Invasion 1897 Premieres In Boston, Bringing To Life The Evil Of British Government Against A Sovereign African State, Edo Nation!

Boston – By Alltimepost.com

Invasion 1897, an epic film by Nigerian-born actor, film director and producer, Mr. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, depicting the horror of an unimaginable proportion unleashed on Edo people of Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British colonial masters will premiere in Massachusetts on Sunday August 16, 2015.

The show, jointly sponsored by apex Edo socio-cultural Organization, The Benin Club of Massachusetts and a philanthropic/humanitarian organization, The League of Committed Friends in Boston will take place at Memorial hall, 590 Main Street, Melrose, MA.

Organizers of the event have arranged three shows at different times as follows: 4pm to 6pm, 6:30 pm to 8:30pm and 9pm to 11: pm, with ticket price at $30.00 per person for a show.

A joint statement issued by the two organizations, led by Ms. Patience Iziege Abbe (Benin club) and Mr. Emmanuel Okunmwendia (The League of Committed Friends) on Friday said Tickets were still being sold and that demands were high.

It advised members of the public looking for tickets to contact the following people: Barr. Dickson Iyawe (781-308-4731), Mrs. Omolayo Omoruyi-Ukhuedoba (781-405-6843), Engr. Stephen Igbinovia (508-405-7171) and Mrs. Omo Idusuyi (857-312-1976) or pay at the door on the day of the show.

According to the statement, Nigerians in Massachusetts and neighboring states are gearing up to watch the movie which is about the sad, historic and heroic past of the people of Edo State.

The statement said: “It is a movie about our sad, historic and heroic past; “irrespective of your ethnic, religious and racial background we have a shared history if you trace your heritage to an era of colonial dominance and sheer cruelty; watch how people were slaughtered, the Kingdom was looted, burnt down and the King humiliated and exiled from his own land; and watch the resilience, patriotism and heroism of the people in defending their Kingdom.”

The organizers called on all people of goodwill to spread the word, saying: “not only because of us and posterity, but for the sake of our patriots who paid the supreme price defending the nation.”

Since the Movie made its debut last year, demand for it has increased tremendously around the world because of its significance to Nigeria’s colonial history.

Last year, it premiered in Toronto and Calgary, Canada during the celebration of the Black History Month, then the British Museum where the colonial masters kept Benin stolen artifacts in London, and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland during the African Caribbean week celebration this year.

Also last year, it premiered in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Within the past few months and weeks it has premiered in Dallas, Austin and Houston, Texas and Chicago, Illinois.

The Benin Club of Houston, led by Mr. Edison Oyinboke hosted it in Houston while Akugbeoretin of Chicago, headed by Deacon Lucky Noma Osifo hosted it in Chicago, with a huge turnout of people in all the states. It is also expected to premiere in New York and Atlanta in the ensuing weeks.

Alltimepost.com gathered that several members of the audience ended up crying while watching the movie that depicts how a sovereign African nation was brought down by the then British imperial power because the Oba (King) Ovoramwen declined signing a treaty, intended to bring the kingdom under its subjugation and ease the planned amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates of today’s Nigeria.

Also this year, the movie showed in Los Angeles during the Pan African Film Festival where it won The Founders’ Special Recognition Award.

Meanwhile, the film director and producer, Lancelot Imasuen flew into Boston from Jamaica on Wednesday to appear live at the show of the movie on Sunday, along with his lead actor, Mr. Michael Omoregbee. There will be photo ops with these Nigerian celebrities who are due back in Nigeria very soon.

In a chat with Alltimepost.com, Mr. Imausen said the movie was designed to achieve the current results, drawing awareness and attention to what happened to Edo people in 1897 before the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates.

“We knew it was going to be successful, but what we did not know was how and the scope of success,” he said.

“The only surprise is the tremendous support for the movie by majority of Edo Associations in the United States,” he remarked.