Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Emmanuel Ikubese, has premiered his latest project, Mzigo, at an exclusive screening in Lagos.
The film, deeply rooted in personal experience, tells an emotional story inspired by his late cousin’s struggle with sickle cell anaemia and seeks to ignite important conversations about the condition.
Designed to reshape the narrative surrounding sickle cell disease, Mzigo promotes empathy, awareness, and understanding both within Nigeria and internationally.
The movie features a star-studded cast including Daniel Etim Effiong, Seun Ajayi, and Tanzanian actress Elizabeth Michael.
Speaking at the premiere, Ikubese explained that the film was motivated by personal loss and a commitment to advocacy through storytelling.
“The film is a tribute to my cousin, who passed away from sickle cell in 2020. One of the things I want to achieve with ‘Mzigo’ is to use film as a tool to advocate for sickle cell — to change the false narratives, the myths, and the ignorance that people still have about the condition,” he said.
The film has already been showcased at international festivals, including the Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania and several events in the United States. Ikubese expressed his desire to drive the discussion further in Nigeria, where stigma and silence often surround the illness. “Sickle cell almost feels like a big elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about,” he noted.
Beyond its cinematic value, Mzigo serves as a platform to amplify the voices of individuals and families affected by sickle cell, highlighting the emotional, psychological, and social dimensions of the condition. “It’s not just about the person who has sickle cell,” Ikubese explained. “It affects the entire family system — their lives, choices, and relationships. I’ve seen how impactful awareness campaigns have been for HIV and AIDS, and I believe we can do the same for sickle cell. This is one disease that has been swept under the carpet for far too long.”
With Mzigo, Ikubese aims to strengthen advocacy, reduce stigma, and leverage the power of film as a medium for compassion, empathy, and social transformation.
