{{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox film | italic_title = yes | name = Badamasi | image = Badamasi poster.jpg | director = Obi Emelonye | writer = Obi Emelonye | starring = Enyinna Nwigwe | cinematography = Abiola Oke | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2021|06|12|London|}} | runtime = 135 minutes | country = Nigeria <br> United Kingdom | language = English }}
'''''Badamasi: Portrait of a General''''' is a biopic film about former Nigerian head of state, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). It was directed by Obi Emelonye and stars Enyinna Nwigwe in the lead role as Babangida.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Kenechukwu|first=Stephen|date=2021-05-07|title='Badamasi', film starring Enyinna Nwigwe as Babangida, to debut June 12|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/badamasi-film-starring-enyinna-nwigwe-as-babangida-to-debut-june-12/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-14|newspaper=TheCable|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507142635/https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/badamasi-film-starring-enyinna-nwigwe-as-babangida-to-debut-june-12/ |archive-date=2021-05-07 }}</ref> It is the first Nollywood political biopic.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Okechukwu|first=Daniel|date=2019-10-04|title=Badamasi Trailer: First Look of Enyinna Nwigwe as Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida|url=https://culturecustodian.com/badamasi-trailer-first-look-of-enyinna-nwigwe-as-ibrahimi-babangida/|access-date=2021-10-14|website=The Culture Custodian (Est. 2014.)|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Plot== ''Badamasi'' tells the story of Babangida from his origin in the village of Wushishi in Northern Nigeria to his joining the army and time as a Nigerian military head of state. It also portrays significant events in Babangida's life including the period of the Nigerian civil war where Babangida sustains injuries in an attempt to rescue a colleague. The subsequent military coups and annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections were also portrayed.<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|last=Adeyemi|first=Sola|date=2021-06-16|title=Emelonye's lens on Portrait of a General|url=https://guardian.ng/art/emelonyes-lens-on-portrait-of-a-general/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-18|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616142318/https://guardian.ng/art/emelonyes-lens-on-portrait-of-a-general/ |archive-date=2021-06-16 }}</ref>
==Cast==
* Enyinna Nwigwe as Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida *Charles Inojie as Barrister Clement Akpamgo *Sani Danja as General Sani Abacha *Yakubu Mohammed as Prof. Jibril Aminu *Okey Bakassi as Chief Arthur Nzeribe *Kalu Ikeagwu as Professor Humphrey Nwosu *Julius Agwu as Professor Chu Okongwu *Chris Ada as Dr. Schaffhauser *Nnamdi Agbo as Mohammed Babangida *Uche Nwozuzu as General Ty Danjuma *Erick Didie as Colonel Buka Suka Dimka *Bako Abelo as 14 year old Abdulsalami *Tony Aclet as R. Admiral Augustus Aikhomu *Ajao Ayobami as Aminu Babangida *Ademola Amoo as newscaster *Musa Kabir Ajimi as school bully
==Production and release== Production for ''Badamasi'' commenced in 2017.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2021-06-05|title=Obi Emelonye ready with IBB film, Badamasi|url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/obi-emelonye-ready-with-ibb-film-badamasi/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-10-14|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> The film is set in 1980s and 1990s Nigeria<ref name=":2"/> and was shot on location in Lagos, Minna, Abuja and the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka.<ref name=":0"/> The film director told a ''Pulse Nigeria'' interviewer that it took him four years to convince Babangida to allow him make the biopic. The film was initially billed for a 29 November 2019 release date but was delayed due to reported "powerful people" who were against the circulation of the film.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nwogu|first=Precious|date=2021-05-07|title='Badamasi' to premiere in cinemas|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/badamasi-to-premiere-in-cinemas/qqlk0z9|url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-14|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507121311/https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/badamasi-to-premiere-in-cinemas/qqlk0z9 |archive-date=2021-05-07 }}</ref> There were concerns that the biopic might be an attempt to whitewash Babangida's story as the annulment of the June 1993 presidential elections earned Babangida condemnation.<ref name=":1"/> Shiloh Godson handled the sound design.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Shiloh Godson: Making Pleasurable Soundtracks in Nollywood|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/12/28/shiloh-godson-making-pleasurable-soundtracks-in-nollywood/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |newspaper=This Day}}</ref> The first look trailer was released in September 2019.<ref name=":1"/> ''Badamasi'' premiered at the Cineworld O2 Arena in South London on 12 June 2021.<ref name=":3"/>
== Critical reception == A reviewer for ''The Guardian'' praised the film for its production and attention to technical details noting that "It did not 'feel' like Nollywood" and was in keeping with Obi Emelonye's other films including ''Heart 2 Heart'', ''The Mirror Boy'', ''Last Flight to Abuja'' and ''Onye Ozi''.<ref name=":3"/>
=== Awards and nominations === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Recipient !Result !Ref |- | rowspan="2" |2020 | rowspan="2" |Africa Movie Academy Awards |Best Actor in a Leading Pole |Enyinna Nwigwe |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-30|title='Knuckle City', 'The Milkmaid' lead AMAA 2020 nominations [Full List]|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/knuckle-city-the-milkmaid-lead-amaa-2020-nominations-full-list/kz7s4wj|access-date=2021-10-19|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}</ref> |- |Best Visual Effects |''Badamasi'' |{{nom}} |- | rowspan="5" |2021 | rowspan="5" |Best of Nollywood Awards |Best Actor in a Leading Role (English) |Enyinna Nwigwe |{{nom}} | rowspan="5" |<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|title=BON Awards unveils 2021 list of nominees -|url=https://theeagleonline.com.ng/bon-awards-unveils-2021-list-of-nominees/|access-date=2021-10-19|website=The Eagle Online|language=en-US}}</ref> |- |Best Actor in a Supporting Role (English) |Sani Danja |{{nom}} |- |Movie with the Best Special Effect | rowspan="3" |''Badamasi'' |{{nom}} |- |Movie with the Best Production Design |{{nom}} |- |Movie with the Best Cinematography |{{nom}} |}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb title|id=10512418}} {{Obi Emelonye|state=expanded}}
Category:Nigerian drama films Category:English-language Nigerian films Category:2021 Nigerian films Category:Biographical films about presidents Category:2021 English-language films Category:Films directed by Obi Emelonye Category:English-language drama films