I was born in UK due to Biafran war – Chiwetel Ejiofor

Lead character of the movie and Oscar-nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played ‘Odenigbo,’ described the film as an international story at the premiere.The BAFTA-award winner said: “We must understand that it isn’t just a story about Nigeria. It has its implications and its relevancies across the world. It is also an international story.”He added that he […]

Lead character of the movie and Oscar-nominee, Chiwetel Ejiofor, who played ‘Odenigbo,’ described the film as an international story at the premiere.
The BAFTA-award winner said: “We must understand that it isn’t just a story about Nigeria. It has its implications and its relevancies across the world. It is also an international story.”
He added that he was born in the United Kingdom, due largely to the 1966-70 Nigerian civil war, a situation which he said also played a part in his choice for a major role in the movie.
Kene Mparu, a major promoter of the movie and brain behind Filmhouse Cinemas, said expectations were high for the movie’s premiere in Nigeria and that the outing did justice to that.
“With Ejiofor in attendance Nigerians expected the premiere would match up to any held in Hollywood and that’s exactly what happened. The buzz and excitements were high with him in addition to other celebs present,” Mparu said.
The audience, which comprised mostly of members of the corporate world, gave a standing ovation to the cast as they filed out.  Amongst the cast were Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje, Wale Ojo, veteran singer Onyeka Onwenu, Gloria Young, Naya Amobi and Reginald Ofodile, among others and the award winning producer, Andrea Calderwood.
Inarguably, this is the highest budgeted movie in Nigeria and for the first time ever, a movie has Hollywood megastar Ejiofor and Nollywood ‘Queen’ Geneiveve Nnaji.
The $10 million film was produced in Nigeria and also brought Hollywood and Nollywood together which has given the film industry an international footing. The movie which was shot in Tinapa, Calabar, was directed by UK-based playwright, Biyi Bandele, who dwelt more on the theme of love rather than violence which was intentional.
With Filmone as the distribution company for the movie, cinemas across the country including Silverbird, Ozone, Genesis, Kada and Filmhouse cinemas, will be releasing the movie next Friday, April 25. 
The movie, an adaptation of the award-winning novel by Chimamanda Adiche, which has been translated into over 30 languages, is the first Nigerian movie to be premiered at Canada’s Toronto Film Festival and will be released in the US, UK, New Zealand, Portugal and Middle East. This will be a first for any African movie.