Better known by her stage name, ‘Ovuleria,’ which demonstrated the recognition she enjoyed as an actress, Lizzy Evoeme was, ironically, not always comfortable with the name that highlighted her popularity. She explained in an interview: “Most people who know me don’t know me by any other name except Ovuleria. But to tell you the truth, when people close to me, like family members or intimate friends, called me that name, it sometimes annoyed me. I prefer being identified with my real name. I felt that a fictional name was taking over my real self.”

Her role as ‘Ovuleria’ in New Masquerade, a must-see TV comedy series shown on the national television network of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, catapulted her into stardom, perhaps beyond her imagination. The show dealt with a variety of subjects, including social problems and the effect of government policies; and promoted unity in diversity and social values. The cast was variegated, and communicated in Nigerian Pidgin, Standard English and local languages

She played the role of the “submissive” wife of a “domineering” character called Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo. ‘Ovuleria’ was described as “a petty trader and an assertive but obedient woman who never disagreed or argued with her husband’s decision no matter how many others disagreed with him.”

She played the role impressively. Describing the outcome, she said: “When you go out and people you don’t know and wouldn’t have met in your entire life tell you they appreciate what you did on TV, it gives you fulfillment.”

She hailed from Akabo, Imo State, and wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. But she got into acting as a member of a drama group called Ndiche Playhouse in the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, she got the role of ‘Ovuleria,’ which transformed her acting life. It was a measure of her acting talent that she made a name for herself as an actress without formal training.

According to her, she was among the cast of New Masquerade that visited America, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, apart from visiting many parts of Nigeria. Her earnings from playing the role of ‘Ovuleria’ “went a long way in helping in managing the affairs of my family,” she said, having lost her husband during the Nigerian Civil War (1967 – 1970).

After the TV series was discontinued, she continued acting, and acted in some movies following the introduction of Nigerian home videos. “I did a few shows… But I can’t remember the shows now,” she said about her post-TV experience. In 2020, the Creative Industry Group (CIG) gave her an award for her contributions to the entertainment industry.

Her death on May 5, aged 81, brought back memories of New Masquerade. Times have changed since the series was stopped in the 1990s. There is a new generation of television viewers who were not around when the show was popular. There are far more TV stations these days, and there is intense competition related to content. But these new realities do not necessarily mean that there is no longer room for such a comedy series.

For instance, in 2022, the return of The Village Headmaster, after a 34-year break, demonstrated what is possible. Before the break, it was Nigeria’s longest-running TV drama series, shown on the national television network from 1968 to 1988. The show was revived, and reinvented, through a collaboration between the government-owned NTA and Wale Adenuga Productions (WAP), a private production company.

She will be remembered for her role as ‘Ovuleria,’ and her professionalism in playing the role. As an actress, she was true to her principles. “If you want to make a name for yourself, make a good name,” she said.

Update news