By Mava John Joshua
The movie, titled A Naija Christmas, begins with a brilliant song by Ajike (Segilola Ogidan) while being recorded by a staff of the studio, though illegally, in a music studio belonging to Ugo (Kunle Remi) without his knowledge. He shows up and suddenly the demo stops
The viewers are introduced to three brothers Ugo, Obi (Efa Iwara) and Chike (Abayomi Alvin) setting up an impromptu engagement where Obi (the second born) is to formally propose to Vera (Linda Osifo) his colleague in trend of this generation though she declined, which led to the mother collapsing and being rushed to the hospital when she saw the incident.
Directed and produced by Kunle Afolayan, the movie becomes tense and the plot intensifies when their mother, Mrs. Agather Agu (Racheal Oniga) decides to give the family house to whoever brings his wife first before Christmas.
Typically, as “ember” months begin to fall in line, all thoughts and anxiety for Christmas begins. In the same light, we see in this movie involving Mrs. Agather Agu family, some very messy activities, family intrigues and dynamics, her children’s romantic displays to get a wife before Christmas for her, competition amongst family members, and great hilarious moments.
Furthermore, we see women led by Mrs. Agather begin to plan for a party for a community which they are all contemplating of and as chance will have it, Mushin becomes the choice
All activities in the movie begins to align towards the Christmas party in the ghetto which is quite hilarious and a semblance of a typical Nigerian way of celebrating Christmas
But if you’re going to tell a Nigerian story, at least tell it in a Nigerian way.
One couldn’t help but notice the undertones of Western culture (and yes, a lot of Nigerian modern lifestyle is influenced by the West,) but to go so far as even tailoring the dialogue after Western culture, that’s too far. The breakups and the relationship dynamics broke the last straw.
Great movie, but as an ardent observer of Western cinema, it looks like a copy.
Whether it is a Nigerian copy of a Western story, or a Western copy of a Nigerian story, sometimes one just can’t tell.
As the title suggests, this is a Christmas themed movie for Nigerians.
The story is nothing we haven’t seen before but it’s told from a Nigerian perspective, it’s funny, quirky and the dialogue is great when compared with others available in the Nigerian market.
Each member of cast is given adequate time to shine and shine they very well did! Production was good, pacing, great (can’t believe one sat through a comedy of 2hrs without noticing), jokes were perfectly timed, all in all it was a great effort at a Christmas themed Naija movie.
