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Nollywood actor and filmmaker Emmanuel Ikubese has officially unveiled his heartfelt film project, Mzigo, at an exclusive private screening in Lagos.
The movie, which the actor describes as more than just a film, serves as an advocacy campaign to reshape public understanding of sickle cell anemia in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking at the screening, Ikubese shared that the inspiration behind Mzigo came from a painful personal experience — the loss of his cousin to sickle cell in 2020. He said the project was born out of a desire to combat the stigma, myths, and silence surrounding the condition.
“We screened at Zanzibar International Film Festival in Tanzania and a couple of festivals in the United States as well,” he revealed.
“One of the things I want to get from this film is that film is a tool to advocate for Sickle Cell. Changing the false narratives, the myths, the very ignorance that people have about Sickle Cell. I feel like Sickle Cell almost feels like there is a big elephant in the room and no one is talking about it.”
Ikubese emphasized that Mzigo aims to highlight the human side of the struggle — the emotional, physical, and social impact of the disease — not just on patients but also on their families and loved ones.
“It has not just on the person who has Sickle Cell. But on the entire family system and the entire life. The impact it has on you and your life and the life that you as a person and the family and the people around you,” he explained.
He further noted that the power of storytelling can drive awareness and change, just as films and campaigns once did for HIV and AIDS.
“I have seen how impactful that has been in helping us change the narrative around HIV and AIDS. Using all of that experience, going to 12, 13 years, I just felt like this is one disease that has been swept under the carpet.”
The film, which began development in 2020 and was completed in 2023, features a strong pan-African cast, including Daniel Etim Effiong, Seun Ajayi, and Tanzanian actress Elizabeth Michael.
Having already earned international attention with screenings at the Zanzibar International Film Festival and several film festivals in the United States, Mzigo is poised to make a significant social impact.
Beyond the film, Ikubese revealed that he is extending his advocacy beyond the screen by writing a book focused on promoting awareness and education about sickle cell disease.
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