Nigerians Report Online: British Museum To Host VIP Premiere of "Invasion 1897" in August

Monday, April 14, 2014

British Museum To Host VIP Premiere of "Invasion 1897" in August

Lancelot Imasuen has confirmed that the British Museum will host the VIP Premiere of his Centenary epic “Invasion 1897” on August 16, 2014 in London, with the Art Exhibition of the famous Benin bronze artworks in the British Museum where the famous Iyoba Bronze Head of Idia, the first Queen Mother of Benin Kingdom (from the 16th century) is kept with hundreds of the over 2, 500 Benin bronze art works looted from the palace of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1888–1897), during the British Punitive Expedition in 1897.

“Invasion 1897” has been endorsed by the Benin monarch, Oba Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolopolo Erediauwa 1, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, Edaiken N'Uselu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Italy and of the Benin Royal Dynasty Trust, Sir. Chief (DR) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of the Benin Kingdom, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) and the Obong of Calabar, HRH Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V who recently welcomed the Crown Prince and his royal entourage of prominent Benin chiefs, Lancelot Imasuen and others to his palace in Calabar and they visited the last home of Oba Ovonramwen where he died in 1914 whilst on exile in Calabar, the first Nigerian capital city as the seat of Government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate during British colonial rule.

Oba Ovonramwen and his family in Calarbar.

The Crown Prince and his Benin Royal Dynasty Trust also requested from the Obong of Calabar a special dance troupe to accompany him to the United States, where he will be a Special Guest Speaker at this year’s edition of the annual Arts and Culture Expo/Award, holding in Atlanta from May 2-3, which will showcase Nigeria's cultural exhibitions, hospitality and with a Tourism Investment Symposium. The dance troupe is expected to present a cultural display to celebrate the culture of the community that hosted Oba Ovonramwen in Calabar, Cross River state.

Lancelot Imasuen on location in London during the making of "Invasion 1897" in 2013.

The VIP premiere at the British Museum will be followed by the public premiere at the Odeon Cinema in London with a road show on the highlights of the historical film.

"Invasion 1897" will also premiere in Brasilia, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, in Toronto, Canada and in over 30 other countries and including a nationwide school tour of over 25 polytechnics and universities in Nigeria.

§"Invasion 1897" has an international cast, including famous British actors Garett Mort, Rudolph Walker, Charles "Chucky" Venn, Annika Álofti, Hannah Raehse-Felstead, Tim Robinson, Rob Spackman, Patrick Thompson and Keith Davinson and the top Nigerian actors include Segun Arinze, Charles Inojie, Nosa Ehimwen, Paul Obazele, Leo Mezie, Mike Omoriegbe as Oba Ovonrawmen, Idiata Otiagbe and the late Justus Esiri in a cameo role.