'Palaver: A Romance of Northern Nigeria' - Nigeria's first foray into cinema

Precious 'Mamazeus' Nwogu 14:41 - 22 May 2020

'Palaver' was directed by Geoffrey Barkas and shot in 1926

How much of Nigeria's film history do you know?

Before the years of 1/3 pounds road Aba, the Idumota and Ubakason plaza movies, Nigerians had long begun to explore film making.

The Nigerian film industry, though unnamed, officially kicked off in the 1920s with a silent film titled 'Palaver: A Romance of Northern Nigeria' and shot in black and white and in 35mm.

'Palaver' was directed by Geoffrey Barkas and shot in 1926 [Ohafrika]

Agreeably the first film short in Nigeria, 'Palaver' was directed by Oscar award-winning Geoffrey Barkas and shot by Stanley Rodwell, both English filmmakers.

'Palaver' was shot in the now Bauchi state [Ohafrika]

The movie is based on a war caused by a rivalry between a British district officer and a tin miner and filmed in northern Nigeria among the Sura and Ngas people. Its final cut with a running time of one hour, 18 minutes premiered in cinemas on April 24, 1927.