‘Ikenga’ becomes West Africa’s highest-grossing Igbo film

Just one month after its release at the box office Igbo cultural epic, Ikenga: The Last Festival, has become the highest-grossing Igbo-language film in West Africa after grossing over N100m.

Its Executive Producer, Anita Odiakaose stated this at a press conference in Enugu to mark the film’s milestone.

According to Odiakaose, the film, which debuted in cinemas across Nigeria on August 21, has continued its strong run describing the feat as proof that indigenous stories still have massive commercial appeal.

Ikenga is centred on Igbo tradition, blending a cultural festival and a love story with elements of fiction and authentic cultural detail.

The film, which stars Pete Edochie, Patience Ozokwor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Zubby Michael, Jidekene Achufusi and Beverly Osu, among others, is 90 percent in Igbo dialogue with subtitles and 90 percent of the cast and crew are Igbo.

Odiakaose, who said she has produced more than 70 films for YouTube, noted that Ikenga is her first cinema release.

She said its success shows that Nigerians and the diaspora want to see their culture on the big screen.

She also spoke about the need to revive the Igbo language, admitting she is not fluent herself and called on filmmakers to deliberately promote Igbo identity through language, names and cultural storytelling.

She announced that the film will begin its international run with a US premiere on October 30, followed by screenings in the UK and Canada in November and December.