Osas Ighodaro Teases New Thriller “Safari”

Award-winning actress Osas Ighodaro is set to lead and produce “Safari”, an upcoming thriller drama from acclaimed director Obi Emelonye.

The film, which have been shot in both Nigeria and Kenya, follows the harrowing vacation of a Nigerian senator’s wife whose romantic entanglement abroad spirals into a murder investigation.

“Safari” tells the story of a woman who travels to Kenya for a luxury safari getaway but ends up caught in a dangerous affair with a local beach boy—who is later accused of killing a British tourist. The story explores the intersections of desire, privilege, and justice in a cross-continental setting.

Alongside Ighodaro, the film features performances from Emmanuel Mugo, Jidekene Achufusi, and Ali Nuhu.

The project continues Emelonye’s reputation for bridging cultures through storytelling. As revealed last year, the director completed principal photography while advocating for the use of advanced technology in Nollywood.

At the 2024 NEMCEA conference, Emelonye highlighted how tools like “Volume technology”—a hyper-realistic version of green screen—and AI programs like Midjourney can streamline filmmaking and lower production costs.

“Imagine if we had this technology right here in Nigeria,” Emelonye said. “We could have shot all the Kenyan safari scenes for ‘Safari’ without leaving the country.”

The film also benefited from the Providus Bank loan scheme for Nollywood, a financial initiative aimed at boosting production value and global competitiveness.

While Emelonye has embraced AI in storyboarding and production design, he insists that human creativity remains at the heart of filmmaking. “Filmmaking requires effort, talent, dedication, luck, contacts, creativity, and business acumen,” he noted.

“Safari” is also a collaboration with the Kenya Tourism Board and showcases the natural beauty of both countries, reinforcing Emelonye’s vision of pan-African cinema.

With its post-production underway, the release date and distribution details are expected to be announced in the coming months.