Oliver Mbamara

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Biography

Oliver Oscar Mbamara is originally from Nigeria. After becoming an Attorney in Nigeria, he practiced Law while simultaneously engaging in entertainment performances. He later moved to the United States where he passed the New York Bar examination and was subsequently admitted to practice as an Attorney. He is presently a New York State Administrative Judge. Having engaged in theater and film while he was in Nigeria, Oliver continued to write and perform on arrival in New York while not giving up on his legal profession. In 2001, while performing a one-man poetic drama piece during the book-signing event of his poetry book titled "Poems of Life," he was spotted and invited to play the lead role in an off-Broadway show titled "The Prisoner of Kalakiri" by Prof. Chudi Uwazuruike. He went on to direct and also play the lead role in Zulu Sofola's "Wedlock of The Gods." At this time, Oliver was also writing a book based on real life experiences of the average African immigrant in the United States. With the popularity of the Nigerian film industry called "Nollywood," growing in leaps and bounds, in 2004, Oliver was convinced by some friends in the industry to turn the book into a screenplay and he went ahead to collaborate with two other producers to shoot it as one of the first African films to be shot in the USA under the title, "This America." The film turned out to be a success and helped lay the foundation for the proliferation of other subsequent African films and filmmakers in the African Diaspora today. The much anticipated sequel to "This America," is titled "On The Run Again." Oliver has gone ahead to write and produce other films while also making his mark as a published poet, playwright, and actor. His other works in film and drama include: writing and directing the epic feature film, "Slave Warrior"(based on true-life experiences in a typical African society during the coming of trans-Atlantic slave trade. Writing and directing the "Spade Movie" feature film series; "The Last Assignment" and "The Return of Spade," which address the issue of artifacts and human trafficking, slave labor, and forced prostitution. Creating, writing, and directing the television comedy drama series titled "Cultures," aimed at expressing and creating awareness and understanding for immigrant cultures in America and the Diaspora. Oliver has a book of musical dance-drama titled "Flame of Love" which he hopes will someday catch the attention of a major Broadway producer.

  • Primary profession
  • Actor·writer·director
  • Country
  • Nigeria
  • Nationality
  • Nigerian
  • Gender
  • Male
  • Education
  • University of Lagos

Movies

Books

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