“OMAMBALA” historical thriller Nollywood stars Jim Iyke, Sola Sobowale

The upcoming Nollywood film “OMAMBALA” by Austin Nnaemeka, is a historical thriller that features veteran Nollywood star Jim Iyke and veteran actress Sola Sobowale alongside Uzo Osimkpa, Nancy Isime, Tboss, Uzo Osimkpa, Jibola Dabo, Melvin Odua, Moc Madu and others. It is based on the story of “Igbo Landing”.

The “Igbo Landing” is a historical site at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia. In 1803 the Igbos and other West African captives arrived in Savannah, Georgia, on the slave ship the Wanderer. It also marked the series of events that became known as one of the largest mass suicides of enslaved people when Igbo captives from an area currently known as Nigeria were taken to the Georgia coast.

According to report, the enslaved people had taken control of their slave ship and refused to submit to slavery in the United States. The resilience and bravery of these enslaved have symbolic importance in African American folklore and literary history.

The sequence of events that occurred next remains unclear due to several versions of the actual event. It is known that the Igbo marched ashore, led by their high chief as they sang along. Based on his orders, they walked into the marshy waters of Dunbar Creek, committing mass suicide.

Remarkably, “OMAMBALA” marks the first few historical movies to come out of Nollywood since 1992 when Nollywood became recognised officially.  Although Nigerian movies stem as far back as the mid-1960s. These practitioners are considered in some quarters to be the first true Nigerian filmmakers.