AFRICA MAGIC PRESENTS 'OXFORD GARDENS', A FILM BY OBI EMELONYE

Africa Magic, the continent’s leading provider of world class African entertainment content, has partnered with award winning Nigerian movie producer, Obi Emelonye, to produce Oxford Gardens, a tale of love, struggles, redemption and the sport of boxing. The movie, which marks the second collaboration between Africa Magic and Mr. Emenlonye’s production outfit, The Nollywood Factory, was shot in London and is set to premiere in Nigeria on the 18th of December, 2015. 

Oxford Gardens tells the story of Julius, a broken, down-on-his-luck ex-boxer, and Munachi, a young woman with a dark secret. The chance meeting between the two characters on a park bench in Oxford Gardens one summer afternoon starts an unlikely friendship, and sets in motion a series of events that leads them through their respective fears, hopes, faith and love, to a stoic, final acceptance of whatever life throws at them.

Speaking on the collaboration, the Director, M-Net (West Africa), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said: “At Africa Magic, our resolve to continuously improve the Nigerian film industry remains a key part of our investment strategy. Through our ongoing partnerships with Nollywood industry stakeholders like Obi Emenlonye, we positively impact Nollywood, a factor that steadily ensures the industry witnesses continuous development even as it also gives us the opportunity to add to the exciting content on our channels.

” Oxford Gardens joins a growing number of blockbuster titles produced by Nollywood professionals with support from Africa Magic. Movies like T.E.N productions’ Road to Yesterday and Kunle Afolayan’s forthcoming production, The CEO, are examples of recent collaborations between Africa Magic and other Nollywood stakeholders. 

Speaking on the movie’s unique storyline, Mr. Emenlonye says he was inspired by Nigeria’s huge boxing tradition as well as the time-tested successes of other internationally revered boxing titles. “Boxing films over the years have been very successful globally and they stir potent emotions in audiences, as the Rocky series and more recently other Hollywood titles like Cinderalla Man and Southpaw have proven,” he said. 

Shot in London, Oxford Gardens features Ngoli Okafor, a former U.S.A boxing champion, top model and Hollywood actor, Ngozi Thompson Igwebike, Savanah Roy, Iffy Chukwu, Princess Abiye, Frank Ani, Nnenna Ani and D'Richy Emelonye. 

Mr. Emenlonye added: “Once in a while, a simple film comes along to revolutionise African cinema. The Mirror Boy did that in 2011, and I have a feeling that Oxford Gardens will be as seminal. The movie explores new exciting themes and takes action to a whole new level. I am really excited about this film and I am grateful for the huge support I received from Africa Magic in making it happen.” 

Oxford Gardens premieres in cinemas across Nigeria on the 18th of December 2015.

To find out more about the Africa Magic channels and programmes, please visit www.africamagic.tv.