Nigerian historical fantasy film OSAMEDE will make its international debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Market on May 17. The film will screen at Pavillon Afriques, a key venue for African cinema at Cannes. This marks a major moment for Nigeria’s growing film industry.
James Omokwe
Directed by James Omokwe, OSAMEDE tells the story of a young orphaned girl. The story is set in the Benin Kingdom during 1897. The girl discovers she has superhuman powers. Her mission is to find the Aruosa stone and use its powers to free her people from British rule.
Lilian Olubi, an expert in finance and investment, is the film’s executive producer. She also led the successful stage version of OSAMEDE, which sold out 12 times. Now, the story moves from stage to screen with big ambitions.
Olubi explains, “Nigeria has exported music and films globally. But with OSAMEDE, we’re revolutionising how African historical narratives are presented. We are bringing the legendary Benin Empire’s mythology to life. And we’re doing it with the kind of production quality seen in Hollywood fantasy films.”
Ivie Okujaye Egboh
The film stars Ivie Okujaye Egboh, Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Tosin Adeyemi, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, and Alexander Bud. Each actor brings depth and emotion to the powerful story.
Director Omokwe says OSAMEDE is more than fantasy. “With this film, we’re reclaiming our historical narrative through the fantasy genre,” he says. “What Black Panther did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historical fantasy. It’s rooted in real Benin Kingdom mythology.”
Audiences around the world are looking for stories that are bold, fresh, and culturally rich. OSAMEDE arrives at the right time. Alongside My Father’s Shadow, which made the festival’s official selection, it shows that Nollywood is ready for the world stage.
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