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Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy—known globally as the "African Giant"—is officially moving beyond music and making a massive splash in the world of cinema. But this isn't just a vanity project. Through his production company, Spaceship Films, Burna Boy is taking on the role of an Executive Producer for the upcoming revenge thriller, '3 Cold Dishes', a film that’s poised to redefine Pan-African cinema.
The Story: Justice and Resilience on a Continental Scale
'3 Cold Dishes' is a high-stakes, emotionally charged thriller directed by the talented Nigerian filmmaker, Asurf Oluseyi. The film tells the gripping story of three African women who, years after surviving the trauma of sex trafficking as teenagers, reunite to seek calculated revenge on the powerful men who exploited them.
This narrative choice—focusing on themes of resilience, survival, and justice—is significant. By confronting such a serious social issue head-on, Burna Boy and the production team are leveraging art to ignite necessary conversations and amplify voices that are often silenced.
Revolutionizing Pan-African Storytelling
What makes this project truly revolutionary is its commitment to being authentically Pan-African, going far beyond the scope of traditional Nollywood films:
- Multi-Country Production: The film wasn't just shot in Nigeria. Production spanned across four different West African nations: Nigeria, Benin Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mauritania. This expansive approach provides a rare, wide-angle view of the continent.
- Linguistic Richness: To reflect the cultural tapestry of the region, the movie seamlessly weaves together dialogue in English, French, and Yoruba. This multilingual approach breaks down geographical barriers and appeals directly to diverse African and global audiences.
- Diverse African Talent: The film features a diverse cast, including prominent actors like Osas Ighodaro alongside talent from across the continent, ensuring a broad and authentic representation of African identity.
Why Burna Boy's Involvement Matters
Burna Boy’s role as an executive producer, a debut under his Spaceship Films banner, provides more than just a famous name. It is a strategic move that:
- Elevates Visibility: His global celebrity instantly gives the film a massive platform, securing global attention that a typical African art-house film might struggle to achieve.
- Attracts Resources: His backing helps ensure the project has the high production values needed to compete on a world stage.
- Sets a New Precedent: It signals to the entertainment world that African artists are ready to own and drive sophisticated, high-quality, and cross-cultural cinematic projects.
The film's selection as the opening feature at the prestigious AFRIFF 2025 festival confirms its status as a major cultural event. As '3 Cold Dishes' prepares for its anticipated premiere in African cinemas in November 2025, it truly marks a bold and exciting new chapter for Pan-African cinema.
The Stellar Cast & Visionary Director of '3 Cold Dishes'
The film is not just backed by a global music star; it features a powerful ensemble of African talent led by an award-winning filmmaker who is celebrated for his compelling narratives.
The Director: Oluseyi 'Asurf' Amuwa
The directorial reins are held by Oluseyi 'Asurf' Amuwa, a highly respected and award-winning Nigerian filmmaker.
- Self-Taught Vision: Asurf is known for his inspiring background, having learned the craft of filmmaking largely through self-study, watching YouTube videos and training manuals.
- Acclaimed Filmography: His debut feature film, 'Hakkunde' (2017), became a critical success, winning Best Nigerian Film at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and has been streamed on major platforms. He also directed the popular film 'Kasanova' (2019).
- Focus on Social Narratives: Asurf has a proven track record of using his art to spotlight underrepresented narratives and social issues. His work on '3 Cold Dishes' is seen as his boldest film yet, fulfilling his desire to create a story that genuinely exists and resonates across both Anglophone and Francophone African cultures.
- Pan-African Collaboration: He actively co-directed the film with a fellow African female filmmaker, Apolline Traoré, further solidifying the film's collaborative and Pan-African spirit.
The Diverse, High-Profile Cast
The film features a blend of established Nollywood stars and talented actors from the Francophone film industry, ensuring the story's diverse settings feel authentic:
| Character Name | Lead Actor | Notable Background | Role/Significance
| Esosa | Osas Ighodaro | Nigerian-American actress, former Miss Black USA, and AMVCA winner. | One of the three main characters seeking revenge. She is also listed as an Executive Producer on the project. |
| Fatouma | Fat Toure | Prominent Ivorian (Côte d'Ivoire) actress. | One of the three core female leads, representing the Francophone perspective. |
| Giselle | Maud Guerard | Talented Ivorian actress. | The third core female lead, helping to complete the Pan-African trio. |
| Bankole | Wale Ojo | Veteran Nigerian actor known for his extensive work in both Nollywood and international cinema. | Plays a key role as one of the antagonists or powerful figures being hunted. |
| Didier | Femi Jacobs | Renowned Nigerian actor, known for roles in 'The Meeting' and 'Just Not Married'. | Plays a major role in the complex web of exploitation and revenge. |
| Young Esosa | Ruby Akubueze | Talented young Nigerian actress, known for her breakout roles in Nollywood. | Portrays one of the characters during the traumatic teenage years. |
The blending of these high-calibre Nigerian actors (Ighodaro, Ojo, Jacobs) with respected Francophone actors (Toure, Guerard) ensures that the multilingual and multi-country narrative is grounded in strong, diverse performances.
The creative team behind '3 Cold Dishes' is just as pivotal as the cast and director in ensuring the film's pan-African ambition and thematic depth.
Here are the details on the writer and the major musical elements:
The Screenwriter: Tomi Adesina
The compelling and complex story of three women seeking revenge was penned by Tomi Adesina, a talented Nigerian screenwriter and academic.
* Award-Nominated Writing: Tomi Adesina's screenplay for '3 Cold Dishes' has already earned major recognition, including a nomination for Best Screenplay at the prestigious Septimius Awards.
- A Storyteller and Scholar: Beyond screenwriting, Adesina is a prolific fiction series blogger and holds a position as a Lecturer in Creative Writing (Scriptwriting) at the University of Exeter in the UK. Her academic work focuses on cinema and cultural representations, giving her a deep, analytical perspective on storytelling.
-Thematic Focus: Her writing brings the emotional depth and narrative complexity required to handle a sensitive and challenging subject like human trafficking, moving the story beyond a simple thriller into a powerful tale of redemption and empowerment.
The Soundtrack and Production Backing
While Burna Boy is the executive producer, his involvement with his own production company, Spaceship Films, strongly suggests that the music will be a major, cross-continental highlight.
- Burna Boy's Creative Oversight: As an executive producer, Burna Boy is overseeing the entire production, which almost certainly includes curating a propulsive and culturally significant soundtrack. This is a major opportunity for him to fuse his musical world with cinema, similar to other major artists creating musical albums for films.
- Musical Collaboration Speculation: There are reports and strong speculation that the film's music will feature contributions from a stellar lineup of African and global music legends, including:
- Angelique Kidjo (Benin)
- Asa (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Brymo (Nigeria)
- Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
The inclusion of an iconic Pan-African figure like Angelique Kidjo alongside Burna Boy and other contemporary stars would ensure the film’s sound is as expansive and diverse as its locations, truly reflecting the film's Pan-African cultural significance.
The Full Executive Team
It’s worth noting that Burna Boy is not the only high-profile executive producer. His mother and manager, Bose Ogulu, is also an executive producer, along with lead actress Osas Ighodaro. This formidable team ensures the project is championed by power players with deep roots in both African entertainment and global business.
Do you have any other questions about the production, or would you like me to find out more about where you can potentially watch the film?
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