Ayamma: Music in the Forest is a 2016 magical fusion cultural film, written by Vivian Chiji, directed by Chris Eneaji, and produced by

Emem Isong Emem Isong is a Nigerian screenwriter, film producer, and film director. She has become known primarily for films in the English language, and is a dominant figure in the Nollywood industry. Her second directed feature, ''Code of Silence'', w ...

. The film explores Africa culture richly, exploring the culture of the

Ibibio people The Ibibio people ( ), also known as Ibom People or Ibom are a coastal people in southern Nigeria. They are mostly found in Akwa Ibom State, Akwa Ibom, Cross River State, Cross River, and the Eastern part of Abia State. During the Colonial Nigeri ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. It is clouded with music, dance and comedy. Its stars stellar performances from

Adesua Etomi Tolulope Adesua Etomi-Wellington (born 22 February 1988) commonly known as Adesua Etomi is a Nigerians, Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She debuted her film career with ''Knocking on Heaven's Door (2014 film), Knocking On Heaven's Door'' ( ...

Wale Ojo Wale Ojo () is a British Nigerian actor. He started as a child actor in television. He subsequently continued acting roles in the UK and Nigeria. He came into prominence in 1995 for his role in '' The Hard Case''. He won the award for Best Act ...

Majid Michel Majid Michel (born 22 September 1980) is a Ghanaian actor, model, television personality, evangelist and a humanitarian. He received nominations for ''Best Actor in a Leading Role'' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2 ...

Ime Bishop Umoh Ime Bishop Umoh, often called Okon Lagos , is a Nigerian actor and comedian. Early life, education and career Ime Bishop is an Ibibio from Nsit Ibom, Akwa Ibom State in the southern part of Nigeria. He graduated from the University of Uyo ...

, Theresa Edem, Moses Armstrong and others. A loan was administered from The Bank of the Industry to fund the film.

Plot

Prince Daraima, the charming heir to Obong Ikpaisong, repeatedly dreams of Ihuoma, the poor but beautiful maiden whose beauty is matched only by her voice. In Daraima's dreams, flowers blossom and birds gather when Ihuoma sings. He is in love with the girl of his dreams. In the real world, Prince Daraima, readied to marry Princess Ama, the daughter to a neighboring monarch. During a dance presentation to welcome Princess Ama to the kingdom, Prince Daraima is shocked to see that one of the dancing maidens is Ihuoma-a girl who, hitherto exists only in her dreams. Unbeknownst to him, this is Iko, a poor maiden in the village who is an exact replica of Ihuoma and strangely possessing the same singing genius. Princess Ama observes her groom-to-be captivated by Iko and resolves to nip this obvious threat in the bud.

Cast

as Iko and Ihuoma *

as Prince Ekong *

as Aniefiok *

as Prince Daraima * Theresa Edem as Princess Ama * Smart Edikan as Executioner * Moses Armstrong as Chief Priest * Mercy Eyo as Itoro's Mum * Deborah Francis as Itoro * Inemesit Jin as Kufre * Madara Utibe as Little Iko * Christopher Bassey as Man * Mic-Jones Eru as Adiba * Mikelyn Etim as Chief Maiden * Oto Francis as Iko's Father * Edidiong Samuel as Town Crier * Usen Umoh as Old Man * Ekere Nkanga as Obong Ikpaosong

Themes

The film harbors qualitative musics, sung through the beautiful voice of the lead character Iko. It also brings to notice the cultural dance of the people it explores. Speaking on the movie, the writer Vivian Chiji describes it as a magical fusion cultural film. This description comes from the fact that when Iko sings in Prince Daraima's dreams, flowers blossom, and birds gather, coupled with the fact that Iko is having the same resemblance and genius as Ihuoma in real life. The movie also talks about envy, as Princess Ama's wrath befalls upon Ihuoma on observing her relationship with the prince. An important theme in this film that must not be forgotten is the love that binds Ihuoma mysteriously to the prince.

Production

formally announced the arrival of a new film to be titled Ayamma on an interview in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

. Before then, she'd got in mind to do something that was going to portray her culture, she says: "I feel there are times we need to go back to our roots, so that is what I am doing." And so, when the script came, she grasped it and determined to make a huge deal out of it. Shooting of the film was done at locations in Uyo,

Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state ...

, the producer's homeland. It received funding from various sources, including a loan from the Bank of the Industry. Emem Isong says it's a high budget film, and in an interview, she disclosed her reasons of investing so much on it. A website was launched with the film's title on 11 August to promote it.

who played the lead role had to learn some of the culture of the Ibibio people, majorly their dance steps and musics in other to interpret the role properly since she was one not from the Ibibio.

Release

The film premiered on 13 December 2016, and began airing in cinemas subsequently. The film poster was released in May 2016, and then the character poster followed.

Music

The music was scored and composed by George Nathaniel and Eveazi, who'd also collaborated with the production company in the making of their previous film '' Knocking on Heaven's Door'' which also stars

in lead role.

References

{{reflist
2016 films English-language Nigerian films 2010s English-language films