By Benjamin Njoku

Popular actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha has expressed her love for language films, saying she feels comfortable starring in such films as well as rendering folktales songs. Chioma said this, while in a chat with HVP in Asaba.

She was on a set of an Igbo film, “ Ndi Gbo Ochie”(Primitive), which is produced by the duo of Iyke Odife and Emmanuel Odife.

According to Chioma, “It’s like doing what I love doing in a language I am very comfortable with. Over the years, there has been predictions that some of our languages will go into extinction.

That’s why some of us came up with the idea to bring back our values, norms and beliefs through movies. I am glad I am part of this movie, and I am also glad I am part of the move to save our language and our culture from going into extinction.”

Speaking further, Chioma who is playing the role of Abuoma in the movie,said she’s excited that producing more Igbo films will help to project the dying language in addition to helping in telling our stories better. “I am coming from another movie set where we had to speak in Igbo. So, I was more excited that doing more Igbo films will help to project our language in addition to telling our stories better. Though the next movie I am going to feature in, is an English movie, I hope to do more language movies.”

On her role in the film, Chioma said, “Abuoma is a girl who is unaware of the powers she possesses as a born again Christian; possessing godly powers like raising the dead, making the blind to see and doing extra ordinary things. The role is passionate to me for the fact that I am a Christian. The role I am playing in this movie is close to my heart. I am not singing any song in this movie, but I find myself more comfortable in playing roles like this, as well as exploring African folk songs”