Nollywood veteran actor Emmanuel France, famous for his roles in Domitilla (1996) and The Curfew (2021), has died at 84.
The news of his death broke on Monday, September 16 after his colleague and filmmaker Olufemi Ogedengbe, announced it on his Instagram page.
Ogedengbe while expressing his condolences, described the late actor as a legend and an uncle and reminisced about their collaboration in Tanzania in 2006 where he worked on three film projects with the late actor.
Cross My Sin, She is My Sister and the Director were the movies they collaborated on.
“Rest in peace to one of Nollywood legends uncle Emmanuel France, One of the actors I took to Tanzania in 2006, Shot three movies with him: Cross MY Sin, She Is My Sister & THE Director,” his post read.
The cause of his death remains unknown. His passing comes just days after the death of fellow Nollywood actor Big Larry.
Born in Kano State, he joined the Nigerian movie industry in the ’80s and was renowned for playing Witch Doctor roles in Nollywood films.
The late actor was also famous for the catchphrase ‘Tufancha,’ a word which he repeatedly used in the classic Nollywood film Suicide Mission.
His other movie credits include Oganigwe, Narrow Escape, Witches, Silent Night, Exile and Silent Night.
Was he a Nigerian or Ghanaian?
France’s nationality has always been debated as many believed he was a Ghanaian but in an interview with Modern Ghana in 2011, the actor described himself as a product of a united nation.
He said,“I am not even a Ghanaian but a “Gold Coastian” because my grandparents came from the Gold Coast. They didn’t come from Ghana. I have a Nigerian Passport because I was born in Nigeria. I don’t have a Ghanaian Passport because I don’t reside there. I didn’t go to school in Ghana. Ghanaians don’t know me as theirs. Nigerians know me as a Ghanaian. Of course, that is what it is. I say it out loud because my parents come from there.”
His professional career began in Ghana when he studied at the School of Journalism in Accra.
He also started writing scripts while in Ghana and wrote his first script, a stage play, in 1967 for the Catholic Church titled the “Mission of John the Baptist.”
He joined the Ghana Film Corporation in 1969 and shot his first film, “The Market Day”, the same year.
While in Ghana, he also shot a documentary, “No Time to Die,” about road safety in Ghana.
Similarly, he also shot a film sponsored by the Ghana Fishing Industry that took him to Angola in 1974.
Upon his return, the Ghana Broadcasting Organisation gave him a job, which saw him write the script for one of the best soup operas in Ghana at the time, Osopurazi.
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