Abeni is a two-part 2007 Nigerian-Beninese romance film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. It depicts the social divide that occurs as a result of colonialism despite the geographical proximity between Benin and Nigeria.
Plot Abeni follows the story of the eponymous Abeni who was born with a silver spoon. She meets Akanni who hails from a more modest background. They are engaged to be married to other people but their meeting changes the course of already set plans.
Cast Kareem Adepoju as Baba Wande Abdel Hakim Amzat as Akanni Sola Asedeko as Abeni Samuel Ajirebi Jide Kosoko as Abeni's father Bukky Wright Idowu Philips Ayo Badmus Moufoutaou Akadiri Aboh M. Akinocho
Production and release Abeni was set in Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria and Cotonu. It employed the methods of Code-Switching, Code-Mixing and Code-Conflicting as it involved two languages and depicts how the characters overcame language barrier by paying close attention and employing the use of gesticulations.
It was a joint production between Mainframe Film and Television Productions and Laha Productions. It was released on 31 March 2006 with physical copies selling in post offices, banks and fast food joints.
Critical reception In a review for The Nation, Victor Akande wrote "With hilarious sub-plots woven through the core story of love lust and regains, this is a fascinating portrait of the Yoruba urban middle class that flows between Nigeria and Republic of Benin."
The film was nominated in 11 categories at the 3rd Africa Movie Academy Awards and won in 2 of the categories.
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryResultRef2007Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest SoundBest Film in an African LanguageBest Nigerian FilmBest CinematographyBest Indigenous FilmBest Performance by Child - Samuel OlaseindeBest EditBest Upcoming Artiste - Amzat Abdel HakimBest Actress in Supporting Role - Noelie Funmi AgbendegbaBest Director - Tunde KelaniBest PictureNigerian Movie Awards
References
Further reading
World Cinema versus Subjectivity: How to Read Tunde Kelani's Abeni Author(s): Kenneth W. Harrow Source: Black Camera, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Spring 2014), pp. 151–167 Published by: Indiana University Press
External links
Mainframe site