When the idea for ‘Osamede’ came to Lilian Olubi, it wasn’t something she planned. “The idea came to me literally in a vision,” she says. “If I were to sit down in my ‘Lilian-ness’ to write a story, this isn’t the format I would have chosen. But it feels now, in retrospect, that God knew better.”
That moment took the executive producer from boardrooms to film sets, bringing to life a story that explores African pride and a reminder that Africa’s essence remains intact.
“I’m such a big believer in our African-ness and who we are fundamentally as Africans,” she says. “I wanted something to reflect who we are and to showcase us through the beautiful context of our history. To show that even though we think things were stolen from us, we lost nothing.”
Olubi’s journey with ‘Osamede’ began as a stage play in 2021 before becoming a full-scale film production, a transition she first spoke about in an earlier Nollywire interview.
She remembers the first time she booked the Muson Centre for the play. “I was thinking to myself, I’m committing money to a space, and it’s still just a script,” she says. “It was such a mind-boggling thing to grapple with. But it was beautiful to see something grow from an idea into reality.”
Courage, she says, became a habit. “Courage is like a muscle. The first fear passes, then the next, and before long you find that the skills you’ve developed over time are very transferable. Networking, social capital, and business experience: it all adds up. I was mindful to give my all and bring everything I’d learnt to this.”
Despite her confidence, Olubi doesn’t take credit alone. “I’d be a fool to think this was all me,” she says. “It’s glaring, the grace and favour that have attended this. There’s something about this that has a life of its own. Things are aligning in ways that show it’s bigger than us.”
That sense of purpose shaped how she led the project and how she chose her collaborators, including director James Omokwe, who returned to cinema with ‘Osamede’ after years of television success. “Working with James was literally what I prayed for,” she says. “He loves fantasy and superhero worlds, and I think we made magic together.”
Olubi’s goal for ‘Osamede’ has always been to create an emotional connection. “There are many technically proficient movies, but it’s another thing for a movie to have heart,” she says. “The reviews said people felt it. They connected with it. And that was everything.”
That response mirrors what other collaborators have shared with Nollywire, from William Benson’s reflections on being overlooked before the film to Ivie Okujaye’s thoughts on her career and character in ‘Osamede’.
And Olubi says the most meaningful reactions have come from the diaspora. “People said it felt like home. They said it drew them back to their roots,” she says. “That meant we’d nailed it. The mission was accomplished.”
When asked which character she connects with most, Olubi smiles. “Osamede herself,” she says. “She feels like home. I feel in some way like her. She reminds me of my mother.” She also mentions Adaze, Osamede’s mother, whose scenes strike a personal chord. “Their interactions are always deeply emotional for me. They remind me of my mother and what she would say to me.”
Lilian Olubi’ step into a new creative chapter is complete, and you can now experience the film in cinemas.
