Nigeria Content Online

A documentary film
based on one of Africa’s and Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers,
Nwankwo Kanu, is to be premiered on the international movie stage early
next year. The documentary, titled ‘Lion Heart: the Kanu Story’ is the
brainchild of Neil Oyenekan, CEO, Lighthouse Television and Filmworks,
a wholly Nigerian-owned film and television production company.

Prior to starting
up his own production company, Oyenekan worked for the BBC in the
United Kingdom before coming back to Nigeria to become a partner at
Stormvision, the production outfit responsible for the TV shows,
Dragon’s Den, Big Brother Nigeria, and Koko Mansion.

According to
Oyenekan, the idea for the Kanu documentary came about as part of a
vision to create indigenous and innovative TV shows and documentary
features worthy of the international market.

He points to the compelling story of Kanu’s life, which made the footballer a perfect candidate for documentary treatment.

“Kanu was chosen as
subject for the first documentary from Lighthouse, based on his trials,
tribulations, and triumphs in football,” he says.

Heart condition

Nwankwo Kanu is
well known as one of the most successful footballers to come out from
Africa. However, in 1996, the discovery of a congenital heart defect by
doctors at Inter Milan FC, almost put paid to his career. But after a
successful surgery in November of that year to replace an aortic valve,
the 1996 Olympic medalist was able to return to his football club side
in Italy in a matter of months, in April 1997.

From there, Kanu
would go on to win more medals and trophies, becoming at one point the
most decorated footballer in Africa. Still, inspired by his near-death
experience, Kanu decided to set up the Kanu Heart Foundation, an
organisation dedicated to helping young children across Africa with
debilitating heart conditions.

“Kanu is a hero,”
Oyenekan enthuses, going on to explain the message behind the biopic.
“The idea behind this documentary is to create a heart-rending feature
that would inspire the average person, irrespective of age, race, and
gender. You can be from anywhere around the world, but the heart of the
story is about believing in yourself, irrespective of the obstacles you
face.”

Kanu approves

The feature has the
blessing of Nwankwo Kanu, who came on as executive producer. According
to Oyenekan, rights to the documentary were obtained in 2006, but
production was delayed for almost five years due to lack of funds.
Eventually, MRS, an oil-producing company based in Nigeria, stepped up
to the plate to provide the necessary funds. Production is currently
underway and is expected to last for six months.

The documentary
film will be filmed across several continents, following the footsteps
of Kanu from his days as a young footballer with Iwuanyanwu Nationale,
up until his debut in the English Premiership, with stopovers in
Holland and Italy.

“Much of our
material would be derived from archives, but also interspersed with
interviews with [those] who have been part of Kanu’s career,” the
producer says, name-checking the likes of Arsene Wenger, Kanu’s coach
at Arsenal FC; Arsenal teammate, Thierry Henry; Jay Jay Okocha; and
Taribo West – as some of the people expected to be featured. The
doctors who treated his heart condition would also make an appearance.

“Since we are
making a documentary that not only chronicles Kanu’s successful career,
but also tries to show the impact African football has made
internationally, we would also be featuring African icons like Roger
Miller,” Oyenekan adds.

Wish list

The story-part of
the documentary would be narrated via voice-over. “We are yet to
actually pick a person to do the honours, but our tentative wish-list
includes ace broadcaster, Patrick Oke; Hollywood actors, Chiwetel
Ejiofor and Djimon Hounsou; and Britsh actor, David Oyewole,” says
Oyenekan.

Direction on the
biopic has been taken up by Caroline Deeds, who is described as an
“experienced documentarian who will tell the story from the African
angle.”

Deeds is British of
African descent, and has previously worked in Nigeria as a newscaster
at a local television station. She has made several
internationally-recognised documentaries and also programmes for the
BBC.

‘Lion Heart’ is
expected to premiere simultaneously in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, The
United States, and Holland in April 2011. Plans towards a South African
premiere are still underway. Lighthouse productions also plans to
screen the documentary at international film festivals and enter it for
awards. It would also be released on DVD.

“In the long run,
our plan is to have a Nigerian story told from a Nigerian point of
view, that is appreciated around the world. We are hoping that it would
be distributed in schools and eventually become a collector’s item,”
Oyenekan declares.

‘Lion Heart: the Kanu Story’ will be the first major documentary produced by Lighthouse Television and Filmworks.