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It has stars to rival Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard and Mumbai's Juhu Beach. But the tabloid tracking the every move of Nigeria's"Nollywood" actors isn't in Nigeria, or even Africa- it's in Queens.

For the past two years, Nigerian-born journalist Ekerete Udoh has run the Diasporan Star - the only paper covering Nollywood outside ofAfrica - from his home in St. Albans, distributing it tothousands of readers in cities across the country.

"We're like the National Enquirer, the US Magazine and the Magazine"">People Magazine of Nollywood combined," Udoh said of thepaper.

Nollywood surpassed Hollywood as the world's second largest movie industry in 2006 (India's Bollywoodoutpaces both, producing some 1,000 titles annually). But itscross-cultural appeal has recently become apparent in NewYork, where superstores in the Bronxand Brooklyn sell thousands of DVDs aweek.

Now the films - long preferred by African and Caribbean immigrants - are enjoying an explosion of popularity among a diverseaudience in Queens. New releases are sold in salons, groceries andbodegas across the borough.

Since March, the blockbusters can even be found at six branches of the Queens Library, though you might have a hard time getting your handson one.

"They don't stay on our shelves," said Patricia Eshun, the Rosedale branch manager.

Fans say the films - often serialized love stories or family dramas - are highly addictive. Many female viewers first see the movies at thesalon, where hairdressers play them back-to-back during long hairappointments.

"You're doing your hair for seven or eight hours, you get hooked." said Dominique Lewis, 48, a legal assistant whotraveled from Brooklyn to pick up a film called "Virginity" at the Jamaica bus depot. Like many, she saidshe has several dozen Nollywood DVDs at home.

"My kids made fun of me [saying]: 'Mom, do you do anything else?'" she said.

Part of the appeal is the price: $4 to $7 buys two or three hours of heart-wrenching drama. Releasing a single film across two or three DVDsalso keeps customers coming back.

"I sell American movies, but not a lot," said Tass Sacko, who owns a Nollywood movie store on Jamaica Ave. "The original American movies areexpensive."

But Udoh said the films also present an alternative view of Africa, one that viewers are eager to explore.

"Above all, I think Nollywood has done a lot to rebrand Africa," he said. "A lot of people had the notion that Africans were still living intheir mud houses - they are shocked when they see places that look likeManhattan,and they can't believe that that is in Africa."

It has stars to rival Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard and Mumbai's Juhu Beach. But the tabloid tracking the every move of Nigeria's"Nollywood" actors isn't in Nigeria, or even Africa- it's in Queens.

For the past two years, Nigerian-born journalist Ekerete Udoh has run the Diasporan Star - the only paper covering Nollywood outside ofAfrica - from his home in St. Albans, distributing it tothousands of readers in cities across the country.

"We're like the National Enquirer, the US Magazine and the Magazine"">People Magazine of Nollywood combined," Udoh said of thepaper.

Nollywood surpassed Hollywood as the world's second largest movie industry in 2006 (India's Bollywoodoutpaces both, producing some 1,000 titles annually). But itscross-cultural appeal has recently become apparent in NewYork, where superstores in the Bronxand Brooklyn sell thousands of DVDs aweek.

Now the films - long preferred by African and Caribbean immigrants - are enjoying an explosion of popularity among a diverseaudience in Queens. New releases are sold in salons, groceries andbodegas across the borough.

Since March, the blockbusters can even be found at six branches of the Queens Library, though you might have a hard time getting your handson one.

"They don't stay on our shelves," said Patricia Eshun, the Rosedale branch manager.

Fans say the films - often serialized love stories or family dramas - are highly addictive. Many female viewers first see the movies at thesalon, where hairdressers play them back-to-back during long hairappointments.

"You're doing your hair for seven or eight hours, you get hooked." said Dominique Lewis, 48, a legal assistant whotraveled from Brooklyn to pick up a film called "Virginity" at the Jamaica bus depot. Like many, she saidshe has several dozen Nollywood DVDs at home.

"My kids made fun of me [saying]: 'Mom, do you do anything else?'" she said.

Part of the appeal is the price: $4 to $7 buys two or three hours of heart-wrenching drama. Releasing a single film across two or three DVDsalso keeps customers coming back.

"I sell American movies, but not a lot," said Tass Sacko, who owns a Nollywood movie store on Jamaica Ave. "The original American movies areexpensive."

But Udoh said the films also present an alternative view of Africa, one that viewers are eager to explore.

"Above all, I think Nollywood has done a lot to rebrand Africa," he said. "A lot of people had the notion that Africans were still living intheir mud houses - they are shocked when they see places that look likeManhattan,and they can't believe that that is in Africa."

The Traditional Ruler of Akure, the Ondo State capital, Oba Oluwadare Adesina late Sunday night escaped being lynched by an irate mob when he engaged one of his wives, Olori Bolanle in a free for all at her family house located opposite the state Specialist Hospital, Akure.Photos:Olori bolanle showing off her burns. inset Below is Deji of Akure

The Oba, who late last year was saved by Governor Olusegun Mimiko from being dethroned was said to be having some disagreement with his spouse which had made her to vacate the palace for her parent’s home at 141, Hospital Road, Akure.
According to an eye witness, the Olori on sighting the Oba, who was in company with his youngest wife, Remi Abiola went into the house and told the people to inform the Oba that she was not around.
THISDAY gathered that the threat by the Oba to burn down the house should his estranged wife fail to come out forced her out to confront the unexpected visitors.
It was gathered that before a brawl ensued, a fowl which head was forcefully pulled of its body was used for a sacrifice of sort with its feathers spread in front of the house.

The monarch in the bid to engage his wife in fisticuffs was said to have stripped himself half naked and on sighting the Olori, he was said to have ordered that some hot ashes be brought to the venue in a Toyota Starlet car marked ONDO AL 936 AKR and poured on her, an incident, which made some parts of her hand to peel off.
While this was going on, the Oba’s wife who came along with the Oba was alleged to have picked a big wood on the ground and smashed it on the back of Bolanle following which the two fought themselves.
Disturbed by the action of the Oba on her sister, a younger brother mobilised some youths in the area against the perceived injustice, which led to a real street fight.

When it was obvious that the youths wanted to lynch the Oba and that he could not escape without being beaten or molested, the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) was contacted and he dispatched his men to the scene.
But the monarch’s vehicle, a Pathfinder Jeep, which brought him to the scene of the melee was seriously damaged and blocked with another Xterra jeep belonging to Olori Bolanle, making the monarch to escape in the police patrol vehicle marked PF 4598.
Although, there was no official reaction from the police as the Police Public Relations Officer for Ondo State Command, Aremu Adeniran did not pick calls made to his mobile phone, a top police source confirmed the incident. The Ondo State Police Commissioner, Maggaji Nassarawa also confirmed that the Oba went to his inlaws’ house to make trouble openly.

Also, the Olori, whose family house was invaded narrated her ordeal on phone from her hospital bed where she said she was being treated and added that some valuables including jewelleries were stolen in the process.
The Olori has also threatened to take the Oba to court over the incident.
However, all efforts to speak with the Oba proved abortive as journalists were not allowed into the palace and calls made to his phone and that of his lawyer, Olusola Oke were not answered.

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