Osamede is set in ancient Benin Kingdom and is framed as a retelling of the 1897 Benin invasion, a significant event in Nigerian colonial history.
By Vivian Nneka Nwajiaku
Renowned Nigerian director and producer, James Omokwe, is set to premiere a historical fantasy epic, Osamede, at the 2025 Marché du Film, the Cannes Film Market.
Shot in present day Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Osamede is set in ancient Benin Kingdom and is framed as a retelling of the 1897 Benin invasion, a significant event in Nigerian colonial history when a British invasion force invaded and carried out a massacre in Benin Kingdom in retaliation for an attack on British officers.
The film follows a young orphan with supernatural powers as she leads a resistance against the British forces with the power of the Aruosa stone, an ancient artefact of the people of Benin Kingdom.
Ivie Okujaye Egboh will star in the leading role, with other notable Nigerian actors featuring, including Tosin Adeyemi, William Benson, Lexan Peters, and veteran filmmaker and actor, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen.
Osamede previously ran as a live stage play (Osamede: For Kingdom and Country), produced by Gold Lilies, a film production and financing company, and performed in Lagos from 2021 to 2022. Gold Lilies founder, Lilian Olubi served as executive producer for the stage play and continues in that role for the feature film.
Omokwe, the director of Osamede, is acclaimed for his work on multiple TV epics, such as Ajoche (2018), Riona (2020), Itura (2022) and, most recently, Cheta’M (2024), as well as Showmax’s first Nigerian original series, Diiche (2022), a psychological thriller with fantasy elements. Omokwe is an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA) winning-filmmaker, with multiple nominations under his belt.
Osamede joins the growing list of mainstream historical epic films based on or influenced by African culture and history, both locally and internationally, with pioneers like Amina (2021) calling attention to the genre, Yoruba epics from King of Thieves (2022) to Aníkúlápó (2022) exploding on the domestic scene, and Hollywood blockbusters like Black Panther (2018) and The Woman King (2022) raising international interest.
The Cannes Film Market is one of the world’s largest film markets and takes place annually along with the Cannes Film Festival. Osamede will screen on May 17, 2025 at Pavillon Afriques 2025, a platform within the Cannes Film Market dedicated to filmmakers of African descent and the diaspora.
Speaking to Pavillon Afriques, Olubi stated, “Osamede explores themes of legacy, leadership, and courage. But beyond the story itself, Osamede is about reclaiming our identity and glory. African history has often been told from an outsider’s perspective, framed by interpretations that don’t always align with the richness and authenticity of our truth. This film is a bold step in taking ownership of our past and presenting it with the scale, depth and cinematic excellence that it deserves.”
Similarly, in a public statement, Omokwe noted, “Osamede goes beyond a fantasy film set in Africa. With this film, we’re reclaiming our historical narrative through the fantasy genre. What Black Panther did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historical fantasy rooted in actual Benin Kingdom mythology. Our approach combines authentic cultural elements with cinematic spectacle in ways audiences haven’t seen before.”
“We are hoping to generate buzz around Osamede, positioning it as a standout project. We hope to attract distributors and investors to expand the film’s reach,” she added.
Osamede’s premiere at the Cannes Film Market comes as additional good news for the Nigerian film industry, following the announcement of the official selection of Akinola Davies Jr.’s My Father’s Shadow to premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival.