‘Arusa’ Film Premieres in Ibadan, Highlights Oba Ladoja’s Ancestral Heritage

A new Nigerian film, “Arusa”, which explores the history and ancestral heritage of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has premiered in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The premiere, held at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, formed part of activities marking Oba Ladoja’s 82nd birthday.

The event attracted members of the Olubadan-in-Council, Olori Rashidat Olayinka Ladoja, actors, filmmakers, cultural enthusiasts and other dignitaries who gathered to witness the screening and celebrate the monarch’s heritage.

Produced by Biodun Eleni and written by Gbemi Faleti, the film features Miss Fathia Ladoja as Executive Producer.

Arusa draws inspiration from the history of the dynasty associated with Oba Ladoja’s progenitor and presents elements of Ibadan’s history, traditions and cultural identity through cinematic storytelling.

Beyond entertainment, the production seeks to demonstrate how Nigeria’s creative industry can contribute to the preservation of historical narratives and the transmission of indigenous culture to younger generations.

Speaking on the project, the producer, Biodun Eleni, said the film was conceived as a way of using the creative arts to tell stories rooted in history and culture while offering audiences an entertaining experience with a deeper cultural significance.

The Executive Producer, Fathia Ladoja, was also instrumental in the production, driven in part by her desire to learn more about her family’s history and the significance of the name “Arusa”, which was adopted by her father, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

She described the film as an avenue to preserve the family’s heritage and ensure that its historical narrative is documented and passed on to future generations.

Olori Rashidat Olayinka Ladoja, who supported the production as a cultural promoter, attended the screening and expressed appreciation for the effort to bring the family’s history to a wider audience.

She commended the producers for presenting elements of the lineage and its historical journey through film, noting the role of creative works in preserving cultural identity and documenting stories for posterity.

The premiere featured a red-carpet session, the screening of the film and interactions between members of the cast, crew and invited guests.

Among the actors who featured in the production are Dele Odule, Ajala Jalingo, Bose Akinola, Biodun Eleni, Biola Fowosere and Kukulaja, among others.