Inspirational Speaker and Filmmaker, "Newton Aduaka"

Newton Aduaka is a very influential speaker and filmmaker from Eastern Nigeria. Newton’s speech was based off of life experiences that he overcame during the Biafran War.  During the speech Newton talked about how the remembrance of the Biafra war transformed his life in a positive and effective way.  He spoke about his life and how he continues to live it through his filmmaking. Throughout his film career, he has become a market of his own life by making films that depict what he went through as a young boy in Sierra Leone. His drive in life has a lot to do with his tragic life experiences.

Newton Aduaka tells the story about the film that he co-wrote, directed and executive-produced called, “Ezra.” The film, “Ezra,” was a very influential film about a young boy who had to be a lead soldier in the 1966 Biafran War that lasted three years. The film itself was very inspirational to me because I didn’t know the facts about what Newton went through at the age of fifteen years old as a child soldier. He also inspires me because he went through what most people haven’t, but he still chose to further his career as an activist for the country of Africa and his culture.

In 1997, he released the film that depicted a young Nigerian girl who had dreams of being back with her biological family. In this particular film, the female actor felt alienated and had a lack of opportunity as a black person in Europe. Newton also speaks on, “The Glass Ceiling” and his reality in a time of multiculturalism and violence in the villages in which he lived in. Newton inspires me because he uses the same technique that I use to write my music. He had a great presentation and he really showed this life experiences through his filmmaking. I am a songwriter and I use the experiences that I go through on a day-to-day basis to reflect emotion in the songs that I write.  He shows passion for his filmmaking as I do for my music and my future career, which makes me feel as if I can relate to his life, and the way I live through my music.

Newton also talked about Africa moving forward from the war and the physiological trauma of being a child soldier at war in Africa. He showed clips from his powerful, and lyrical feature film, “Ezra” as well as clips from other relevant films in which he directed and co-produced. The experience of being in the Biafran War of Africa had a transformative effect in his life. Newton reminds us that Africa should move forward, but we as people must look backwards so we don’t forget. Overall his speech was very moving and inspirational to me.
The video from this YouTube link has a short scene from the movie "Ezra." Please feel free to watch it, for it will inspire you as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z72tmLSSyc&feature=related