The much-anticipated movie Tokunbo with Ramsey Nouah as the director and Chris Odeh as the producer, had its glamorous premiere in Lagos to pave the way for its streaming on Netflix from 23rd August. The launch was organized at the Lekki suburb and many famous actors and industry leaders attended the event to congratulate one another on creating a movie that can be viewed from a new perspective for analyzing the state of society and its problems.
In an interview at the event, Ramsey Nouah began unfolding some of the aspects of the movie. “There’s a bit of a political undertone here and there,” Nouah explained. “We’re discussing some of the issues faced by middlemen in Nigeria and the broader populace. It’s not about deep politics; rather, it’s about reflecting societal issues. We’re highlighting situations in the country without aiming for any specific political outcome. We just wanted to reflect what’s happening in society in Tokunbo.”
Producer Chris Odeh provided further context, revealing the inspiration behind the film’s title. “The title Tokunbo was inspired by the smuggling of used cars into Nigeria, as well as the director’s name, Ramsey Tokumbo-Nouah,” Odeh explained. “The film portrays the resilient spirit of the African man—how we rise above challenges to survive. The title is symbolic, reflecting both the smuggling of Tokunbo cars and the movie’s aim to impact locally while also reaching abroad. We wanted to reverse the Tokunbo story.”
Odeh also highlighted the challenges faced during production, noting the significant investment made despite obstacles. “We spent over $200,000 on this film, despite the challenges we faced,” he said.
Chidi Mokeme, who plays the character Gaza in the film, expressed his admiration for the project. “I commend Chris Odeh and director Ramsey Nouah for their ambitious project. It’s a remarkable film, and I’m sure audiences will be thrilled. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before in movies from this part of the world.”
Gideon Okeke the lead actor and the native exploiter of the character Tokunbo also weighed in his opinion of the movie.
“The character Tokunbo is an average guy, reflecting a day in the life scenario. The story is a ‘what would you do?’ situation—put yourself in his shoes. We’re telling the story in our style.”
Okeke also made some revelations about the struggles that went through in the making of the movie. “Honestly, this was a very tedious film to make for all of us. Even the writer didn’t just write and leave; she was always present, working with the continuity person and the director. Every day was a challenge, but we all persevered.”
Before its premiere on Netflix, Tokunbo has garnered much attention mainly due to the unconventional narratives it brings and the portrayal of real-world issues that make Nigerian cinema more appealing.
