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In Bakassi Tells Harrowing Tales from IDP Camps in Virtual Reality
Stories by Vanessa Obioha
As technology continues to move into the mainstream, filmmaker Joel Benson is taking the lead in Nigeria. He recently made a short film ‘In Bakassi’ in virtual reality, the first of its kind to be made in Nigeria. The film had its first premiere in Cairo International Film Festival recently and was screened in June to Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, who lauded the efforts of the filmmaker and other stakeholders at the launch of Northeast Innovation Hub.
Benson who is always passionate about stories from the North-east conflict zone, plunges the audience into a simulated 3D Bakassi IDP camp in Maiduguri.
The opening scene shows a busy market place while a child’s voice reels out the emotional words: “They planted a bomb in the market…that’s how my papa died.”
The voice belongs to Modu Mustapha, an 11-year-old orphan, whose father was killed in a suicide bombing. His mother absconded after the incident, leaving Mustapha and his younger siblings to the care of their aged grandmother. The young lad has been living in the Bakassi IDP camp for three years.
Through the lens of the virtual reality headsets, viewers are submerged into Mustapha’s world, walking with him through the sandy camp, queuing with him as he awaits his turn for food, going through the dumpsite to search for leftover meals to fill his growling stomach and taking up menial jobs to cater to his family.
The great responsibility of taking care of his family at such an early age highlights the hardship faced in the camps.
Since the rise of insurgency in the Northeast, millions of Nigerians have been displaced from their homes. Bakassi IDP camp is one of the
most populated IDP Camps in Northeast Nigeria, sheltering over 35,000 Internally Displaced Persons, out of which half are children, who live in squalid conditions and have little or no access to a proper education. Many of these children are orphans, victims of Boko Haram’s deadly war in the North-east.
In Mustapha’s case, the conditions are no different. However the young man longed for access to proper education. Though there is a school in the camp, he harboured a desire to go to the school in the city where he believes has better resources.
His quest for knowledge is triggered by his late father’s words that education makes one successful and responsible. Beyond those words however lies a greater mission for Mustapha: to use education to rid the society of insurgents.
Virtual reality is relatively new to most filmmakers in Nigeria. The 360 camera is not an easy gadget to work with, and often requires the director to be off-camera.
Relaying his experience at the Facebook NG Hub in Lagos where the film had its official screening, Benson opined that the only thing a filmmaker can do is to hope for the best.
“The 360 camera has cameras all over it. It is camera everywhere. If you’re coming from a traditional filmmaking experience, you have to make a switch in your mind because you’re no longer a present director, you are a director of camera and hope for the best because you can’t cut this scene or that scene.”
In shooting ‘In Bakassi’, Benson and his crew spent three days in the camp, took some test shots and spent weeks in postproduction, which he said is a nightmarish adventure. Benson’s interest in virtual reality was stirred by a client who wanted him to make a virtual reality film.
After watching a virtual reality film, he was determined to make one. He travelled abroad and garnered the knowledge. On his return, his first mission was to go to Maiduguri and make a story.
Leading fashion brand,Luzol will be unveiling its new retail fashion label Lzee at an exclusive event on Sunday, December 9.
Known for its unique artistic designs in fabric, the line is a mix of ready-towear designs made from a combination of Nigerian fabrics that cater to the upwardly mobile male and female.It is the first time the brand will be making apparels for both gender.
“It is all about inclusion. Over the years, we have promoted Wear Nigeria through our platform Fashion Art Fusion. And there is no way we can achieve that by excluding the females. With Lzee,we want to reach a wider audience with our Wear Nigeria campaign. Luzol
MTN Nigeria has recorded another first as a leading ICT company with the launch of Disney mobile web service in Nigeria, Disneynigeria.mobi.
The new service is loaded with Disneythemed short-form content, games and shareables. The service is the result of a collaboration between MTN Nigeria and The Walt Disney Company Africa.
The two-year deal grants MTN Nigeria exclusivity for the first year of the collaboration. The mobile web service was is known for art, and art embraces all,” said Austin Aimankhu, founder of the fashion label.
The launch is also part of the lineup activities leading to the next edition of Fashion Art Fusion — a celebration of fashion and alternative arts in the runway. The revolutionary show has been lauded by many as a veritable platform that effortlessly showcase the beauty of art on the runway.
Lzee will also be available online for the smart individual who is always on the move. At the launch, which will take place at The Roots Restaurant and Bar in Ikoyi, Lagos, guests will be dazzled by the delicate and artistic use of Nigerian fabric to reflect the culture of the people. launched amidst fanfare on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at MTN Nigeria Headquarters, Ikoyi, Lagos, after thorough test trials to ensure hitchfree experience for the intended audience.
For N200 per month, Disney Nigeria opens a world of Disney – including short videos, wallpapers, Disney film and channel information and trailers, as well as select downloadables and much more – to MTN Nigeria users and their families.