Four years after helming the critically acclaimed Oloture, popular Nollywood director Kenneth Gyang returns to the big screen on 25th December with a new project.
Titled This Is Lagos, the new film features fan favourites Gabriel Afolayan, Enyinna Nwigwe, Ikechukwu Onunaku, Kate Henshaw, Rahama Sadau, Mike Afolarin, Greg Ejefua, David Jones David as well as newcomer Laura Pepple.
Since Nollywood fans and Netflix subscribers became enraptured by Oloture on Netflix in 2019, Gyang has worked on several well-received projects, including episodes of Far From Home and Blood Sisters, both of which were released as Originals on the streaming platform. Both became the most viewed series in Nigeria shortly after their release, cementing Gyang’s already glowing reputation in Nollywood.
A few years before those projects, Gyang’s debut feature, 2013’s Confusion Na Wa had announced his talent and transformed the young filmmaker from Jos into one of the leading lights of what is now referred to as New Nollywood.
He solidified his status with more acclaimed projects and has become one of the most Netflix-endorsed directors currently working in Nollywood. This coveted position has translated into a myriad of directing opportunities, leading to a long gestation period for some of Gyang’s own projects, which he develops through his production company, Cinema Kpatakpata.
According to the director, his many commitments became one of the reasons This Is Lagos has been in the works for over a decade. “I read a short story many many years ago and I immediately knew that I would love to adapt it,” he said. “But I had to shoot other projects while waiting for the time to be right for This Is Lagos. The right time came at the start of this year.”
In the new film, Gabriel Afolayan plays Stevo, an artist seeking a big break in Nigeria’s music business. He falls in love and falls in with a ragtag gang. Viewers are invited to watch how his life and dreams are shaped by unforeseeable events in the big city.
Shot using an anamorphic lens, This Is Lagos is a visually gorgeous film—as attested to by those at the film’s premiere during the 2023 AFRIFF, which took place in early November. The film is made in association with Jide Makinde’s Technical Magic and is supported by Sterling Bank.
Watch Official Trailer
