Veteran Nollywood Actors Project African Culture In New Movie ‘Slave Warriors’

Edith CHUKU

In a bid to project the deep cultural heritage of Africa before the colonial era, veteran Nollywood actors have released a new movie titled ‘Slave Warriors’.

The movie which was shot in Rivers State featured Mr. Segun Arinze, Mr. Gideon Okeke, Kate Ezeigbo, Tosin Adeyemi, Prof. Ihunda Ovunda, as lead actors as produced by Makavilla Production Limited in collaboration with Triad Creativity Company.

‘Slave Warriors’ was directed by Mr. Alex Joseph, while the script writer and producer is Mr. Justice Ibezimako Onu with BlessMarvel Omenka as the co-producer.

Other casts includes Mr. Jude Isichie and Kenneth Osunwa, chairman of the actors guild of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter.

This movie is believed to be the first ever epic web series, shot in pidgin english, with over 4000 scenes.

The movie aims at showcasing safer approaches to conflict resolutions, communal clashes without crisis, killing or protest.

Speaking during the movie premiering on Friday, held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, veteran nollywood actor, Segun Arinza revealed that the movie tells the authentic African story.

Arinze described the production process as “a very interesting journey. It was a fine experience for me, considering that I came on set haven read the script in English and director said everything is going to be in pidgin english to be able to communicate effectively with the audience.

“It’s not as if we don’t speak pidgin english but having an entire series in pidgin english was incredible. Everything about production was topnotch. I was very impressed with the team, the director Mr Alex, it was interesting and I am looking forward to get the reaction of the viewing public.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Desgol Entertainment Worldwide and organiser of Rivers International Film Festival RIFF, Kate Chidinma Ezeigbo, explained that, “this movie came at a time when our dear state, Rivers State, all that you’ve heard of the state is either political crisis, this crisis and that crisis.

“For once there could be a positive story concerning the state, for instance, we had actors coming in from different parts of the country down to Rivers State and there was no issue of kidnap, neither were there issues of harassment, so it goes along way to tell that Rivers people are very hospitable people, it goes along way to tell that we have the right locations to shoot any kind of job that you want to shoot whether as a local producer or international producer.

“I will like to use this medium to also encourage producers anywhere that you can begin to think deeply about using Rivers State as you most preferred choice for movie production, there are beautiful sites in Rivers State and we have our very rich cultural heritage here.”

On the movie, Ezeigbo who is one of the lead characters said, “here from Rivers State, we are telling the beautiful story of slave warriors, an African epic story that cuts across seven kingdom, displaying alot on Africa culture and way of life of the people from here, Rivers State.

“While doing the research, we got to find out that slave warrior movie is the first epic web series shot in pidgin english in the world.”

Slave Warrior director, Alex Joseph explained that the whole idea in the movie is to, “project the intricate, rich cultural heritage of Africa and Africans. We did everything in pidgin english to be able to communicate effectively.

“The movie is completely africanized, we made it very local where everyone who watches it will understand.”

In his remarks, the state AGN chair, Kenneth Osunwa added that, “we have alot of things to balance in that story, there are cultural issues, leadership, conflict resolutions, there are alot of things the story outlined to achieve.

“Through this story, alot of conflicts in our society will be resolved, infact, it’s the best told story on how to resolve conflict without killings. When you look at the story properly, you will see that it was tailored in resolving communal clashes and portray how our fathers lived, without light, so if there are discomfort in our society today, we shouldn’t kill ourselves because there are better days ahead.”