- Tagged most expensive film in Nigeria
By Tom Chiahemen
The much talked about movie, Kajola (a Yoruba word for commonwealth) got a resounding praise last weekend (Jul30) in Abuja during its formal premiere.
With a N130 million estimated production cost, the movie, directed by foremost Nollywood director, Niyi “The Genius” Akinmolayan, who is also the founder and creative director of Anthill Multimedia; a post-production facility based in Lagos and Port Harcourt, is unarguably one of Nigeria’s most expensive productions.
Though Silver Bird Cinemas witnessed the absence of some entertainment stakeholders, the event was still groundbreaking. Equally, the movie plot (set in Nigeria 2059), which is expected to appeal to majority of Nigerians, explores the implications of the continuous neglect of the poor and the widening gap between the rich and poor.
In the year 2059, Nigeria becomes a totalitarian state. After a second civil war, the rich relocate to the Island areas of Lagos and turn it into an ultra modern city. The war torn mainland of Lagos is disconnected and abandoned. A rebel leader, Allen, learns of a plot codenamed kajola, to build cities on the mainland and eliminate the remaining survivors. He leads a rebellion against the government and must be stopped by Yetunde, the police chief.
Unlike major premieres, stars of the movie were in attendance. They included Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot as Ayub, a power drunk Inspector -General of Police with an eye on Keira Hewatch in the role of Yetunde, a police chief bent on bringing to justice a notorious rebel leader Allen played by Adonijah Owiriwa who is also one of the executive producers.
Some of the invited guests who couldn’t make it were ably represented at the event.
While lamenting his absence, Adonijah Owiriwa, who is one of the special guests, expressed happiness that their mission to Germany to cheer the nation’s under-20 female team was a demonstration of patriotism and love for the country.
One of the Co-Producers, Prince Tonye Princewill, who monitored the event expressed his regrets by phone for being absent at an event he had invested much in.
“Due to a higher call and national, I had no alternative than to leave personal achievements to focus on that which will bring more joy to a greater number of Nigerians. That is why I decided to stay on and be part of this historical Team to bring glory and honour to our beloved country,” he said.
He expressed the wish that “every person that represents Nigeria will cultivate and inculcate the spirit of these girls to enable us reclaim our lost glory and take our country to where it rightfully belongs in the comity of nations.”
The Prince’s involvement in the Nollywood movies - starting with Nnenda, Figurine and now Kajola, stems from his passion and love for excellence and the messages the industry wants to pass across to Nigerians “so that we rebuild our country and enhance the future of our children.”
The Executive Secretary of the Board of the Greater Port Harcourt City Authority (GPHCA), Dr. Silva Opusunju who represented Dame Aleruchi Cookey Gam the Administrator, declared the event open and expressed the Authority’s happiness for being part of this epochal event. “We got involved because of the personalities involved in the making of the Kajola, particularly the concept of the film which is aimed at building a new city which is what we are involved in – building a new city out of what is today Port Harcourt the capital of Rivers State,” he explained.
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