STREETS OF CALABAR: A GREAT ADVERT FOR NIGERIA

Filming the carnival scene with
Wale Ojo.

The team behind the international Nollywood movie Streets of Calabar have been bursting with excitement over the past week.  Why?  Because they’ll soon be able to announce the premiere and release dates for the launch of the movie. It’s been kept under wraps for the past few months but next week, an official press statement will tell Nigerians and the world when the film will hit the cinemas.

Some of the actors and crew messing around after
filming the police scene. Can you spot
fabulous Rita Dominic?

And it’s not just the Streets of Calabar team who are chomping at the bit. At the recent test screening of the film at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, a select audience gave the movie a standing ovation and the distributors and marketing agents were so thrilled with the production’s darkly comic riff and rollicking action-gangster-thriller portrait, they immediately began scheduling dates for the film’s release across West and east Africa.  

Rita Dominic preparing
for a scene.

Movie critics have placed Streets of Calabar at the pinnacle of the Nollywood movement, giving it top marks not just for the international standard quality of the production, but for its strikingly original backdrop of Calabar and Cross River state, Nigeria’s most popular tourist destination. Observers say these have helped to raise the Nollywood bar and have set Streets of Calabar apart from current offerings.

As Charles Aniagolu producer and co-director of the movie stated in a recent interview:

 “One of the main aims of this production was to not only produce a high quality movie but show the world the interesting and beautiful side of Nigeria and I think we did just that by setting this movie in Cross River state and Calabar during the Calabar Festival. Nigerian directors really should start utilising this country’s natural assets.  Look what film has done for American, British and Australian tourism. A film is like one big advertisement.”

The dream sequence filmed at
Tinapa Resort with
Wale Ojo & Anthony Ofoegbu.

CNN Travel agree. Last week they stated:

“Nigeria will be a film tourism hot spot due to its robust movie industry, colloquially known as "Nollywood." Euromonitor projects growth of the country's tourist arrivals to increase from 2 percent in 2012 to nearly 3.5 percent in 2015.”

Wale Ojo's scene during one of
the many music events at the
Calabar Christmas Festival

Think about it folks. How many films have you watched where you think WOW, I really want to go to that country!  A film is, as Charles Aniagolu stated, “One big advertisement.”  Want to create a better image for Nigeria, more jobs for the economy? Then do it through film and see the tourism industry grow faster than you can say Nollywood! 

Streets of Calabar has a rapturous secret!

The character, De Don. Who is the actor behind the mask? Do you know?

Those of you who have watched the trailer and read the synopsis for the soon to be released Nollywood international movie Streets of Calabar will already know the story involves two dodgy jokers, a 419 (advance fee fraud) scam and a crime boss trying to take over the peaceful streets of Calabar. But who is the actor behind the very distinctive red hat and black mask? Nobody seems to know. Surprisingly in fact, it’s been a very well kept secret.

The only information revealed so far by the producers of this movie is that the character known as De Don, is played by a very well known and much loved Nollywood actor. But just when his identity will be revealed appears to still be under wraps.

The evil De Don!

Writer and producer of Streets of Calabar, Charles Aniagolu said, “We’re undecided yet whether we should reveal the actor’s identity before the premiere of the movie or whether to keep it a secret and surprise everyone on premiere night”.

The actor behind the character said, “I was very excited with the script for this movie. The role of De Don was a real challenge and I love challenges. I am always looking to go above and beyond whatever parts I have played in the past. So for me, it was another opportunity to push myself and improve on my craft”.

Who is this?

The Facebook fan page for Streets of Calabar has had a number of people posting comments and guessing the identity of this actor.  Some fans believe the face of De Don might be Keppy Ekpenyong or Jim Ike. Some have even said it might be Rita Dominic! Well, if it is Rita, then this would mean she plays two roles in the film. Is that probable?

So, who is this mystery person? Should the producers of the movie publicise the face behind the mask before the movie premiere or is it better to do a reveal on the night of the premiere? Tell us what you think…