Leading filmmaker, Lancelot Imasuen celebrates 100 years of Oba Ovanranwen Nogbaisi's death with “Invasion 1897”

Imasuen

Ahead of world premiere of his epic film, “Invasion 1897”, popular film producer and director, Lancelot Imasuen has revealed plans to mark the centenary of the death of the great King of Benin, Omo n' Oba Ovanrammen Nogbaisi.

Nogbaisi died in exile in Calabar on January 14, 1914.

The respected film director will be hosting special guests from corporate world and leading journalists at his newly established studios located along Bassie Ogamba Street, Off Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere, Lagos on that date.

According to him, “There is a whole lot of similarities between the Nigeria state and the Oba Ovonramwen phenomenon. We will be holding a world press conference to mark 100 year of the death of Oba Ovonramwen on the 14^th of January, 2014. I visited the place where Oba Ovonramwen lived, died and was buried in Calabar during my recent visit to the place. To others, it's just a film. But to me, it's a movement. On 14th of January, we are going to mark the centenary of Oba Ovonramwen's demise, in Calabar.”

Imasuen, who is currently in the UK, where they are shooting the London version of “Invasion 1897”, said, the historical film which is due for world premiere is bound to raise a lot of dust regarding the global injustice meted to the people of Benin after the United Kingdom force of 1,200 under Admiral Sir Harry Rawson in 1897, captured, burned, and looted ancient artifacts belonging to the Benin Kingdom.

Describing the film as “the next big thing that matters to him”, the Guvnor as he is fondly called by his fans hinted that even though it is taking quite some time to premiere the much talked about film, they have completed production of the film since May, last year.

Proudly supported by South Atlantic Petroleum, Imasuen said, when the film is finally released, the world would know the true story of surrounding the invasion of the Benin Empire by the British force.

Top Nigerian actors playing lead roles in the epic movie include, Charles Inojie, Paul Obazele, Segun arinze, Mac Omoregbee as Oba Ovonrawmen and the late Justus Esiri in a cameo role.

Also, starring in the film is famous Caribbean born British Actor, Rudolph Walker, OBE who replaced St. Lucian-born English actor Joseph Marcell, Chuky Venn among others.