The eagerly anticipated release of the film ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ has been delayed by the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board.
The film, scheduled for public release on Friday 25th April, has yet to obtain certification from the board and has a new tentative date for release, the 2nd of May.
The director of the film Biyi Bandele spoke to BBC Africa Focus about the delay saying: What’s frustrating is we have not received a formal letter from the board telling us we’ve been banned, or that we’ve not been banned.” He went on to say the Nigerian Film Board had seen the film seven months ago.
It is widely believed the delay is due to fears the film may stoke ethnic tensions due to it’s subject matter: the 1967-70 civil war, a sensitive subject for many Nigerians.
The film held a Lagos premiere on the 12th of April at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island attended by Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor and Genevieve Nnaji who both star in the film.
Image: Ynaija!