Class and camaraderie permeated the Terra Kulture Arena in Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday evening as renowned Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, brought together film stars and notable public figures during an exclusive premiere of his latest film, ‘Citation’.
“PICTURE THIS… a room full of people with different emotional reactions to different scenes from the movie Citation… That’s exactly what went down during the screening and words can’t express how priceless these reactions were” reads the official reaction from Afolayan’s Golden Effects and KAPhub.
It was a necsssary and truly lovely prelude to this Friday, November 6 when the film will make its worldwide debut on Netflix.
Saturday’s exclusive premiere, therefore, provided the needed buzz for the much-awaited film which has all the Kunle Afolayan elements in it – great cinematography, topical theme, suspense, brilliant acting and pan-African travel feel.
The Terra Kulture Arena proved as always to be an ideal venue for such cosy and coincise unveiling of a brilliant work of art.
The event which was a mix of music, cocktails and movie screening had in attendance a good mix of the cast and crew of the film.
From the chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, to the gorgeous fashion entrepreneur and billionaire’s daughter, Temi Otedola, who both had their acting debut in the film, the premiere was brimming with stars and divas with class.
There was the delectable Ini Edo and co-star Gabriel Afolayan. Veteran thespian, Chief Wole Olowomojuore (Baba Gebu); Senior Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Toyin Ogundeji and Afrobeat icon, Seun Kuti, who all featured in the star-studded film. Haitian-born Hollywood star, Jimmy Jean-Lewis and Ghana’s talented actor, Adjetey Anang who both starred in the film, also joined the premiere via zoom.
The event also had representatives of partners from Access Bank, Ford Foundation, Erik Air and Canon.
Other guests included Former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde; Director-General of Nigeria Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Adedayo Thomas; former DG of Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Emeka Mba; Executive Producer of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada; CEO of Terra Kulture, Bolanle Austen-Peters; Founder of African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Chioma Udeh; star actress Sola Sobowale, Yemi Sodimu and a host of others.
In his remarks, Afolayan emphasized the intentions of the movie which is to encourage people to “sorosoke” (speak up) against sexual-based crimes and for conversations around sex-for-grades in schools and all forms of sexual harrassement to gain currency.
‘Citation’ tells the story of 21-year-old student, Moremi Oluwa, who takes on the academic establishment when she reports a popular professor who attempted to rape her.
Subsequent events that unfold eventually pit her world against that of the respected academic, baring the realities that frequently play out in many male-dominated educational environments.
Shot largely at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Dakar in Senegal and in Cape Verde, the movie features other well-known actors like Joke Sylva, Sadiq Daba and Yomi Fash-Lanso.
