Charles Okpaleke and Ramsey Nouah Acquires Rights To Produce Biographical Film On The Life of King Jaja of Opobo kingdom.

Award winning film producer, Charles Okpaleke and award winning actor and director, Ramsey Nouah have acquired the rights to produce a biographical film based on the life of King Jaja of Opobo kingdom.

The film will reportedly take on an authentic perspective of the slave boy who rose to become one of the most revered monarchs in history and founded the Opobo kingdom.

Sharing the news with his fans and followers via his Instagram handle, Charles wrote;.

“Myself and @ramseynouah are proud to announce that we have acquired the rights to tell the famed story of King Jaja from an authentic perspective, having the privilege of sitting with King Dandeson Douglas, Jeki V (5th on the throne) during the sesquicentennial celebration of Opobo Kingdom. We can say we have the authentic account of the eventful life of King Jaja and we are set to tell it in a gripping way as you all have come to expect from us”.

His latest announcement comes months after confirming the acquisition of rights to also produce a biographical film based on infamous kingpin Shina Rambo disclosing that he held a meeting with Rambo before securing the rights.

King Jaja of Opobo

According to Wikipedia, King Jaja of Opobo whose full name was Jubo Jubogha; 1821–1891, was a merchant prince and the founder of Opobo city-state in an area that is now the Rivers state of Nigeria. He was taken at about the age of twelve as a slave in Bonny but later earned his way out of slavery and rose to head the Anna Pepple House merchant faction of Bonny Island. 

As king, Opobo dominated the palm oil trade business and traded without British interference.

Later in 1887, Henry Hamilton Johnston, a British vice consul invited Jaja for negotiations but was arrested on arrival aboard a British vessel and was tried in Accra, Ghana.

In 1891, Jaja was granted permission to return to Opobo, but died en route. Following his exile and death, the power of the Opobo state rapidly declined.

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