Badamasi
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| Badamasi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Obi Emelonye |
| Written by | Obi Emelonye |
| Starring | Enyinna Nwigwe |
| Cinematography | Abiola Oke |
Release date |
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Running time | 135 minutes |
| Countries | Nigeria United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Badamasi: Portrait of a General is a biopic film about former Nigerian head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). It was directed by Obi Emelonye and stars Enyinna Nwigwe in the lead role as Babangida.[1] It is the first Nollywood political biopic.[2]
Badamasi tells the story of Babangida from his origin in the village of Wushishi in Northern Nigeria to his joining the army and time as a Nigerian military head of state. It also portrays significant events in Babangida's life including the period of the Nigerian civil war where Babangida sustains injuries in an attempt to rescue a colleague. The subsequent military coups and annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections were also portrayed.[2][3]
Cast
- Enyinna Nwigwe as Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida
- Charles Inojie as Barrister Clement Akpamgo
- Sani Danja as General Sani Abacha
- Yakubu Mohammed as Prof. Jibril Aminu
- Okey Bakassi as Chief Arthur Nzeribe
- Kalu Ikeagwu as Professor Humphrey Nwosu
- Julius Agwu as Professor Chu Okongwu
- Chris Ada as Dr. Schaffhauser
- Nnamdi Agbo as Mohammed Babangida
- Uche Nwozuzu as General Ty Danjuma
- Erick Didie as Colonel Buka Suka Dimka
- Bako Abelo as 14 year old Abdulsalami
- Tony Aclet as R. Admiral Augustus Aikhomu
- Ajao Ayobami as Aminu Babangida
- Ademola Amoo as newscaster
- Musa Kabir Ajimi as school bully
Production and release
Production for Badamasi commenced in 2017.[4] The film is set in 1980s and 1990s Nigeria[4] and was shot on location in Lagos, Minna, Abuja and the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka.[1] The film director told a Pulse Nigeria interviewer that it took him four years to convince Babangida to allow him make the biopic. The film was initially billed for a 29 November 2019 release date but was delayed due to reported "powerful people" who were against the circulation of the film.[5] There were concerns that the biopic might be an attempt to whitewash Babangida's story as the annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections earned Babangida condemnation.[2] Shiloh Godson handled the sound design.[6] The first look trailer was released in September 2019.[2] Badamasi premiered at the Cineworld O2 Arena in South London on 12 June 2021.[3]