Manny Ita
Arise News anchor and former international supermodel Ojy Okpe has announced the advanced development of a high-budget cinematic epic centered on the 16th-century warrior-queen, Amina of Zazzau. Under the banner of her production company, Africa Shape, the project aims to drive a movement of “Historical Reclamation,” designed to transition the continent from a consumer of foreign narratives to a creator of indigenous storytelling. This initiative represents a strategic escalation in Nigerian cinema, seeking to merge authentic Northern Nigerian history with the technical sophistication associated with global blockbusters.
Drawing upon her professional experience on the sets of major Hollywood productions, including Spider-Man 3 and The Devil Wears Prada, Okpe intends to employ “high-octane” production values to ensure the narrative resonates with a global audience. The film will focus on Queen Amina’s strategic military brilliance, the territorial expansion of the Zazzau kingdom, and the construction of the historic earthen walls that remain a testament to her reign. Okpe has described Amina as the “original African feminist,” noting that the project is intentionally designed to challenge monolithic Western perceptions of African history by showcasing an era of significant female leadership and military dominance.
The announcement has initiated what industry insiders describe as the “Queen Amina Effect,” prompting a renewed cultural interest in Northern Nigerian heritage and pre-colonial governance structures. Beyond its entertainment value, Africa Shape is positioning the film as a tool for “contextual intelligence,” with a focus on preserving the nuances of Hausa culture, language, and social structures with archival precision. “Artificial intelligence and modern media must understand our reality,” Okpe remarked during a recent industry briefing, emphasizing that the project is a vital step in reclaiming Africa’s “seat of sovereignty” within the global cultural economy.
As the project enters the casting and location-scouting phases, it is being characterized as a bellwether for a new era of Nigerian cinema focused on high-production historical dramas. Africa Shape’s broader portfolio also includes a planned exploration titled the “Ojukwu Chronicles,” indicating a sustained commitment to documenting the lives of influential African icons. Industry analysts suggest that with the Queen Amina epic, Okpe is establishing a new standard for the projection of African history on the global stage.
