Nollywood veteran actor renowned for his roles in *Domitilla* (1996) and *The Curfew* (2021), Emmanuel France, has passed away at the age of 84.
The news was shared by his colleague, filmmaker Olufemi Ogedengbe, on his Instagram page on Monday.
“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.
Read Also: Sad News As Woman Slumps, Dies While Sharing Testimony In Lagos Church
Born in Kano State, Emmanuel France began his career in the Nigerian movie industry in the 1980s, gaining fame for his roles as Witch Doctors in Nollywood films.
He was also well-known for his catchphrase “Tufancha,” which he frequently used in the classic Nollywood film *Suicide Mission*.
His filmography includes notable titles such as *Oganigwe*, *Narrow Escape*, *Witches*, *Silent Night*, *Exile*, and *Silent Night*.
Although there has been some debate about his nationality, Emmanuel France stated in a 2011 interview with Modern Ghana that he viewed himself as a product of a unified nation.
“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.”
Emmanuel France began his professional career in Ghana, where he studied at the School of Journalism in Accra.
During this time, he also embarked on scriptwriting, penning his first stage play, “Mission of John the Baptist,” for the Catholic Church in 1967.
Read Also: What Woman Was Seen Doing In Kegite Outfit (VIDEO)
In 1969, he joined the Ghana Film Corporation and directed his debut film, *The Market Day*. That same year, he produced a documentary titled *No Time to Die*, focusing on road safety in Ghana.
He also created a film sponsored by the Ghana Fishing Industry, which took him to Angola in 1974. Upon his return, he was hired by the Ghana Broadcasting Organisation, where he wrote the script for the acclaimed soap opera *Osopurazi*.
Due to the economic downturn in Ghana, he moved back to Nigeria, where he joined the Nigeria Television Authority as a contract staff member and scriptwriter. France famously stopped keeping track of the number of movies he appeared in after reaching 373, which included a wide range of television dramas and soap operas.
In interviews, he highlighted challenges such as discrepancies in fees, noting that he often earned more in Ghana, partly because he was perceived as a non-Ghanaian.
He said, “They came to Nigeria and invited me to come and play a role, and they gave me N2.5 million. They paid me in Euros, and I got N2.5 million in conversion. If you talk of the least, you will laugh at it. The least I have collected is N3 000. And that was in 1980, and I played the role of a professor.”
Reflecting on his fees in Nigeria, the actor expressed frustration at being paid significantly less than a junior colleague for a movie role years later.
“There is injustice; there is non-recognition of excellence. The language of the business is just profit.
“The film industry here does not have a structure, and I thought the government would intervene to create something that would drive the industry to greater heights.
“There are cliques, and once you do not belong to the clique, you are not recognised. Some of us can’t afford to be in cliques.”
His final film role was in *Men of the Century (Hook or Crook)*, which was released in July 2024.
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
