From battle scenes to self-discovery, this is how the cast of Osamede went from audition room to ancestral legend.
Osamede isn’t just another historical fantasy in Nollywood. It’s a grand reimagining of the 1897 invasion of the Benin Kingdom, refracted through myth, power and identity. The film, helmed by James Omokwe and produced by Lilian Olubi, thrusts a young orphan girl into the role of spiritual warrior as she unlocks the powers of the Aruosa stone to resist colonial intrusion.
But the real drama was about what the cast had to endure to embody that myth. The making of stories pull back the curtain. William Benson, known for depth and control, says early on he “felt overlooked” — a reflection of how African epics rarely give space for layered Black heroes. He used that feeling to give life to Iyase, a supporting role that anchors moral weight. Meanwhile Etinosa Idemudia and others trained in stunt work, swordplay, movement under heavy costumes and to survive sequences filmed under punishing weather.
The cast also spoke of emotional transformation. Playing these characters meant carrying ancestral grief, pride and reclamation. One moment on set might demand you dance in traditional regalia, the next to punch through colonial motifs. Producers and the creative team emphasized that Osamede needed both spectacle and soul. Audiences should recognize family histories in its frames.
Premiered at Cannes Film Market and already creating buzz, Osamede isn’t just about doing grand cinema. It’s about demanding respect for stories that belong to Africa, stepping into the void where colonizers told history. The cast’s journey, from late nights of fight choreography to pushing past self-doubt, mirrors the film’s theme: discovering worth that was never lost.
Source: Nollywire
