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| Crown Prince addressing the Obong of Calabar |
The visit, which was facilitated
by the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust, SHOWBIZPLUSng reliably learnt was part of the move to strengthen
the age-long ties between the Efik Kingdom and that of Benin. The film focuses on the invasion of the
Benin Kingdom by the British Empire in 1897, and how they carted away
ancient artifacts belonging to the kingdom under the reign of Oba
Ovonramwen Nogbaisi who was deposed and later, died while on exile in
Calabar.
Accompanied by some senior palace
chiefs and Enogies, including the producer of the film,
Imasuen, Prince Eheneden Eradiauwa arrived Calabar amid festivity. He
was in Calabar to meet with the Calabar monarch as well as to
behold the last known abode of Oba Ovanrawmen who died while on exile
in Calabar.
“I was on the entourage of the Benin
Crown Prince who was paying his first royal visit to Obong of Calabar
as part of the job of the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust to sustain the
cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom. He was there to see the last
known abode of Oba Ovanrawmen who was exiled to Calabar in 1897. It
was a great privilege for me as a film maker to be on the entourage
of that royal visit to Calabar.The Obong of Calabar received us
warmly, and I was privileged to officially present the idea behind
the film to him as permitted by the Benin Crown Prince,”Imasuen,
who is popularly called D'Guvnor narrated.
Speaking further, the respected
Nollywood director disclosed that, while the film is due to premiere
in Benin in June, the good news is that the Calabar monarch has also
promised a great reception for the film in his Kingdom.
The film, according to him, would serve
as a uniting force culturally and otherwise for the people of Benin
and Calabar. “Of course, Calabar is designated as one of the
venues, where we are going to do a private screening of the movie,
before its nationwide release on Ocotober 1. The world premiere of
the movie has tentatively been fixed on the first weekend of June in
Benin.”
While many corporate and government
agencies are busy endorsing the film, the Benin Crown Prince through
his pet project, Benin Royal Dynasty Trust has resolved to adopt the
film as a means to re-open agitation against the injustice meted to
the Benin people during the dark era of British expedition in Africa.
Interestingly, the film which is
expected to transform into a movement highlights the restoration of
the looted priceless ancient artifacts of the Benin kingdom,
including the famous commemorative head and pendant of ivory mask
representing Queen Idia (from court of Benin, 16th century) who was
the mother of Esigie, the Oba of Benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550.
Imasuen said, when released, the film will go a long way to restore
the dignity of the Benin arts and culture. “The Crown Prince is now
using the platform of the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust to promote the
invasion story.It is for the renaissance of the Benin Art and
culture. We are working with a gallery called, Red Door Gallery, a
front-line gallery known for organising art exhibition world wide.
The film has been tied to the Bronze exhibition. We are planning to
embark on a tour of 30 universities in Nigeria with the film.
Following it historical value, we want to make the youth to connect
to the invasion story. For the first time, we are going to have a
night of motion picture and visual art conglomerating. The entire
world is waiting. The Invasion 1897 and the Benin Bronze exhibition
is going to work hand in hand, all in the bid to globalise the art
form of the African race.
Last year, the Benin monarch, Oba Omo
N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopolo Erediauwa 1, endorsed the film as well
as honoured Lancelot Imasuen with the 2013 Oba Erediauwa Excellence
Award.
The film parades an international cast,
including famous British actors Rudolph Walker and Charles “Chucky”
Venn and top Nollywood actors, Charles Inojie, Paul Obazele, Segun
Arinze, Mike Omoriegbe as Oba Ovonrawmen and late Justus Esiri in a
cameo role
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