Tunde Aladese is a Nigerian actress and screenwriter. In 2018, she received an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[1] In 2020 she wrote the 70 night drama for MTV Shuga which was filmed by the actors themselves from over four countries, with languages, English, Swahili, Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin. It is a campaign focusing on the sexual health of young people between the ages 16 – 25.

Tunde Aladese
NationalityNigerian
EducationEnglish literature, University of Ibadan
Alma materUniversity of Ibadan
OccupationScreenwriter.
Notable workThe Lost Café
AwardsAfrica Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Career edit

 
Adebukola Oladipupo in MTV Shuga filmed by the actors over four countries in 2020[2]

Aladese was interested in drama since primary school, joined a drama club and had an obsession with The Sound of Music. She studied English literature at the University of Ibadan and assisted with a drama series destined for the BBC in Nigeria.[2] She loves to write and was critical. She went on to study at the private Met Film School, based in London and Berlin, gaining a BA in Practical Filmmaking.[2]

Aladese has written scripts for Edge of Paradise and Tinsel.[3] She was the head writer for the series Hotel Majestic.[4] In 2018, she was listed by YNaija as one of the 10 most powerful Nigerians under 40.[5] In 2018, Aladese role in Kenneth Gyang's The Lost Café, got her nominated for best actress in a leading role at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.[6]

 
Screenshot from the final 70th episode of MTV Shuga Alone Together

Aladese began writing episodes for MTV Shuga when its series was called Shuga Down South. She wrote two episodes, but in 2019 she was appointed as head writer for the project.[7] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was asked to write daily episodes for MTV Shuga Alone Together highlighting the problems of Coronavirus. The show was first broadcast on 20 April and its backers include the United Nations.[8] The series was based in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Cote D’Ivoire and the story was explained with on-line conversations between the characters. All of the filming was done by the actors themselves.[7] The series was planned to last for 65 episodes.[2]

Filmography edit

Awards and nominations edit

References edit

  1. ^ "10 things you didn't know about 'Hotel Majestic' head writer". Pulse. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Jack, Fisher (1 July 2020). "Nigerian Actress / Screenwriter (Tunde Aladese) Writes Coronavirus Hit African Lockdown Series – Sponsored by UN". EURweb. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  3. ^ "#TheYNaijaInterview: I never expected to make a living from writing in Nigeria – Tunde Aladese". 28 January 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  4. ^ "10 things you didn't know about 'Hotel Majestic' head writer". Pulse Nigeria. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Gyang, Genevieve, others are 10 most powerful under 40s". Dailytrust. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. ^ Shaibu Husseini (11 August 2018). "Africa's screen and acting first ladies slug it out at AMAA". The Guardian (Nigeria). Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b Akabogu, Njideka (16 April 2020). "MTV Shuga and ViacomCBS Africa Respond to COVID-19 with "Alone Together" Online Series". BHM. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Every Woman Every Child partners with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation to Tackle COVID-19". Every Woman Every Child. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Spotlight on Tunde Aladese". Nollywood Observer. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2019.

External links edit