Nollywood's thoughtful and casual analysis certainly points out the fact that each of its stars has at least one significant project that changes the trajectory of their career. For veteran Nigerian actor Segun Arinze, that moment came with the iconic film Silent Night. Released in the late 1990s, the artwork was more than a mere addition to the Nollywood crime drama basket; it was a cultural phenomenon. As for Arinze, that project was the one that brought him unparalleled fame and accolades, and subsequently earned him the moniker, The Black Arrow. In the way that it is viewed today, Arinze describes Silent Night as the film that brought a turning point to his life in the Nigerian entertainment industry, and well beyond its borders.
Before Silent Night, Segun Arinze had been working steadily as an actor, but he was still a stranger to the concept of fame that had the ability to span the borders of the nation. It was the movie's depiction of Black Arrow, the dreaded leader of a syndicate, that earned him Arinze's moniker, and, as a consequence, redefined the actor's life. The riveting film centered around the social vices of the youth and the trajectory of violence, crime and the path of redemption was something that a majority of the audiences in Nigeria and across Africa deeply connected with, and it was Arinze’s performance that stole the show.
In what ways did the Silent Night’s film make a impact?
The impact was real and I don’t believe it was a fluke. The film dealt with real themes like issues like unemployment, peer pressure, and crime in cities. The film’s plots were combined with excellent acting which pushed the record for Nollywood films story telling further. The development of Segun Arinze showed for him.