhh

MlleP said...

Linda we don't need to! An actress is a human being first. Her body should not be put on display or used just for the sake of career or 'art' as they put it. Cos no matter how u look at it, she will always have feelings! Not every thing should be adopted in the name of progress. And the feeling of 'shame' is what protects every woman. Like it or not, it is true

Unknown said...

It may be a love movie

Anonymous said...

CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH IT.

PurelyP said...

Different strokes for different folks, in my own opinion, we can actually do without sex scenes. If the concept is to emulate Americans,There are also American movies without sex scenes. So why the emphasis on sex-scene induced professionalism?

Anonymous said...

That is why Bollywood movies will continue to be second best until Nollywood comes and pushed it to third.

Anonymous said...

Am so disappointed in you Chimamanda for allowing this. I will never watch this movie! It seems so indecent

Anonymous said...

Classic case of double standards

Anonymous said...

Let's state the facts, chinwetel ejiofor played quite a sexual role in this movie and I hated that fact. Even the first scene of twelve years a slave was quite questionable. See the way he was fingering that pretty lady.. Mtcheeeew!

Lyndy said...

Exactly the point I was abt to make. Bollywood movies are very interesting nd yet, nothing sinful to mk it so. South Korean movies re my favorites these days but u nevr get to see any sort of sexual immorality in d name of 'makin it real'. Who has watched Iris? Why are we Nigerians trying so hard to belong? To be recognized? Why can't we be creative nd genuine? Yet, we all call ourselves christians. That's why muslims wont ever listen to us cos of double standards.

Anonymous said...

Sharap ya mouth dia

Anonymous said...

The first things we Nigerians hav to realise first of all is that no matter what the westerners wnt to sell to us as the source of their progress we must first acknowledge our own culture, laws nd norms and if anything see where deir ways fit into our system. We must learn not to change who we are just because we want to emulate them, because for all we know, they are not perfect in all they do and as much as their ways seem perfect and rosy from here, they do get a lot of things wrong. As far as our society is concerned our culture as a nation frowns at public nudity and our movie industry should not be encouraged to inculcate it. There's so many ways to portray affection between a couple without selling out an actors personal dignity and pride. In our country, part of a womans dignity is in d societys continuos guessing of what lies underneath her clothes and also in the fact that they would never be able to knw or she's married to u. My point is our actors shouldn't be confused into doing the wrong thing on the grounds that the westerners are okay with it and it would get them an oscar. If personally, they agree that its ok to show of their bodies on screen, its okay as we all are entitled to our personal opinions about things, but they should however bear in mind that our country is very different from the western world and the consequences of such actions would definitely be very different over here!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The first things we Nigerians hav to realise first of all is that no matter what the westerners wnt to sell to us as the source of their progress we must first acknowledge our own culture, laws nd norms and if anything see where deir ways fit into our system. We must learn not to change who we are just because we want to emulate them, because for all we know, they are not perfect in all they do and as much as their ways seem perfect and rosy from here, they do get a lot of things wrong. As far as our society is concerned our culture as a nation frowns at public nudity and our movie industry should not be encouraged to inculcate it. There's so many ways to portray affection between a couple without selling out an actors personal dignity and pride. In our country, part of a womans dignity is in d societys continuos guessing of what lies underneath her clothes and also in the fact that they would never be able to knw or she's married to u. My point is our actors shouldn't be confused into doing the wrong thing on the grounds that the westerners are okay with it and it would get them an oscar. If personally, they agree that its ok to show of their bodies on screen, its okay as we all are entitled to our personal opinions about things, but they should however bear in mind that our country is very different from the western world and the consequences of such actions would definitely be very different over here!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

So you are not yet tired of people seeing your nude picture. I think you need a Savior. Give your life to Christ.

Unknown said...

Dat guy dia doesn't luk romantic

Unknown said...

Hmmmm ok, I b'lv whoever goes into acting shld knw what it really takes so whoever acts nude? Na him sabi

Unknown said...

CHIMANDA ADICHIE IS A TERRIBLE INFLUENCE ON NIGERIANS...IN HER BOOK AMERICANA SHE HARPED ON ABOUT RACISM IN AMERICA, AND HOW WE SHOULD BE AFRICAN, I GUESS HER ONLY DEFINITION OF AFRICAN IS KEEPING D NATURAL HAIR, SHE HAS TROWN EVERY OTHER VALUES TO THE WIND, WITH HER NUDE MOVIE AND RATIONALIZATION OF GAY PRACTICE, TO ME SHE IS A SLAVE TO THE WEST, HOW PATHETHIC! SO NOW PROFESSIONALISM MEANS NAKEDNESS

Anonymous said...

Heaven Bless all your brains! Thank God ppl with sense still exist. So this so called 'tasteful nudity and sex scenes' is now the epitome of professionalism in film making abi? So if a woman is giving birth in a movie we must see her vagina? Or if a person is in the loo, we need to see their shit falling off b4 we knw it's real? If you are watching a movie and you see a happy married couple must dey simulate sex for you b4 you know they are in love? It's not our culture to be so sexually in your face like the westerners. And I'm sure good/professional film makers know how to communicate emotions like love,lust n passion without the actors having sex for us. I remember a scene in a movie were liz benson n some 'young maidens' were dancing n trying to win the prince's affection. After liz showed off her skills, I'd never forget the look on the 'prince' face. You didn't need a subsequent scene of naked grinding (tastefully or not) to tell you that, the guy had fallen for her. If you ppl want to watch sexual scenes please go and watch pornography and stop pressuring our industry to adopt western poor sexual values. It's already in happening sef, loose morals are paraded under the guise of 'one night stands' 'friends with benefits' etc. That's plain slutty behavior.

Anonymous said...

Ok so u agree, Nigerians aren't jst hypocrits.Lupita went totally naked in 12 yrs a slave and all pple kept saying was"genevieve&co can u see acting" meanwhile we wuld have eaten them raw if they do such no matter the professionalism.

Anonymous said...

Acting is a professional profession, If u must act, uv got to act professionally. The reason why you are scared when watching a horror movie is because it feels real or jump from ur seat while watching an action thriller or sob watching a drama/bestseller is all about professionalism and originality. the Indians have a culture and hence stick to it, if u want to watch an in Indian movie, its original, they don't try to copy hollywood, so as the Chinese, they dont try to copy no one, they are original. The problem we have in Nigeria is 'copy copy', we want to copy what they do in the Chinese, Indian, American, British, Ghana, french and etc movies. why cant we be original for once. we cannot act a nude seen, action, karat, sing but we will do it anyway because others are doing it and then end up messing up what should have been a good movie. i get embarrassed watching Nigerian movies. why don't we stick to what works for us, even if it is Chinua Achebe's 'things fall apart'. Originality and professionalism! Imagine a woman who is suppose to be lying in bed with her husband wearing bra, house coat and make up, u want to kiss, u kiss the forehead for a suppose to be young couple in love who are in the mood for sex,you wear funny costumes as royalty. whats up with a village girl or a slave wearing long lashes and well manicured nails and Brazilian weave,a scean of 10 years and you still carry the same hair? whats up Nollywood? don't you research? why must you irritate your audience/viewers before u kiss? if you cant kiss or make love in your movies, stick to comedies,drama's n movies that have no kiss/sex scene.

KASS said...

Ua evn a baby too cos u don't evn undestand d meaning of the word "censorship" when they say 18+ or 21+ why allowing ur children to watch with u????????????

BONARIOS BABY said...

Linda what's ur p na,haven't I complained enough,I even changed my fone and yet I still can't watch videos here,its really not funny.do u know how much I spend to come on ur blog daily,do something abeg cus I'm sick of this already...

Unknown said...

Pls ur opinion on dis movie does nt count.cartoon r made 4 children.

Anonymous said...

Nigerians hypocrisy and double standards stinks to the high heavens!

Unknown said...

that the major differnce between hollywood and nollywood. istaed of shooting good movies we are promoting porn industry all thanks to afrocandy.

LumdyBlogReview

Anonymous said...

The problem with us Nigerians is that we like to shout culture everytime something we can't grasp is being mentioned. Even a 10 year old nowadays knows a lot about sex so who are we kidding. There's really no big deal about sexual scenes. By the way, the so-called Korean movies are just tasteless and boring, you also forgot to mention that they produce a lot of porn so what exactly are you talking about

Oliver Tweets said...

Once you leave your mark, you're marked for greatness.

MY TURN said...

I don't agree that Chimamanda is a terrible influence. First when a BOOK is adapted for screen play it means a smart intelligent director looks at the book takes elements of the story and remakes it. The book in itself is from the houseboy's point of view but Biyi Bandele made it come from Olanma's point of view (i watched the movie the day it premiered) Picking sex nudity as your headline Linda is VERY SHALLOW. That is not what this movie is all about. Yes it was very real and believable unlike the rubbish those rugrats in Nollywood shoot. Lets Celebrate intelligent work done but professionals. Genevieve though one of my best dressed actresses didn't impress me was disappointed. Chimamanda is a brilliant writer and Biyi did justice bringing this brilliance to life.

Unknown said...

Linda, are u kinda promoting nudity and sex or something....

u need to have ur head checked ooo.


things people do for money!

Recent Posts