The News (Lagos)
Sylvester Asoya
29 March 2004
opinion
The Sierra Leonean civil war inspires Blood Diamonds, a new movie featuring Nigerian and Sierra Leonean actors
Those who missed the horrendous television images of the Sierra Leonean civil war now have the chance to see them.All at once.The grim images have been recreated in Blood Diamonds, a new film that highlights the disadvantages suffered by a nation rich in highly coveted resources. Beyond Sierra Leone, natural resources have been at the centre of armed conflicts in various parts of the African continent.
But Sierra Leoneans seem determined to put behind them, the nightmare and scars of that war. From the ashes of war, a new nation is already evolving. Early this year, Sierra Leoneans got a helping hand from the ever resourceful Nigerian movie makers who have already made a film based on the war. Set naturally in Sierra Leone, the film is based on a simple plot that exploited the bitterness associated with the struggle to control natural resources.
The story begins with a hefty $3billion that found its way into the hands Foday Sankoh, the late leader of Sierra Leonean rebel forces, and former Liberian president, Charles Taylor. Sankoh,who was later arrested, was discovered to have acquired the money from the sale of diamonds under the soil of the territories under his control. But the Sierra Leonean government did not know the actual value or in whose control the diamonds were left before Sankoh was jailed. All government efforts to recover them failed. Eventually, Sankoh dies and Charles Taylor, who now lives in exile in Nigeria, organizes a team of mercenaries to retrieve the diamonds from an unnamed businessman with whom Sankoh had left it.
However, Nigerian military intelligence officers get wind of the plot and quickly alert the Sierra Leonean Defence Ministry.
Immediately, the Defence Ministry,in tandem with the ministry of Internal Affairs, mobilizes a crack team of intelligence and police officers to smash the plot. As the action progresses, the government betrays its anxiety at recovering the stolen diamonds as it urgently needs resources for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. However, a professor of criminology from a certain Nigerian university emerges and deploys his skills to smash the plot and nab the mercenaries. The diamonds are recovered.
Blood Diamonds has a blend of actors and actresses from Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The work, which has Sam Kargbo, a Sierra Leonean, as producer was directed by ace Nigerian director, Teco Benson.The cast includes notable actors like Shan George, Hank Anuku, Rita Anuku, Lanre Balogun, Isaac Davids, Zulu Adigwe and Emeka Okoro. Others are Lt. Shotgun, Baba Fryo, Chux & Decency, T.J. Cole and Dr. Julius Spencer, a former cabinet minister in Sierra Leone.
Another feature is the marriage between actors and musicians. According to Teco Benson, the union was informed by the need to bring out the best from both genres. This found expression in the sound tracks done by Safari,a Nigerian singing group.
The effort of the film makers has recieved the approval of Sierra Leonean authorities.This was demonstrated by a reception by President Tejjan Kabbah and the people of Sierra Leone. "The reception was great. I doubt if our President would be given that kind of welcome if he goes there. We were hosted by President Tejan Kabba. He made available all the things we wanted. The people (Sierra Leoneans) lined the street to welcome us. In fact, we were treated like kings and queens," he said.
Blood Diamond was inspired by the producer's desire to discourage armed conflicts in Africa and also spread the message of peace. The movie also reflects most of the tragedies of the war like amputation, conscription of children into the army and many other vices of war.
And for the director, this is one of his most ambitious projects in his over 10-year career as a movie director.
However, he believes his greatest challenge as far as the movie is concerned was the challenge of uniting two cultures which came as a result of actors coming from different countries. "I feel great to be part of this project. And it means that very soon, we will level up with Hollywood. And the way the industry is advancing, the practioner can no longer be toyed with. Our movies are all over the world and we are respected. What this means is that we are doing what we should be doing,"Benson said.
The director also explained why movie makers now go outside Nigeria for location shots and even characters for certain roles. "By going beyond Nigeria, we are breaking new grounds. For now, people outside are beginning to appreciate our status as the Mecca of movies in Africa,"Benson explained.
The production of the movie gulped N28 million.
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