Nollywood Stars Storm UNIOSUN Campus For Efunsetan Aniwura’s Movie Rehearsal

Scores of Nollywood stars on Wednesday arrived at the Department of Theatre Arts at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ikire campus for the rehearsal of the Efusetan Aniwura movie that is scheduled to be released by January 31, 2024.

Celebrities like Yomi Duro Ladipo, Musilihu Dasofunjo (jogunomi), Owolabi Olalekan, Temitope Bello (Temirose), Funke Folusho Lala among others met with the head of the Department of Theatre Arts, Dr. Azeez Sesan to commence the rehearsal of the movie which will be played on the 20th and 21 of October at museum center Lagos state.

While speaking with our correspondent, Dr Sesan said “This will be a method of learning for our students so that they will be able to make use of what they are being taught in class and their various rehearsals. I am happy to announce that some students who are around will be featured in the play in Lagos.

He appreciated the vice-chancellor, provost of the college, and the dean of the faculty for allowing them to utilize the opportunity.

He, however, encouraged the students of the department and the whole students to make use of opportunities that will be able to attain greater heights.

About the movie

Funmi Holder, one of the regular faces in MNET’s Tinsel, a daily drama series on the DSTV platform, is set to release her epic movie, Efunsetan Aniwura, in January.

The movie will hit the cinemas on January 31 next year. Efunsetan Aniwura was a legendary Iyalode of Ibadan (woman leader) who reigned over a century ago.

Holder’s production outfit, Eropreston Ventures Production, produced the film. This was contained in a release personally signed by the talented thespian over the weekend.

She disclosed that known names in the movie industry like Clarion Chukwura, Alex Usifo, Funmi Holder, Jaiye Kuti,  Adunni Ade, Sola Fosudo, Ebun Oloyede, Wale Elesho, Sukanmi Omobolanle, Binta Ayo Mogaji and Yemi Solade and others participated in the movie. The lead role, Efunsetan herself, was played by Clarion Chukwura.

“Like they say, if you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun. That’s the story of the second Iyalode of Ibadan,” Holder said of the new movie adding that she had to go and meet a couple of surviving members of the family of the famous woman leader so she could get first-hand information and an accurate account of the woman’s life and times.

She stated that the “provocative new historic movie shot in locations in Ibadan and Ilesha discovers the long-buried history of the Yoruba’s most powerful woman that ever lived; it is perhaps one of the most motivating thrillers in Yoruba political history. It captivates, in the most astounding manner like never seen in any movie in history all the sets built on the locations.”

Efunsetan was a businessman who traveled around the country to buy products like bitter kola, kola nut, cocoa, etc, she was well-known among the Hausa and the western states. She gave out gifts and money to her slaves without measure. And even conducted marriages and naming ceremonies for them, but all these stopped after the death of her only daughter at a very young age, While in labor Efunsetan was a woman of great principle. She was also beautiful, wealthy, and proud, which led to her fall.

Speaking further, Holder said: “I am releasing two movies back to back in 2020 and another one to watch after Efunsetan Aniwura is The Cocktail.”