Angel Anosike, Prince Nelson Enwerem, And Jide Kene Achufusi Lead "Aba Blues", Slated for March 20 Release

The Story⚡

Aba Blues is preparing to bring viewers into post-Biafran Aba, where personal histories shape present-day relationships, with its nationwide release set for March 20, 2026.

Tell Me More

Aba Blues is a romantic drama set in Aba, Abia State, in the years following the Nigerian Civil War. It follows a woman as she navigates her marriage and confronts her former boyfriend’s return. The narrative examines the psychological effects of love, the pain it can bring, secrets, loss, faith, choices, ambition, and resilience. The story originated as a stage play titled “Onyinye Odokoro,” written by the director, and draws inspiration from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of a Yellow Sun” and other Eastern Nigerian literature.

The lead roles are played by Angel Anosike, Prince Nelson Enwerem, and Jide Kene Achufusi. Angel portrays a central figure navigating relationships. Prince brings his presence to one of the key characters. Jide also adds depth to the ensemble. Angel shared that her initial reaction to the script was one of overwhelm due to its emotional depth, leaving her anxious about handling the role of Amara. She later described the experience as a key affirmation of her ability to tackle demanding parts, reinforcing her capacity for challenges she once thought beyond her reach.

Enwerem reflected on expecting a different character but embracing Uzor as an opportunity to explore his emotional range, including moments of vulnerability, and expressed pride in his performance upon reviewing behind-the-scenes footage. He also noted it as one of the strongest sets he has worked on. Achufusi praised the script for its period-specific elements and departure from typical Nollywood narratives, calling it a demanding project that required attention to language and era details.

Supporting the leads are a cast including Bimbo Akintola, Eucharia Anunobi, Patience Ozokwor, Toni Tones, Odunlade Adekola, Chuks Joseph, Martha Ehinome, David Ezekiel, Toluwani George, and Charles Okafor.

Jack’enneth Opukeme wrote and directed the film. He explained that Aba Blues stems from a play he created years earlier, which he adapted, directed, and once performed in. He emphasized the theme of clinging to emotions and love over time, and how the story guided its own development rather than being forced. He mentioned longstanding discussions with Achufusi about the project, which influenced his involvement, and highlighted Enwerem’s standout audition. Barbara Babarinsa produced the project for FilmOne Studios and Inkblot. FilmOne NG will distribute it in cinemas across Nigeria.

Key Background

Jack’enneth Opukeme is a Nigerian creative writer, director, actor, and model with a First Class degree in Theatre and Media from the University of Calabar. Born and raised in Bayelsa State, he completed his senior secondary education in Imo State and remained in Calabar after graduation, where he actively directed and staged major theatre productions, including August Wilson’s Fences and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. He also wrote and produced his own plays, such as The Face We Saw in the Fires and Manger Café, with Aba Blues being one of his earliest works (originally written, directed, and performed by him on stage several years ago as a post-Biafran Igbo love story).

He joined FilmOne Entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic as an intern (arranged after a stage play clip caught the attention of studio executive Mimi Bartels) and now serves as the studio’s Development Coordinator. His breakthrough in feature films came as the creator and co-writer of Battle on Buka Street (2022), one of the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time. He followed this with Adire (2023), where he served as creator, writer (original story and screenplay), creative consultant, and also acted in the role of Tunde.