Half of A Yellow Sun Hits Cinemas in Africa

The film adaptation of the Half of a Yellow Sun, a Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Orange Prize-winning best-seller, will hit cinemas in Nigeria and across the African continent on Friday, April 25, 2014.

As part of activities preparatory to the official release of the film, a film screening and press conference with the stars was held on Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Silverbird Cinema, Victoria Island, V.I, Lagos and the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos respectively.

The event, which was organized by Shareman Media in conjunction with FilmOne Distribution, featured the first official screening in Africa of an epic love story that is woven around the lives of four people – Kainene (Anika Noni Rose); Olanna ( Thandie Newton); Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Richard (Joseph Mawle) – who are caught up  in the turbulence of the Nigerian Civil War which took place in the 1960’s.

Some of the characters in the movie that were at the event include Nigerian-born British actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor; O.C Ukeje; Tina Mba; Gloria Young; and Reginald Ofodile. Other cast who were not present at the event include Genevieve Nnaji; Onyeka Onwenu; Zack Orji and John Boyega, among others.

Directed by Biyi Bandele and produced by Shareman Media, the film paints a vivid picture of war-torn South-Eastern Nigeria during the period of the civil war.

Bandele, who relishes the opportunity of making a movie that the entire cast is proud of, thanked his team for their “commitment for helping to be part of a project that lasted for thirty-two frenetic days and one that has really moved audiences all over the world that had seen it.”