We lost an absolute Titan of the Nigerian entertainment industry last week. Mazi Ukonu (1930-2021) was the first Nigerian graduate of Theatre Arts (UCLA - 1959), his Hollywood career saw him star in films with Clark Gable, Robert Mitchum, Gig Young, Susan Hayward, Bob Hope etc He also featured in productions in Las Vegas with Harry Belafonte.
He compered the Independence Gala events in 1960. He joined the Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service in 1960 as a producer and mentored several ‘young’ talents (soon to be legends) then including Pete Edochie, Nwora Asika and Paddy Davies. Ukonu’s Show on Eastern Nigeria was the most watched variety entertainment show in Eastern Nigeria. He served as Head of Forces Entertainment in Biafra and after the war he returned to TV retiring as GM NTA Aba in 1984. May his soul RIP!!!
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