The Figurine ARAROMIRE: A Hell of a Movie

Leading film maker, Kunle Afolayan, and Golden Effects, his production company, present Brand and Business opportunities for advertisers and marketers in this soon to be released movie. The unveiling event was witness by leading figures in brand marketing and communications. Yetunde Ogundipe, in this piece, gives a glimpse of the movie.
What if you are asked to sign a contract that will make you a billionaire all of a sudden? You won’t have to think so much to imagine all the good things you can get with such money, just like you won’t think deep enough to imagine the pain and horror that could come with such sudden wealth. This picture is what Adekunle Afolayan builds around the Yoruba folklore of a goddess called Araromire. And when you watch ‘The Figurine ARAROMIRE’, starring Adekunle Afolayan, Ramsay Nouah and Funlola Awofiyebi-Raimi, you will agree that you really need to think deep about the consequences of some of your adventures. But that will be after having a swell time!
The story is about two buddies and a girl; played by Adekunle Afolayan, Ramsay Nouah and Omoni Oboli. All down on their luck, they have their lives changed when one of them discovers a mysterious figurine Araromire, a goddess of fortune and luck, in an abandoned shrine. According to folklore legend, anyone touched by the figurine will be rewarded with seven years of prosperity. But no one tells him about the next seven years.
The Figurine ARAROMIRE is a multi-cultural and contemporary feature film highlighting the essence and efficacy of tradition, friendship, betrayal and love. Yes, the same old pieces are here and so are the same old faces, with some new ones. Yet The Figurine ARAROMIRE is maybe, just maybe, a notch above all the usual Yoruba folklore films you’re used to. It is doing the same old thing but seems to know it and so does its best to find something new, at least enough to make this whole thing worthwhile.
Though the movie was directed by Adekunle Afolayan, it received special professional inputs from Nigerian film maker of repute, Tunde Kelani, among others.
In all fairness, Afolayan did not disappoint in The Figurine ARAROMIRE, having built a reputation of excellence with his award-winning movie, Irapada. It will be recalled that Irapada’s success transcended the shores of Nigeria, getting accolades and winning outstanding awards like the Best Indigenous Nigeria Movie at the Africa movie Academy Awards in 2007 and the Best Yoruba Titled Movie at the ZUMA film festival in 2008. Having lived up to this reputation, nothing short of excellence was expected from Afolayan. And this he brought to bear in The Figurine.
Another plus in the movie is the actors’ apt interpretation of their roles. Made up of Adekunle Afolayan, Ramsay Nouah, Funlola Awofiyebi, Tosin Sido, Omoni Oboli, Chief Muraina Oyelami, Jide Kosoko, Wale Adebayo and host of others, the cast gave a good account of themselves. Talk about the connection between the two friends – Adekunle and Ramsay; two ignorant fellows who know nothing about the powers of the figurine they find, who shares the same opinion and suffers the consequences together. It was a brilliant performance from the duo.
And the costuming too. It was detailed. The costumiers were able to transcend both the ancient and the modern day, bringing to the fore the changes in fashion trends over the years.
Just as good as the actors were those that worked behind the scenes with the special effects. Throughout The figurine ARAROMIRE the special effects were incredible. The movie was shot on celluloid, which gave the cast a whole new look. Ramsey Nouah wasn’t Ramsey anymore; he had a different feel, likewise all the other cast.
During the horror that the next phase of the movie developed into, the effects gives a vivid imagination of fear, anxiety and bloody fights that characterises a real horror movie. It turns out that each and every frame was painted over to give it a semblance of true life pictures, though this was never at the expense of the story.
If you didn’t know better or if the location didn’t give itself away, you would think the movie was produced outside the shores of Nigeria. But no, it was done by Adekunle Afolayan’s Golden Effect Service Limited. It’s a film and television production outfit established with the sole aim of making positive impact and adding value to the Nigerian movie industry through credible, informative, educative and creative films and television productions. Giving attention to details seems to be their major strength.
The Figurine is to be premiered and box-office-screened starting from October to November. The movie will be premiered in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Ghana, and will be in London in time for the London Film Festival.
According to the producers, the movie is offering a unique opportunity for all companies to imprint their brands on the mind of their target consumers, especially for companies in the aviation and financial institution. This is in consonance with the words of Deborah Mitchell, senior lecturer and executive director of UW-Medison’s Enterprise MBA programmes, that “Companies are increasingly embracing the idea that seamlessly integrating their product into entertainment vehicles, is one of the more effective ways to connect with consumers.”
The Figurine ARAROMIRE is a must watch and an opportunity. It is exactly what you expect in a contemporary film. It may even be more. But even if it’s not, one thing is sure – it has stepped up Adekunle Afolayan’s game.

Entertainment TitBits
Stories by Elcee McEdwards and Adebukola Oyedemi
D’Large to Drop Multimillion Naira Video Soon
Nigerian-born R n’B and reagae artiste, D’Large, who shuttles between Belgium and Holland as his base, is set to drop his new block buster video titled Marry Dem. The music video, shot by Seyi Siwoku’s Jungle Films, is said to have cost several millions to produce. Though nothing has been heard about Seyi with regard to shooting music videos, his Jungle Films has been at the helm of affairs in the production of the Gulder Ultimate Search T V Reality Show since its first edition. It is hoped that D’Large’s video will launch him successfully into the music industry.
Chatting with our correspondent during the video shoot at Oniru Beach, Victoria Island, recently, D’ Large noted that the video will hit the town very soon as the team of editors working on it has assured that the work will not really stay long in the studios.
“This video is shot with millions of naira. We’ve really worked hard at it. I want my fans to feel the international standard that I bring to bear in my music and videos. One Love, the first video I dropped recently, which was shot in Belgium, is now everywhere, and my fans love it. But now, I need to drop another video that has Nigerian flavour. That is why I’m home to shoot the Marry Dem video. My fans should just be relaxed,” he stated.
However, D’Large, who jetted out to Belgium few weeks back to perform at European festivals in Belgium and Netherland, added that he is presently busy recording other songs in the Netherlands, in other to meet up with the international standards he has set for his album.

The Salamander: Abuja’s Intellectual Restaurant
Located at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, is The Salamander a hip café where people get to feed their tummies and at the same time discuss intellectual matters. Established on June 19, 2007, Salamander was initially conceived as a café with emphasis on selling quality coffee. Today, it has evolved to become a place where people eat, have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and probably pick a book or two while waiting.
The café has been hosting book reading sessions since it opened. Author of ‘Nights of the Creaking Bed’, Toni Kan, had a reading there early this year while it also hosted an evening of old school music called ‘Faaji Session’. The ageless minstrel, Fatai Rolling Dollar, and Sina Ayinde Bakare performed during the show which recorded an impressive attendance.

Ashionye’s Sophomore Album For September
Beautiful and soft spoken entertainer, Mitchel Ugbo aka Ashionye, is set to hit the market with her sophomore album. The album which is due to be launched in September will feature some of her earlier released singles, including Take a piece of me, Burn up the dance floor and Rock me.
The producers working with Ashionye include Carl Raccah and Alex Yangs while the song writers are Tha Suspect and Harry Song. It is rumoured that the album will also feature a couple of frontline Nigerian artistes. Last week, Ashionye, talking about the upcoming album, revealed that she has no title for the album yet. “The album title might probably come a week before the launching,” she said.
The Delta State-born entertainer also seems to be doing well with her perfume line known as Romance. Also moving up is her clothing line Miss Ash. Ashionye is currently starring in the MNET TV series, Tinsel.