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Tag: Jude Idada

  • In search of a Sankara

    AS the Nigerian political scene continues to seek the right leadership, notable Nigerian storyteller, Jude Idada, joins the conversation with the production of ‘Sankara’, his second stage play.

    The play which received overwhelming feedbacks after it was staged at the Shell Hall of Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday April 22, 2018 shows how in a space of four years, former leader Sankara renamed his country – Burkina Faso – meaning  – The Land of Upright Men, and how singlehandedly rewrote a new anthem, and with the force of his will, vision, courage and integrity, transformed the country from a dusty Sahel wasteland of want and deprivation into a bustling self-reliant economy that was brimming with cultural, social and historical renaissance.

    “… It was like Sankara himself had risen from the grave and was right there on stage,” said Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, just as another member of the audience, Marvelous Dominion, noted: “I learnt a whole lot last night from this performance, a whole lot I can’t begin to express it all. I left that hall with food for thought. I only wish great men of this country would pick a thing or two from Thomas Sankara’s story during his reign as President of Burkina Faso.”

    The audience laughed and cried at other moments. They stayed after the show for a while, taking pictures and sharing more information about the life of Thomas Sankara.

    ‘Sankara’ – the play is a pulsing dramatic thriller about the last 100 hours in the life of a great African patriot and recreates the cumulative events that led to his assassination by his best friend and deputy, Captain Blaise Compáore, in collusion with local conspirators and foreign governments. It also espouses his vision for a new Africa and his hope that one day, Africa will rise from the ashes of its past into the magnificence of its glorious future.

    It is a story of vision, faith, patriotism, treachery, betrayal and one man’s indefatigable love for his country and continent.

    Starring Patrick Diabuah as Captain Thomas Sankara; Kelvinmary Ndukwe as Captain Blaise Compàore; Chris Iheuwa/Austine Onouha as Captain Gilbert Diendéré; Deola Gimbiya as Mariam Sankara; Charles Etubiebi/Abiodun Kazeem as Traore Alouna; and Sarah Boulos as Valerie Giroud, the play, according to its playwright/director, Jude Idada, was inspired by “the true-life events that led to the end of the life of a great revolutionary hero and an icon to the students union political movement in Nigeria.”

    The play is an adaptation of Idada’s book of the same title published by Parresia Books under their Origami Imprint and available in bookstores and online.

    According to Idada, “It was also inspired by the need to show Nigerians what true leadership really looks like because we are living in an age where the common man on the street and even the elite cannot identify what a great leader should look like, hence they end up voting in or fighting for lesser crooks to replace bigger crooks when as Sankara had shown through his exemplary life, a good leader must not be a crook in the first place.

    “In addition to that, it was inspired by the need to show a vision of a prosperous, self-reliant, proud, effective and law-abiding society which Sankara had. A vision hinged on the notion that first and foremost, Africa must be for Africans, with the belief that it was the only way towards true success, in the ilk of the Asian tigers.”

    The play has Winifred Adufe Dibie and Nnamani Tochukwu as producers; Achalugo Ezekobe as co-producer; Bayo Sodiq as production manager; Dotun Olagbadebo as stage manager; Gloria Teshi Biachi as costume designer; and Cynthia Isaiah as the make-up artiste.

    As guests at the show continued to give their positive remarks, Kinabuti says, “…this play has inspired me and given me a purpose, to be a better person…”

    Anthony Effiong says: “… Fabulous show. Was transported and inspired all at the same time.”

    According to Femi Olayiwole., “… I kept wondering if Sankara wasn’t killed, maybe Burkina Faso will be Wakanda,” just as Chikaodili Louis Okoye opined: “… Please this play must go on tour. The government should also buy copies of the play and share it to all citizens. It is so powerfully written and shares so many messages and teaches so many lessons. I can see it again and again and again.”

    For Pricilla Nwikpo: “… What a great way to end my birthday. Wow is all I can say. And the actor that played Sankara, my God! He is awesome. Yes, Sankara is truly the greatest president Africa never had.”

    Indeed, Jude Idada makes a bold statement with ‘Sankara’ stage play as Nigerians hope for the best leadership.

  • Jude Idada: …And Sankara resurrects in Lagos

    As the Nigerian political scene continues to seek the right leadership, notable Nigerian storyteller, Jude Idada joins the conversation with the production of ‘Sankara’, his second stage play this year.

    The play which received overwhelming feedbacks after it was staged at the Shell Hall of Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Sunday April 22, 2018 shows how in a space of four years, former leader Sankara renamed his country – Burkina Faso – meaning  – The Land of Upright Men, and singlehandedly rewrote a new anthem, and with the force of his will, vision, courage and integrity transformed the country from a dusty Sahel waste land of want and deprivation into a bustling self-reliant economy that was brimming with cultural, social and historical renaissance.

    “… It was like Sankara himself had risen from the grave and was right there on stage,” said Senator Florence Ita – Giwa, just as another member of the audience, Marvelous Dominion noted: “I learnt a whole lot last night from this performance, a whole lot I can’t begin to express it all. I left that hall with food for thought. I only wish great men of this country would pick a thing or two from Thomas Sankara’s story during his reign as President of Burkina Faso.”

    The audience laughed and cried at other moments. They stayed after the show for a while, taking pictures and sharing more information about the life of Thomas Sankara.

    “Sankara’-the play is a pulsing dramatic thriller about the last 100 hours in the life of a great African patriot and recreates the cumulative events that led to his assassination by his best friend and deputy, Captain Blaise Compáore, in collusion with local conspirators and foreign governments. It also espouses his vision for a new Africa and his hope that one day, Africa will rise from the ashes of its past into the magnificence of its glorious future.

    It is a story of vision, faith, patriotism, treachery, betrayal and one man’s indefatigable love for his country and continent.

    Starring Patrick Diabuah as Captain Thomas Sankara; Kelvinmary Ndukwe as Captain Blaise Compàore; Chris Iheuwa/Austine Onouha as Captain Gilbert Diendéré; Deola Gimbiya as Mariam Sankara; Charles Etubiebi/Abiodun Kazeem as Traore Alouna; and Sarah Boulos as Valerie Giroud, the play, according to its playwright/director, Jude Idada, was inspired by “the true-life events that led to the end of the life of a great revolutionary hero and an icon to the students union political movement in Nigeria.”

    The play is an adaptation of Idada’s book of the same title published by Parresia Books under their Origami Imprint and available in bookstores and online.

    According to Idada, “It was also inspired by the need to show Nigerians what true leadership really looks like because we are living in an age where the common man on the street and even the elite cannot identify what a great leader should look like, hence they end up voting in or fighting for lesser crooks to replace bigger crooks when as Sankara had shown through his exemplary life, a good leader must not be a crook in the first place.

    “In addition to that, it was inspired by the need to show a vision of a prosperous, self-reliant, proud, effective and law-abiding society which Sankara had. A vision hinged on the notion that first and foremost, Africa must be for Africans, with the belief that it was the only way towards true success, in the ilk of the Asian tigers.”

    The play has Winifred Adufe Dibie and Nnamani Tochukwu as producers; Achalugo Ezekobe as Co – Producer; Bayo Sodiq as Production Manager; Dotun Olagbadebo as Stage Manager; Gloria Teshi Biachi as Costume Designer; and Cynthia Isaiah as the Make Up Artiste.

    As guests at the show continue to give their positive remarks, Kinabuti says, “…this play has inspired me and given me a purpose, to be a better person…”

    Anthony Effiong says: “… Fabulous show. Was transported and inspired all at the same time.”

    According to Femi Olayiwole, “… I kept wondering if Sankara wasn’t killed, maybe Burkina Faso will be Wakanda,” just as Chikaodili Louis Okoye opined: “… Please this play must go on tour. The government should also buy copies of the play and share it to all citizens. It is so powerfully written and shares so many messages and teaches so many lessons. I can see it again and again and again.”

    For Pricilla Nwikpo: “… What a great way to end my birthday. Wow is all I can say. And the actor that played Sankara, my God! He is awesome. Yes, Sankara is truly the greatest president Africa never had.”

    Indeed, Jude Idada makes a bold statement with ‘Sankara’ stage play as Nigerians seek another round of elections next year.

  • #Jude Idada turns heads with 3Some

    #Jude Idada turns heads with 3Some

    As daring as a threesome engagement, notable storyteller Jude Idada makes a bold imprint with the stage performance of a weird but realistic subject of emotion, hinging on the weakness of man when no one is watching.

    His play, ‘3Some’, staged as one of the collections at the just concluded Lagos Theatre Festival, illuminated the Amphitheatre at the Freedom Park beyond the lighting effects, as an imaginary character brings vivid seductiveness to the act which the three major cast represent.

    Written and directed by Jude Idada, ‘3Some’ is a psycho-erotic drama about a mother who struggles to save the crumbling marriage of her daughter, in the course of which she stumbles on a deadly secret that threatens her relationship with her daughter, her son-in-law and her inner self. It is a drama about marriage, desire and morality in the internet age.

    Played by Daniel Etim Effiong (Dayo Doherty), Uzor Usimkpa (Chioma Doherty), and Kemi Bickersteth (Asmau), 3Some is a product of carefully scripted drama with elevated language and fine theatre technique. It addresses one of the possible subjects of questionable morality hardly talked about.

    Asked how he got the inspiration to write ‘3Some’, Idada who also directed the play said it came as “a chance encounter with a woman in her early 60’s at Eko Hotel who was trying to match make me with her daughters, but over time, only for her to express her own interest in me.”

  • Court lifts ban on screening of “Okafor’s Law”

    Court lifts ban on screening of “Okafor’s Law”

    …Fixes April 3 for next hearing

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday vacated an interim order which restrained the premiere and release of a Nollywood movie “Okafor’s Law”, produced Omoni Oboli.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba had on March 24 granted an interim order stopping the movie’s premiere at the IMAX Cinema in Lagos.

    The judge issued the order following an exparte motion filed by a company, Raconteur Production Ltd, on behalf of a Canada based script writer, Mr Jude Idada.

    It sued Dioni Visions Entertainment Ltd, Omoni Oboli, and The Filmone Ltd.

    However, counsel for the first and second defendants, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Augustine Alegeh (SAN) urged the court to vacate the orders.

    Justice Buba granted the prayer, paving the way for the film’s showing henceforth.

    He held: “Suffice to say that surely what is exhibited by the plaintiff is a script “The Bet” and not “Okafor’s Law’’ and so this court has no doubt that the plaintiff/applicant cannot sustain this application.

    “Even though the applicant moved the court to granting an order exparte, thank God the side of the defendant is heard.

    “I do not think that on the face of the counter affidavit, this court will exercise its discretion both judicially and judiciously in granting the motion for interlocutory injunction.

    “This court is unable to grant the interlocutory orders sought by the applicant; the prayer is hereby refused and the interim orders made on the 24th day of March are accordingly vacated.”

    The court, however, held that monetary compensation would be adequate for the plaintiff if judgement is entered in its favour at the end of the case.

    Though the court has granted go ahead for the film to be released in film houses, hearing of the substantive suit continues on April 3.

    Alegeh urged the court to refuse the application because the plaintiff sought to stop the premiere of an already completed film, “Okafor’s Law” whereas, his claim was based on a script titled “The Bet”.

    He argued that the script was clearly different from the movie, and recounted the various losses suffered by the defendant as a result of the court’s order, which led to a failed premiere of the movie on March 24.

    Idada claims the film was his intellectual property. He accused Oboli of copyright infringement.

    He added that she had stolen his story idea for the movie in September 2016, adding that Oboli took the work he had done regarding “Okafor’s Law”, and developed it without giving him due credit.

    He avers that the producer went ahead to set March 31, as a release date for the movie, inspite of a demand letter sent to her, as well as a copyright infringement suit instituted.

    Meanwhile, in a counter affidavit, deposed to on behalf of Dioni Visions Ltd by one Tomi Adeoye, she avers that sometime in 2014, the second defendant (Omoni Oboli) came up with the story idea of “Okafor’s Law”.

    She explained that “Okafor’s Law” is a principle in which ex-lovers could always rekindle their love or relationship, even after they were married to other partners.

    She said that in accordance with Nigerian Law, both Oboli and her company (Dioni Visions) proceeded to register the film with the National film and video censor board.

    She said that having secured their legal right to the said film, they contracted Jude Idada to write the screen play for a fee of N750, 000 although no written contract was executed.

    According to the deponent, Oboli later had a meeting with Idada, where she revealed to him the story idea and concept of “Okafor’s Law”, to enable him have a good grasp of the subject for a proper development of the screen play.

    She averred that when Idada was contacted thereafter, he claimed that the work he had done on the film was lost when his computer was stolen in Uganda, and promised to re-write the screenplay.

    The deponent averred that when several attempts to reach Idada for the script failed, they decided to write the screen play and thereafter produce the movie Okafor’s Law.

    The defendant, therefore, avers that Idada is not the owner of the story and idea of “Okafor’s Law”, and does not possess any copyright in respect of it.

    The movie stars Richard Mofe Damijo, Toyin Aimakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Yvonne Jegede, Halima Abubakar, Gabriel Afolayan, Funke Bucknor among other nollywood actors and actresses.

  • “Okafor’s Law”: Court orders seizure of film materials

    “Okafor’s Law”: Court orders seizure of film materials

    …Defendants seek speedy hearing

    …Judge insists justice is paramount

    The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered service of court processes in a suit against Nollywood Producer, Omoni Oboli, over alleged copyright infringement on the movie “Okafor’s Law”.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered that advance copies of processes be served on parties by email.

    The judge had on March 24 granted an interim order stopping the premiere of the movie “Okafor’s Law”.

    The exparte order, consequently, halted the planned premiere at the IMAX Cinema in Lagos.

    The order also restrains the release of the film scheduled for March 31.

    The judge issued the orders following an exparte motion filed by a company, Raconteur Production Ltd, on behalf of a Canada-based script writer, Mr. Jude Idada.

    Dioni Visions Entertainment Ltd, Omoni Oboli, and The Filmone Ltd are the defendants.

    The court had barred the release and launch of the film in any movie theatre or Cinema house on March 31, pending the determination of a motion on notice before the court.

    The judge had also issued an Anton piller Order (order to enter and seize) to seize all copies, materials, projections or infringing materials, relating to the subject matter.

    When the case resumed for hearing of the motion on notice on Wednesday, former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) announced appearance for the first and second defendants.

    Mr. Yomi Awotunde announced appearance for the third defendant, while Mrs. O Otudor appeared for the plaintiff.

    Otudor said she had received the counter affidavit for the first and second defendants, but had yet to receive any processes from the third defendant.

    She told the court that counsel to the first and second defendants had just served their counter-affidavit on her in the courtroom, adding that she required time to study and respond to same.

    She, therefore, urged the court to grant adequate time to allow the plaintiff file a reply.

    Alegeh asked the court to order a speedy hearing of the motion on the grounds that the exparte orders had stalled the premiering of the film on March 24.

    He noted that the movie had been premiered in Toronto and Stockholm last year, adding that its launch had been billed for March 31 (Friday), and so, a speedy hearing of the motion on notice would be eminent.

    Justice Buba abridged time for hearing of the motion on notice, to March 30, adding that he was concerned with achieving the justice of the case.

    Buba consequently, directed plaintiff’s counsel to ensure that advance copies of its processes are served on the defense by email, so as to ensure that the motion is heard without hindrances.

    He, therefore, fixed March 30 for hearing of the motion by 10am.

    Idada claims the film is his intellectual property. He accused Oboli of copyright infringement.

    He added that she had stolen his story idea for the movie in September 2016, adding that Oboli took the work he had done regarding “Okafor’s Law”, and developed it without giving him due credit.

    He avers that the producer went ahead to set March 31, as a release date for the movie, in spite of a demand letter sent to her, as well as a copyright infringement suit instituted.

    Meanwhile, in a counter affidavit, deposed to on behalf of Dioni Visions Ltd by one Tomi Adeoye, she avers that sometime in 2014, the second defendant (Omoni Oboli) came up with the story idea of “Okafor’s Law”.

    She explained that “Okafor’s Law” is a principle in which ex-lovers could always rekindle their love or relationship, even after they were married to other partners.

    She said that in accordance with Nigerian Law, both Oboli and her company (Dioni Visions) proceeded to register the film with the National Film and Video Censor Board.

    She said that having secured their legal right to the said film, they contracted Jude Idada to write the screen play for a fee of N750, 000 although no written contract was executed.

    According to the deponent, Oboli later had a meeting with Idada, where she revealed to him the story idea and concept of “Okafor’s Law”, to enable him have a good grasp of the subject for a proper development of the screen play.

    She averred that when Idada was contacted thereafter, he claimed that the work he had done on the film was lost when his computer was stolen in Uganda, and promised to re-write the screenplay.

    The deponent averred that when several attempts to reach Idada for the script failed, they decided to write the screen play and thereafter produce the movie “Okafor’s Law”.

    The defendant, therefore, avers that Idada is not the owner of the story and idea of “Okafor’s Law”, and does not possess any copyright in respect of it.

    The movie stars  Richard Mofe Damijo, Toyin Aimakhu, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ken Erics, Yvonne Jegede, Halima Abubakar, Gabriel Afolayan, Funke Bucknor among other Nollywood actors and actresses.

  • Jude Idada wins ANA Prize

    Jude Idada wins ANA Prize

    FOR his play, Oduduwa King of the Edos, Diaspora filmmaker and producer of The Tenant, Jude Idada, has emerged winner of the 2013 ANA Drama Prize. A Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Ibadan, Jude has worked extensively in the film and theatre industry both in Canada and Nigeria as a director, producer, writer and actor.

    “As a creator of art, I have always believed that my creations should add value to the ongoing discourse of life. It is a gift from the most high to be imbued with exacting talents and an ongoing responsibility to ensure that these talents result in works that not only entertain, but enlighten, inspire and transform,” the filmmaker says of his foray into the world of drama, movies and writing.

    Other awards Idada has won include the Best Screenplay award at the African Movie Academy Awards for his multi-award winning film, The Tenant, and the Goethe Institut’s Afrika Projekt with his play My Father, My Friend, an adaption of the Franz Kafka short story The Village Headmaster.

    He was a finalist in the New Directions Filmmakers of the future project by MNET. He was also selected as one of the screenwriters for the Toronto International Film Festival’s ADAPT THIS! Project. He was also selected as one of the playwrights for the British Council Lagos Theatre Festival.

    Amongst others, Idada has directed the stage plays Flood, Brixton Stories, Lost and Coma in the Canadian theatre space, while his play, Coma, is currently being made into a film. He has written extensively in various media and his most recent literary works are a collection of short stories A Box of Chocolates, an anthology of poetry Exotica Celestica and the soon-to-be-published first book in a trilogy of novels, By My Own Hands, which explores the taboo subject of suicide, alongside the topical subjects of economic migration, family dysfunction, mental illness, sexual abuse and cultural clash.

    In the film medium, Jude is currently working on a documentary, Blaze Up the Ghetto Music as a Weapon of Escape alongside 2face Idibia and Baba Dee Fasasi, in which there is an exploration of the power of music in the lives of the people caught up in the misery and poverty of the ghettos.

    He describes it as a cinematic expose into the challenging existence of ghetto musicians and their trajectory of success and often times failure, focusing on three winners of a ghetto competition while using the backdrop of ghetto greats like Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo, African China and Junior & Pretty as a comparative analysis. This is in addition to other feature films which he is currently working.