Nollywood filmmaker, actress, entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Billionaire Black Boss Production, Anita Ngozichukwuka Odiakaose, is emerging as one of the creative voices pushing African cultural narratives onto the global stage through film.
In this exclusive interview with Agu Chineme Enyiduru, an Enugu based Social Analyst, Odiakaose, who is the Executive Producer of the culturally rich epic, Ikenga: The Last Festival, speaks on her journey from acting to filmmaking and film production, the inspiration behind the ambitious project, the challenges of producing a capital-intensive movie in Nigeria, and the factors behind its growing international appeal.
The Political Science graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University also explains the deeper cultural significance of Ikenga, her determination to preserve and project Igbo heritage to younger generations and the African diaspora, as well as her vision of using cinema not merely as entertainment but as a vehicle for cultural preservation, economic empowerment and global storytelling.
With Ikenga already extending its footprint beyond Nigeria through international engagements, including Ghana, the United Kingdom, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Canada, the United States and Europe, Odiakaose shares the story behind the film, her experiences managing its cast and crew, and the lessons she has learnt from taking an indigenous African story to an increasingly global audience.
She also offers practical advice to emerging filmmakers and producers, urging them to embrace African stories, invest in quality, understand the business of filmmaking and, above all, remain persistent in pursuing their creative vision.
Q1. For the benefit of our global audience who admire you, who exactly is Anita Odiakaose? Could you kindly share your identity and background with us?
Ans: Thank you so much. Anita Ngozi Odiakaose is a filmmaker, actress, executive producer, entrepreneur and creative from Delta State, Nigeria. I was born in Benin City, Edo State, and I am proudly from Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Academically, I hold a degree in Political Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and I also undertook professional training in filmmaking because I wanted to understand the industry beyond just being in front of the camera.
I am the Chief Executive Officer of Billionaire Black Boss Production, a company through which I have developed numerous creative and film projects.
But beyond the titles, I see myself simply as a storyteller and a builder. I strongly believe that film is beyond entertainment; it is a powerful tool to preserve culture, educate, create economic opportunities, shape society and tell our authentic African story to the world. That philosophy defines who Anita Odiakaose truly is.
Q2. Could you briefly take us through your journey and relationship with the film industry?
Ans: My journey into the film industry was born out of genuine passion. I have always loved acting and storytelling, and that passion gradually evolved into a professional career.
I started from the acting side of Nollywood, but over time, I became deeply fascinated by the business and production aspect of filmmaking. I wanted to understand how stories are conceived, financed, produced, marketed and delivered to the audience.
That curiosity led me into producing. Over the years, I have been privileged to be involved in over 50 film and content projects, including works with much bigger ambitions.
Of course, the journey has not been without its challenges. Nollywood is an industry where you truly learn by doing. From financing, distribution, logistics, human resource management, to convincing people to believe in your vision — every stage comes with its own test.
But every challenge became a lesson. Today, I no longer see myself merely as an actress or a producer; I see myself as a creative entrepreneur committed to creating films that can travel beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Q3. Is Ikenga your first major production as an Executive Producer, or were there other productions before it? If yes, could you please mention a few and share a brief story about them?
Ans: No, _Ikenga: The Last Festival_ is certainly not where my production journey started.
Before _Ikenga_, I had produced and been involved in several projects such as _The Enemy I Know, Journey of Love, My Entitlement, Irresponsible, King Seer, Ekwomokwo_ and many other local contents and television productions.
Each production taught me something unique. Some taught me about people, some about finance, some about patience, leadership and the importance of teamwork. Others taught me a profound lesson — that you can have the best script in the world, but without the right team and proper execution, the story may never achieve its full potential.
So by the time I came to _Ikenga_, I was not starting from scratch. I was bringing years of experience, mistakes, lessons and relationships into one ambitious project. _Ikenga_ simply became the platform where all those experiences came together on a much larger scale.
Q4. While putting together Ikenga, did you ever envisage that this project would become a global phenomenon and take you to the world stage?
Ans: I had the vision, but I honestly did not know exactly how far it would go.
When we started _Ikenga: The Last Festival_, my immediate goal was to tell a powerful, authentic African story with excellence — a story that would make people feel proud of their roots.
However, I also strongly believed from the beginning that African stories should not be confined within African borders.
Today, that vision is becoming a beautiful reality. We have just concluded our engagement in Accra, Ghana on October 3rd, and we are looking forward to our UK release on October 23rd, 2026. From there, we will be taking _Ikenga_ to Malawi and Zimbabwe in November, followed by engagements across Canada, the United States of America and Europe as part of our international tour.
When I look back today, I feel incredibly grateful. What started as a Nigerian film has evolved into a cultural movement connecting Africans and audiences across the world. And that is perhaps what I am most proud of — _Ikenga_ is not just travelling internationally; it is carrying a piece of our culture with it.
Q5. Ikenga is no doubt a capital-intensive project. What was your core motivation and driving force behind producing such a culturally rich epic?
Ans: My motivation was bigger than money. Of course, filmmaking is a business and commercial success is important, but some stories transcend profit margins.
_Ikenga_ presented an opportunity to preserve and project a vital part of Igbo heritage to a generation that is becoming increasingly globalized. There are many young Africans today who know more about foreign superheroes and mythologies than they know about their own traditional institutions, symbols and stories.
I wanted to contribute to changing that narrative.
To me, _Ikenga_ represents identity, strength, heritage, courage and self-belief. I wanted our children and our diaspora communities to see something on screen and proudly say, “This is ours.”
So yes, it required significant investment, but I saw that investment as an investment in culture, in storytelling, and in the future of African cinema.
Q6. Now that Ikenga is spreading like wildfire and breaking box-office records, could you kindly reveal the secret behind its success to guide and inspire other producers to follow in your direction?
Ans: I don’t think there is just one secret. I would describe it as a combination of story, authenticity, quality, teamwork, strategy and persistence.
First, we had a story that people could genuinely connect with. Secondly, we treated _Ikenga_ with utmost seriousness. We did not approach it as “just another Nollywood movie.”
We also understood that making a great movie is only half the job. You must also market it, create conversations around it and deliberately take it to the audience.
That is why our strategy has gone beyond Nigeria. We have intentionally taken the film to different countries and communities. As I mentioned, we just concluded in Accra on October 3rd, with the UK release coming up on October 23rd, Malawi and Zimbabwe in November, and a broader tour across Canada, America and Europe.
We are not simply waiting for international audiences to discover _Ikenga_; we are taking _Ikenga_ to them. We are also blessed to have strong industry partners, including FilmOne as our global distributor, which has been instrumental in positioning the film for wider reach.
But perhaps the biggest secret is persistence. There were difficult moments when I questioned things, but I kept reminding myself: If you believe in the story, don’t abandon it because the journey is difficult.
My advice to fellow producers is simple: Don’t just make a film — build a movement around the film.
Q7. When people hear the name Ikenga, what immediately comes to mind is that it is a deeply intellectual and spiritual Igbo heritage product. Do you share in this belief, or do you hold a different perspective about it?
Ans: Absolutely, but I would like to take it a little further.
To me, _Ikenga_ is not merely a spiritual symbol; it is also a powerful representation of personal achievement, strength, determination, destiny and the ability of an individual to shape his or her own path.
That is one of the reasons I believe the story resonates beyond the Igbo community. You don’t have to be Igbo to understand ambition. You don’t have to be Nigerian to understand courage. You don’t have to share the same cultural background to understand the desire to succeed, protect your family and preserve your identity.
That is what makes the concept truly powerful.
_Ikenga: The Last Festival_ uses our cultural heritage as its foundation, but the emotions and human experiences embedded in the story are universal. So yes, it is deeply rooted in Igbo heritage, but its message belongs to the world.
Q8. What gave you the courage to venture into such an expensive cinema project at a time when many believe that people no longer buy films as before, and the market is challenging?
Ans: What gave me courage was conviction. I have always believed that people will always pay for quality and for stories that speak to them.
It is true that the market has changed and the traditional way of selling films has evolved, but cinema culture is growing, and audiences are hungry for something different and authentic.
I was convinced that if we gave people excellence, authenticity and a story they could be proud of, they would come out to watch it. And they did. That conviction kept me going even when the figures looked intimidating.
Q9. Do you have any advice for your fellow producers and upcoming producers?
Ans: My advice is: believe in your story, but don’t fall so much in love with your idea that you stop listening and learning.
Learn the business side of filmmaking. Understand budgeting, contracts, distribution, marketing and your audience. Don’t spend all your money producing the film and have nothing left to market it.
Build a strong and committed team, because filmmaking is never a one-person achievement.
And most importantly, don’t be afraid to tell African stories. We have extraordinary cultures, histories, legends and human experiences that the world is yet to see enough of. But when you tell those stories, tell them with excellence. Don’t use culture as an excuse for poor production quality — our stories deserve world-class treatment.
Finally, don’t measure your journey only by what someone else has achieved. Every successful producer you admire started somewhere. Start with what you have, keep learning, keep improving, take calculated risks and remain consistent.
Remember, the film you are afraid to make today may be the film that introduces your name to the world tomorrow. That is the lesson _Ikenga_ has personally taught me.
Q10. What has been your experience managing such a wonderful production, taking cognizance of the hardship and insecurity in Nigeria, and how did you manage your crew and cast?
Ans: I would say it has been challenging, but extremely rewarding.
Producing a film of this magnitude in Nigeria requires much more than financial resources. It demands patience, leadership, sacrifice, discipline and the ability to constantly adapt.
We operate in an environment where production costs can change unexpectedly, logistics can be difficult, transportation can be challenging, infrastructure and power supply can affect production, and security is something you cannot take for granted.
As a producer, you have to think ahead, plan meticulously, work with reliable people, put appropriate safety measures in place and continuously assess situations as they unfold.
But perhaps one of my greatest experiences from _Ikenga_ has been learning how to manage people. A film set brings together individuals from different backgrounds, personalities and expectations — actors, directors, technical crew, costume, makeup, production assistants and drivers. Everyone has a vital role and wants to feel valued.
For me, leadership is not about shouting or intimidation; it is about communication, respect, accountability and creating an environment where people can give their best.
I also learned that when your crew believes in the vision, they are willing to make sacrifices with you. There were difficult days and moments of fatigue, but we kept reminding ourselves of what we were building.
I always told my team: “We are not just making a movie; we are creating something that will outlive this moment.” That mindset kept us going.
I must sincerely appreciate my entire cast and crew, because _Ikenga_ is not the achievement of Anita Odiakaose alone; it is the collective result of many talented and committed people who believed in the vision.
Producing _Ikenga_ in Nigeria has taught me one very important lesson: You can have challenges around you without allowing those challenges to define the quality of your dream. Nigeria has its difficulties, but it also has extraordinary talent, creativity, resilience and people capable of producing world-class work.
And that is the story I want _Ikenga_ to tell — not only about Igbo heritage, but also about the capacity of Africans to create, persevere and take our stories to the world.
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