Prince Marvellous
Nollywood is preparing for an emotional weekend as the historical drama Properties of the Gods arrives in cinemas nationwide on September 4, a release date now being marked as “Onyeka Onwenu Day” in honour of the late music and movie icon.
For producer Joseph Okechukwu, however, the film’s arrival will be far removed from the usual excitement and glamour that accompany a major Nollywood premiere.
Okechukwu announced during a private screening that the film’s traditional grand premiere had been cancelled following the deaths of two cast members and the ongoing recovery of another actor who recently underwent double brain surgery.
He said staging a celebratory event under such circumstances would be inappropriate while the families of those affected are still grieving.
Instead, the film’s rollout has taken on a more reflective tone.
Tonight, September 3, Nollywood stars and fans will gather for a special night of tributes dedicated to Onyeka Onwenu, whose appearance in the film stands as one of her final performances.
The movie is also dedicated to fellow late artist Cynthia Okereke.
Four years in the making, Properties of the Gods is a historical drama centred on one of the most enduring and sensitive conversations in Igbo history: the Osu caste system.
The film explores inherited identity, forbidden love, family loyalty and the burden of tradition, bringing together an ensemble cast that includes Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu, Enyinna Nwigwe, Maria Chike-Benjamin, Zack Orji, Hilda Dokubo, Elvina Ibru, Obi Okoli, Ofia Mbaka and Jennifer Eliogu.
Beyond the cinema screen, the subject matter carries a personal significance for Okechukwu, whose longstanding activism has focused on challenging the Osu practice in Igboland.
His campaign culminated in an abolition exercise at Agukwu Nri Palace in Anambra State in 2018, after which more than 75 communities reportedly began taking steps towards ending the practice.
That history gives the film a purpose beyond entertainment. It is an attempt to examine how a centuries-old social system continues to shape identity, relationships and family life.
As Friday’s cinema release approaches, the focus remains firmly on remembrance rather than celebration.
Condolence visits to the families of the deceased cast members, alongside visits to traditional rulers across the South-East, have formed part of the film’s pre-release activities.
For a production carrying the final screen memories of one of Nigeria’s most beloved cultural figures, Properties of the Gods is arriving in cinemas as more than a historical drama.
It is also becoming a farewell, a tribute and an opportunity to preserve Onyeka Onwenu’s presence on the big screen for generations to come.
