Dignitaries, media personalities, and Nollywood stars graced the event, including Orode Uduaghan, Delta State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo; and Emmanuel Iren, Lead Pastor of Celebration Church International and husband of the executive producer. Other notable attendees included actors Michael Ejoor, Juliana Olayode, Blessing Nze, Ojoma Ochai, Ruby Akubueze, Desmond Bryce, and Amanda Dara.
Onobiren is set to hit cinemas nationwide on March 6. The film boasts a star-studded cast featuring Ruby Akubueze, Bisola Aiyeola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Patience Ozokwor, Norbert Young, and Desmond Bryce, among others.
Executive producer and writer Laju Iren, who also hails from the Itsekiri community, described the project as a deeply personal endeavor rooted in her heritage. Speaking about the inspiration behind the film, she said,
“As an Itsekiri girl myself, this speaks to the fact that women can be underrepresented in terms of storytelling and the kinds of stories women are told. We see women in stories, but sometimes it’s always the same kind of stories. I am also from what some might consider a minority tribe, and we are not really as represented as we should be. It was just really nice to do something unique. We shot some of the scenes in my grandma’s village, Koko. It’s a beautiful place. So it was really nice to be able to represent the South-South in that regard. At the end of the day, it’s one Nigeria. It’s one Africa. And just really bringing different perspectives and different cultures makes the storytelling even more beautiful. It will elevate women’s stories; it will spark conversations about gender roles, sometimes in faith aspects, sometimes not.”
The film delves into themes of resilience, culture, and women’s experiences while celebrating the vibrancy of South-South Nigerian heritage. With its upcoming nationwide release, Onobiren promises to bring fresh perspectives and spark conversations about gender, tradition, and identity across the country.