Film producer James Omokwe has opened up about his journey into Nollywood and the inspiration behind his latest epic, Osamede.
James Omokwe said his first entry into Nollywood was through a film called Awakening. He explained, “It was my first rude shocker into the industry. When you get into the industry, you have all these assumptions that you’ll make this really good film and it’s just going to hit all the deals. But with Awakening, we probably made around $1.4 million, and I probably took home about $400,000. I was owing a lot of money, but I think this life is not for me.”
He credited his work in television for sharpening his storytelling skills. “Doing TV, however, really honed my skills. I needed it to learn a lot about storytelling itself, especially for people like Fatima and Ifeanyi Chidi Barbara and these — and just making great stories. I felt like Osamede was time to come out with an authentic African story, that would break barriers. … But honestly, it’s not really about breaking barriers — it’s about telling a good story. I’ve always been interested in traditional African narratives, and I think this was just it for me,” Omokwe said.
Reflecting on his collaboration with executive producer Lilian Olubi, he added, “When the opportunity came and Lilian spoke to me, I remember thinking, ‘Yeah… I don’t know if I should do this.’ But collaborating with her has been amazing. I’m genuinely excited and hopeful for people to see what we’ve created.”
Osamede, directed by Omokwe, premiered in Lagos and Edo State before opening in cinemas nationwide on October 17. The film stars Ivie Okujaye as Osamede, a young woman in pre-colonial Benin Kingdom who discovers ancestral powers to resist British colonizers. The story blends history, myth, and fantasy, capturing the richness of Edo culture.
The cast features William Benson, Lexan Peters, Tosin Adeyemi, Etinosa Idemudia, Paul Obazele, and veteran Lancelot Imasuen. Shot entirely on location in Edo State, in villages such as Fugar and Ososo, Osamede incorporates Edo language dialogue with a small portion in English, ensuring cultural authenticity.
