Still Lighting Up Nolly Skies
the Institute of Management Technology ( IMT) Enugu. They both hold a Higher HEY have been consistent as the ‘ eastern
National Diploma of the Institute and they stars’. Since they took the decision to ve n
also studied acting for film at the New York ture into acting in 1999, the ever charming
Film Academy, Los Angeles. and delectable Chidinma and Chidebere
The last of the children born to the Anekes, Aneke, aka Aneke T wins, have not looked
the twins joined the industry in 1999 and had back. Aside from floating a charity organisa
their first feel of acting in front of the camera tion, the actress, show host, models, produc
in the movie, Ebuka. They rode on the back of ers and Chief Executive Officers of Atwins
Ebuka, which as they agreed, ‘ gave them an Design ( Aneke Twins Clothing line), Aneke
edge’ to rise steadily up the acting rung. But Twins Foundation and Green ville
what turned out the big break for the twins Productions have not done anything outside
who are unpretentiously friendly was when entertainment— acting and modelling. The
they featured in the 2004 movie, titled, identical twins have continued to light up
Desperate Twins. The movie somewhat the Nollywood acting skies, appearing in
announced their grand entry into the scene some of the industr y critically acclaimed
and it earned them a nomination for the productions including Desperate T wins,
most promising acts to watch at an earlier Jealous Friends, Lagos Girls and Broken
edition of the African Magic Viewers Choice Ambition.
Award.
Born Chidinma
What inspired your incursion into actPeace and
ing? “We Chidiebere Joy
want to into a polygamous home,
Chidinma and Ebere, for short, are products of
Tmake a change in our society’ Chidinma snapped, continuing, Chidiebere, said, ‘ we want to through stor ytelling and also through our craft change society . We want people to watch our movies or movies we feature in and learn something positive. Ours is not arts for just the sake of entertainment. It is to change society for the good and to touch lives. So that is majorly why we ventured into acting.”
So far , Chidiebere and Chidinma, who didn’t experience any parental objection when they ventured into acting ha ve featured in over 80 movies and still counting. “We have featured in quite a number of jobs including, Heart of Isiaku , Onochie, Broken Ambition, and Adaora.”
Which is y our most memorable work together?
Chidiebere shoots: “We have had so many memorable times working together. But our last job to gether , Because of Jennifer , where my twin sister Chidimma refused to go to school, rather she became a nuisance ( Agbero) in the society that disturbs the whole village which landed her in a police cell should count as one of our most memorable. I felt bad and hurt not knowing what to do about it, cr ying all the time throughout the production. Seeing her and myself interpret our characters well in this movie, and the fun we had working together as twins was indeed memorable to us.”
The twins set up the Aneke T wins Foundation to reach out to widows, motherless children in different orphanages across the country and Peopl e Living disabilities, which the twins refer to as ‘ special people’, the foundation as the twins stated have been able to feed more than 50,000 widows, special people ( physically challenged people) and motherless children in different orphanages across the country. In the words of Chidinma, “the foundation has also been able to help over 15, 000 people replace thei r clutch es, over 10,000- wheel chairs and more than 100,000 widows have benefitted through our care scheme.” On her part, Chidiebere said the foundation has also provided funding to take care of children education and healthcare. “W e have been doing that and will continue our outreach programmes. In fact, the foundation has empowered more than 10,000 widows, the youths and the special people ( physically challenged people) through their skill acquisition: Teaching them different skills and giving them materials to start business.”
Asked what they like about being celebrities, the twins agree that it has helped them in impacting in people’s lives. “Outside that, we have always preferred a quiet lifestyle in our lives. We value our privacy. We feel pressured when people are watching us, we don’t want lies circulated about us. So, we go only where we are invited and we don’t engage in anything that will draw attention to us negatively.”
What’s their career ambition and what word for younger people? Chidebere offers to answer first “our career ambition is to constantly grow and enhance our skills: And also, to make positive impact in the society through our work. We believe that by working in this field, we can contribute to making a difference in people’s lives and improving the world we live in. As for word for y oung people interested in becoming entertainers, I would lea ve that to this y oung woman ( pointing to Chidinma) to answer.”
Chidinma answers after a loud session of laughter, “well, we would always tell them to believe in themselves, trust God to see them through, say no to pride and be humble. That’s the only way they can make it in this industr y.”