"Palaver" a romance of Northern Nigeria was the first film made in Nigeria. It was made in Toro in Bauchi state of Nigeria in 1926 by English man Geoffrey de Gruchy Barkas.
He used the local villagers and gave them speaking roles for the major characters. They became the first Nigerian movie stars and also among the first black actors in the history of cinema. Film critics praised their outstanding acting after the screening of the film in the UK. But "Palaver" has never been shown in Nigeria. The grand children and great grandchildren of these actors should see this film as a legacy of their cultural heritage and the Bauchi State government should make Toro a film tourist site with photographs from "Palaver" for the education of the public on the history of the Nigerian cinema and for the promotion of local and international tourism.
These are the photos from the first film shot in Nigeria "Palaver" in 1926 by Oscar award winning director Geoffrey Barkas.
2. District Officer's camp in White Rock Valley. Baulry (cleaning revolver) of witch doctor.
camp in White Rock Valley
3. Fernandez (Reginald Fox) collapses in a drunken stupor. He gradually takes on a fever and Stuart is asked to look after him through his illness. Fernandez slowly gets betterunder Stuart's care.
4. "Haddon Mason (playing District Officer) wounded and at bay facing Sagaus"
Dawiya and his men surround Allison's (Haddon Mason) band of warriors. Allison is wounded in the arm and the Mongu arrive just in time and see off Dawiya's men.
SOURCE: NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® SERIES
Geoffrey Barkas was born on August 27, 1896 in Richmond, Surrey. And he passed away at the age of 83 on September 3, 1979 in Esher, Surrey.
Barkas was a brave soldier who was gallantly active in World War 1 and World War 2.
In the First World War, he served in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign at Suvla Bay, and then in the later part of the Battle of the Somme in France, where he won a Military Cross.
Barkas led the British Middle East Command Camouflage Directorate in the Second World War. His largest "film set" was Operation Bertram, the army-scale deception for the battle of El Alamein in October 1942
Barkas was an accomplished filmmaker who was praised for the quality of the African locations in acclaimed film, "King Solomon's Mines", which he filmed; especially for the tense atmosphere created in the scenes set in the African village and mines.
Barkas won an Oscar ("Best Live Action Short Film") in 1936 for his direction of "Wings Over Everest."
Filmography
Secrets of Nature, 1922
White Water Men, 1925
The Manitou Trail, 1925
Random Flakes, 1925
Prospectin' Around, 1925
Palaver, a Romance of Northern Nigeria, 1926
The Somme, 1927
Blockade, 1928, with Michael Barringer
Q-ships, 1928, with Michael Barringer[c]
The Infamous Lady, 1928, with Michael Barringer
The Third Gun, 1929
Tell England, 1931, with Anthony Asquith (The Battle of Gallipoli in USA)
A Symphony of the Sea, 1933
Wings Over Everest, 1934, with Ivor Montagu[d]
The Great Barrier, 1937, (uncredited) with Milton Rosmer
King Solomon's Mines, 1937, directed by Robert Stevenson; Barkas directed the African exteriors
Red Ensign, 1934, directed by Michael Powell, edited by Barkas.
About Toro, The Location of "Palaver".
Toro is a Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Toro.It is the largest and Longest Local in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
It has an area of 6,932² and a population of 350,404 at the 2006 census.
The postal code of the area is 740.[1]
The Zeem language is spoken in Toro apart from there are many languages spoken within and outside Toro as follows 1. Fulani 2.Ribina 3.Hausa 4.Jawara .
Danladi Umar a Nigerian jurist from Bauchi State and the incumbent Chairman of the Code Of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) of Nigeria is from the Toro local government.
Sarkin Yakin Bauchi (king maker)Lives in Gumau,Toro local government.
Toro Has a district Head Alhaji Adamu waziri (katukan Bauchi) and Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Ahmad(Madakin Toro) And others.
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