- By Akogun Tai Oguntayo, PhD
His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ile-Ife (the source), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Oonirisa, Ojaja II and notable royal fathers in Ekiti State have thrown their weight behind the international epic film maker, Chief Mrs Anike Obot on the shooting of her historical film, Kiriji War.
Chief Bolade Anike Obot who shot the epic Jogun Omi film has been on this multi-million Naira project for past 18 years during which scripting has been done.
Shortly after ascension on the thrown, the Oonirisa entered into a dialogue with Chief Anike Obot and her crew on how unity in Yorubaland can be fostered through the resonance of the Kiriji War and the peace accord of 1886.
Speaking with Newsmen after her visits to many notable royal fathers in Yoruba land, Chief Obot said, “when we were starting this project 18 years ago, we visited the Owa-Ooye of Okemesi, the father of Fabunmi Oraralada who led Ekitiparapo legion, we visited Latoosa in Ibadan and many stakeholders who gave us their backing then.
Now that we are about to enter location with the support of our father, Ooni of Ife, we have decided to revisit the stakeholders again.”
Among the notable royal fathers visited after the 2025 Easter celebration includes the Owa-Ooye of Okemesi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedeji Gbadebo, JP, CON; the Owa-Ajero of Ijero Kingdom, Oba (Dr) Joseph Adebayo Adewole; His Royal Majesty, Oore of Mobaland, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo; the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, HRM Oba Bayo Adesanmi among others.
All these monarchs promised their full support to Mrs Bolade Anike Obot for the shooting of the film. Anike Bolade Obot, who did Dramatic Arts at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), attended Ekiti Baptist High School, Igede-Ekiti, married from Itapa-Ekiti and the marriage is blessed with successful children.
