| Badamasi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Obi Emelonye |
| Written by | Obi Emelonye |
| Starring | Enyinna Nwigwe |
| Cinematography | Abiola Oke |
Release date |
|
Running time | 135 minutes |
| Countries | Nigeria United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Badamasi: Portrait of a General is a biopic film about former Nigerian head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). It was directed by Obi Emelonye and stars Enyinna Nwigwe in the lead role as Babangida. [1] It is the first Nollywood political biopic. [2]
Badamasi tells the story of Babangida from his origins in the village of Wushishi in Northern Nigeria to his joining the army and time as a Nigerian military head of state. It also portrays significant events in Babangida's life including the period of the Nigerian civil war where Babangida sustains injuries in an attempt to rescue a colleague. The subsequent military coups and annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections were also portrayed. [2] [3]
Production for Badamasi commenced in 2017. [4] The film is set in 1980/1990s Nigeria [4] and was shot on location in Lagos, Minna, Abuja and the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka. [1] The film director told a Pulse Nigeria interviewer that it took him 4 years to convince Babangida to allow him make the biopic. The film was initially billed for a 29 November 2019 release date but was delayed due to reported "powerful people" who were against the circulation of the film. [5] There were concerns that the biopic might be an attempt to whitewash Babangida's story as the annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections earned Babangida condemnation. [2] The first look trailer was released in September 2019. [2] Badamasi premiered at the Cineworld O2 Arena in South London on 12 June 2021. [3]
A reviewer for The Guardian praised the film for its production and attention to technical details noting that "It did not ‘feel’ like Nollywood" and was in keeping with Obi Emelonye's other films including Heart 2 Heart, The Mirror Boy , Last Flight to Abuja and Onye Ozi . [3]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Pole | Enyinna Nwigwe | Nominated | [6] |
| Best Visual Effects | Badamasi | Nominated | |||
| 2021 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) | Enyinna Nwigwe | Nominated | [7] |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English) | Sani Danja | Nominated | |||
| Movie with the Best Special Effect | Badamasi | Nominated | |||
| Movie with the Best Production Design | Nominated | ||||
| Movie with the Best Cinematography | Nominated |
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is a Nigerian retired general and statesman who served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. He rose through the ranks to serve from 1984 to 1985 as Chief of Army Staff, going on to orchestrate his seizure of power in a coup d'état against Muhammadu Buhari.
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1992 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution. In the Third Republic, there were democratically elected state governors and state assemblies and a democratically elected federal legislature. The republic was however not fully democratic as there was no democratically elected civilian president. The then military president Ibrahim Babangida's supposed transition eventually turned out to be a ploy to keep executive powers and grant the National Assembly limited legislative powers. Hence all laws passed by the Senate and House of Representatives will have to pass the National Defence and Security Council of Nigeria and finally approved by the President. So while Babangida changed the usual style adopted by preceding military leaders from Head of State to President, he will continue to postpone presidential elections and eventually annul the ultimate one held on 12 June 1993. The Third Republic can thus be described as half military and half civilian.
Presidential elections were held in Nigeria on 12 June 1993, the first since the 1983 military coup ended the country's Second Republic. The elections was the outcome of a transitional process to civilian rule spearheaded by the military ruler, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. The unofficial result of the election – though not declared by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) – indicated a victory for Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who defeated Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention (NRC). The winner of the election was thus never declared as the elections were annulled by Babangida, citing electoral irregularities. The annulment led to protests and political unrest, including the resignation of Babangida and a weak interim civilian government, and culminated in the continuation of military rule in the country with Sani Abacha ascending to power as the military head of state via a bloodless coup later in the year.
Last Flight to Abuja is a 2012 Nigerian disaster thriller film written by Tunde Babalola, directed and produced by Obi Emelonye, and starring Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Jim Iyke. Shot in Lagos, the film received 5 nominations at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards, winning the category "Best film by an African based abroad". On 15 June 2020, 'Last Flight To Abuja' began streaming on Netflix eight years after it first premiered in London.
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL) is a university in Niger State, central Nigeria. It had its first convocation in 2014. It was named after the former Nigeria Head of State General Ibrahim Babangida. The university started academic activities in the 2005/2006 academic session.
Obi Emelonye is a Nigerian film director. He is known for directing award-winning films such as Last Flight to Abuja (2012), The Mirror Boy (2011), and Onye Ozi (2013).
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Couple of Days is a 2016 Nigerian Romantic comedy film directed by Tolu Lordtanner and produced by Ayo Orunmuyi broke box office record when released as the highest ticket sales in one day for any Nollywood movie in Cinema in February. The film stars Lilian Esoro, Adesua Etomi Wellington, Eyinna Nwigwe, Ademola Adedoyin, Kiki Omeili, Olayode Juliana, Falz. It was released on 5 February 2016 and premiered on Netflix in 2019.
Daniel Etim Effiong, also Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian Nollywood actor and film director.
Eagle Wings also known as Eagle Wings: an Air Force Story is a 2021 Nigerian war action drama film directed by Paul Apel Papel. It is described as Nigeria's first military based film. The film production also historically marked the first instance of a major collaboration between the Nigerian military and Nollywood film industry. The film plot is based on the struggles, dedication and sacrifices of the Nigerian Airforce soldiers and their fight against the insurgency in the Northern part of Nigeria. The film had its theatrical release on 12 March 2021 and opened to mixed reviews from critics.
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