Veteran actor, Ayo Lijadu on set
Filming on Shijuwomi, a post colonial cinematic adaptation of Rasheed Gbadamosi’s book, Behold My Redeemer has begun on Sunday, April 5, 2015, under the direction of award winning theatre/TV/film director and screenwriter, Niji Akanni (Aramotu, Heroes and Zeroes).
When a pampered girl, Shijuwomi, who has travelled to England to study attempts suicide, prompting the decision to repatriate her home. At home, she is moved to an institution where she meets Dr. Ilori, a lecturer in Anthropology who eventually marries her. The marriage does not however provide the desired harmony and succor as Shijuwomi and Ilori are on a parallel scale in terms of pursuing their interests, forcing her to make another suicidal attempt.
Emotive, intriguing and thrilling, Shijuwomi is riddled with love and conflict from start to finish. It is a cerebral metaphor for Nigeria as a nation state and many African countries whose dreams of Utopia after freedom from colonial powers have all but evaporated, leaving behind hopelessness and frustration.
Rounding out the cast are rising female actress, Judith Audu as the titular Shijuwomi, veteran actors, Ayo Lijadu and Bimbo Manuel, and a host of other acting talent, including Femi Adebayo, Olu Okekanye, Tina Mba, and Jude Chukwuka.
Ayo Lijadu and Judith Audu on set
Niji Akanni, who has been described by commentators as Nigeria’s own Akira Kurosawa is the director. Akanni has written many award-winning films including Dangerous Twins, Playing Games, Saving Alero, and Narrow Path. He has also featured as director in many reality TV shows in Nigeria – Amstel Malta Box Office (Season One, 2005), Big Brother Nigeria (2006) and The Apprentice Africa (2008).
Niji Akanni directs Judith Audu and Ayo Lijadu
With films like Abobaku, Aramotu, which won Best Feature Film at the Africa International Film Festival (AIFF) in 2011, Heroes and Zeroes, a 2012 flick starring Nadia Buari, Bimbo Manuel and Olu Jacobs which was nominated in 6 categories at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards, winning awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Editing and earning him an Official Selection in the video category at FESPACO 2013, Niji Akanni looks set to deliver another cinematic masterpiece.
Adapted for the screen by the trio of Prof. Ola Rotimi, Dr. Femi Olugbile and Bayo Awala, the man behind the project, Awala is neither new to adaptations nor directing. As a filmmaker, he acquired a lot of experience at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, where he directed such successful drama series as Village Headmaster, as well as independently produced series such as Winds against My Soul, Adio Family, By the Road Side, The Turning Wheel, The Young Ones, Jagua Nana’s Daughter, Tight Rope, Trauma, and Doctors Quarters.